[Ralph J. Watson oral history interview (Part 1 of 4)]

In this four-part oral history, fighter ace Ralph J. “Doc” Watson discusses 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 with the 48th and 5th Fighter Squadrons in the European and Mediterranean Theaters. Topics discussed include his personal background, his training and service history, notable combat missions, and stories about fellow servicemen.

Ralph J. “Doc” Watson was born on May 31, 1916 in Otway, Ohio. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1937 and, in 1939, passed the college-equivalency exam to qualify for the Aviation Cadet program. Completing his flight training in February 1941, Watson initially served with the 20th Fighter Group before being deployed to Europe as a member of the 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group. He flew missions over mainland Europe until November 1942, when his squadron was sent to North Africa as part of Operation Torch. He subsequently served at advance bases in Algeria and Tunisia, then returned to the United States to serve as an instructor for a training squadron. In June 1944, Watson began his second combat tour, this time as commander of the 5th Fighter Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group. He flew missions over Italy, Romania, Germany, and other areas of the Mediterranean and European Theaters. After the end of World War II, Watson went on to serve as Senate liaison for the Secretary of the Air Force. He retired as a colonel in 1957, then worked as a lobbyist for North American Aviation and Rockwell International. Watson passed away in 2001.