[Thomas L. Hayes, Jr. oral history interview (Part 1 of 2)]

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Thomas L. Hayes, Jr. is interviewed about his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the South Pacific with the 35th Pursuit Group and his time in Europe with the 357th Fighter Group. Topics discussed include his training and service history, his missions in Java with the 17th Provisional Squadron, and his missions in France and Germany with the 364th Fighter Squadron. Special focus on a bomber escort mission to Berlin on March 6, 1944 in which Hayes’s squadron scored several aerial victories.

The interview is conducted via telephone by historian Eric M. Hammel. Note that the audio may be difficult to hear in some spots due to a buzzing noise caused by the phone recording.

Thomas L. Hayes, Jr. was born on March 13, 1917 in Portland, Oregon. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1940 and graduated from flight training the following year. Initially assigned to the 35th Pursuit Group, Hayes served in Australia, Java, and New Guinea until October 1942, when he returned to the United States to help train new pilots. In 1943, he joined the 357th Fighter Group as commander of the 364th Fighter Squadron, based in England. He was later promoted to deputy group commander and joined the group headquarters staff. Remaining in the military after the air, Hayes’s postwar assignments include commanding the 65th and 86th Air Divisions and serving at the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters. He retired as a brigadier general in 1970 and passed away in 2008.