[John S. Thach oral history interview]

Fighter ace John S. “Jimmy” Thach is interviewed about his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time as gunnery officer and skipper of Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3). Topics discussed include his training and service history, his development of the Thach Weave aerial combat maneuver, and his initial encounters with Japanese aircraft.

The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia.

John S. “Jimmy” Thach was born on April 19, 1905 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927 and, after two years of battleship assignments, enrolled in flight training. He was designated a naval aviator in 1930. For the next ten years, Thach served as a test pilot, patrol pilot, and flight instructor. He was then assigned to Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3), first as gunnery officer and then as skipper. In 1941, he created the aerial combat tactic that would become known as the Thach Weave, which he developed in response to reports about the superior capabilities of Japanese aircraft. When the United States entered World War II, Thach and VF-3 were deployed aboard the USS Lexington (CV-3). He participated in early actions in the Pacific Theater, including the Battle of Midway in June 1942. He then returned to the United States as an instructor in combat tactics. After World War II, Thach served with Naval Air Training Command and commanded the USS Sicily (CVE-118) during the Korean War. In 1965, he was named Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces, Europe. Thach retired as an admiral in 1967 and passed away in 1981.