[Horace Q. Waggoner oral history interview, via Ellen Waggoner]

This recording contains excerpts from an oral history interview with fighter ace Horace Q. Waggoner that was conducted at Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois at Springfield) by student Bruce E. Kreuger in 1986. The excerpts focus on three of Waggoner’s aerial victories while flying with the 352nd Fighter Squadron in Europe during World War II. Two of the victories took place during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, and the third victory took place on March 2, 1945 during a bomber escort mission to Ruhland, Germany. The full interview is part of the Oral History Collection of the University of Illinois at Springfield and is available via the Illinois Digital Archives.

The recording includes introductory and concluding remarks by Ellen Waggoner, Horace’s wife, who prepared the tape at the request of historian Eric M. Hammel sometime after Horace’s death in 1987.

Note that the audio is very faint in some spots and may be difficult to hear.

Horace Q. Waggoner was born on May 25, 1925 in the town of Waggoner, Illinois, which was founded by his grandfather. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 and graduated from flight training in October of the following year. In March 1944, he was deployed to England, where he joined the 352nd Fighter Squadron of the 353rd Fighter Group. He served two combat tours in Europe and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, among other engagements. After the end of World War II, Waggoner attended Illinois Wesleyan University, then returned to active duty with the Air Training Command. He served with the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing during the Korean War and in various staff positions during the Vietnam War. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1973. Afterwards, Waggoner completed his master’s degree in history at Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois at Springfield) and joined the faculty as an oral historian. Waggoner passed away in 1987.