[John R. Strane oral history interview (Part 1 of 2)]

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace John R. Strane discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the Pacific Theater with Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15). Special focus on a search mission on June 19, 1944, the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Strane scored his first aerial victories on this mission while escorting a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver.

John R. Strane was born on October 8, 1920 in Duluth, Minnesota. He joined the United States Navy in 1941 and received his commission in October of that year. Strane served as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola until 1943, when he then joined Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15). Serving aboard the USS Essex (CV-9), Strane flew missions over Guam, the Philippines, and other areas of the Pacific Theater. He remained in the military after the end of World War II and went on to serve aboard the USS Bogue (CVE-9), USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), and USS Yorktown (CV-10). During the Korean War, he commanded Fighter Squadron 113 (VF-113) and continued to serve in aviation units during the Vietnam War. He retired as a captain in 1972.