Richard D. Harris oral history interview

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IdentifierOH_Harris_Richard_DPartsOH_Harris_Richard_DSourceThe Museum of Flight Oral History Collection (2019-00-00-100), Digital RecordingsCreatorMuseum of Flight (Seattle, Wash.)IntervieweeHarris, Richard D., 1921-2020InterviewerLittle, SteveDescriptionBorn-digital video recording of an oral history with Richard D. Harris and interviewer Steve Little, recorded as part of The Museum of Flight Oral History Program, October 7, 2019.AbstractMilitary pilot Richard D. “Dick” Harris is interviewed about his service with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He discusses his experiences with the 1332nd Flight Group in the China-Burma-India Theater, transporting cargo and personnel over the Hump between India and China. He also describes his other assignments, such as serving as a stateside flight instructor and transporting aircraft for the Air Transport Command. Other topics discussed include Harris’s childhood in Seattle, his postwar career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and his wife’s wartime work at Boeing.

One of Harris’s children also participates in the interview, noted in the transcript as “Unidentified Person (UP).”BiographyRichard D. “Dick” Harris was an Army Air Corps veteran who flew the Hump during World War II, delivering supplies and personnel to Allied troops during the war. Following his military experience, Harris had a career in law.

Harris was born on August 30, 1921 to Joe Richardson and Esther Carrie Harris. He was raised in West Seattle, Washington primarily by his mother, as his father abandoned them before Harris was born. He had one half-brother who died of throat cancer at the age of 19. He attended Holy Rosary School and O’Dea High School. After high school, Harris attended Seattle University on a basketball scholarship before doing pre-law studies at the University of Washington, where he joined ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps).

With World War II becoming more of a possibility for Americans, Harris joined the Air Corps in the Civilian Pilot Training program, as he had no desire to be in the infantry in the United States Army. Once he completed his Civilian Pilot Training, he became an instructor as a private in the Army Reserve. He was assigned to Oxnard Air Force Base, California, where he instructed primary cadets in a Stearman PT-13 aircraft. Harris was an instructor at the same time when actors Robert Cummings and Patric Knowles were also instructors. Harris would frequently play pranks and jokes during his time as an instructor, such as by messing with the seats of cadets in-flight or tapping the top of buses with his airplane’s landing gear.

Growing tired of this work and flying small planes, Harris instead joined the Ferry Command, where he would be stationed to the Air Ground Combat Center near Palm Springs, California. During his training for the Ferry Command, Harris encountered and had dinner with Howard Hughes, a business magnate and pilot. He began by flying airplanes from factories to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Great Falls Air Force Base, Montana; Romulus Army Air Field, Michigan; and Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Harris was eventually replaced by female pilots, known as WASPs, at which point he was transferred over to Asia to fly the Hump. The Hump was known as the most dangerous flight path at the time, as it included flying from India to China over the Himalayan Mountains.

Harris was a member of the 1332nd Flight Group, where he was stationed at the base in Mohanbari, India, outside Dibrugarh and about 200 miles north of Calcutta. The Hump was one of the worst places to fly, both due to the weather and the high mountain peaks. He spent one year flying the Hump, where he carried over 200 tons of material in 72 trips, each trip lasting nine to ten hours. Harris transferred gasoline, explosives, ammunition, small arms, and personnel during his time flying the Hump. He would fly the Boeing B-17, North American B-25, and Douglas B-26 during his time with the Ferry Command. Harris prided himself on being an excellent instrument pilot, a way of flying that proved to be difficult for some pilots. Harris came close to crashing only once when he blew a tire on takeoff during a mission to bring pipe to the Ledo Road, an overland connection between India and China.

Following the war, Harris taught ground school at night with Kurtzer Flying Service in Seattle, Washington while he attended law school using the G.I. Bill. He finished law school in four years. During his summers he gave flight lessons at Forest Flight Academy. Once Harris received his law degree he never once flew another airplane. His law career spanned 52 years. After receiving his law license, he served as Chief Civil Assistant for three to four years before becoming Assistant U.S. Attorney for a year. During his time as Assistant U.S. Attorney, Harris had interactions with Mickey Cohen, a gangster who was in legal trouble in 1951. Harris also served as a Seattle Municipal Court judge.

Harris married his wife, Bernice “Bea” Anderson, whom he had met at a concert in Seattle, on May 21, 1943 before being transferred to Asia. She worked as a secretary at the Boeing Company in Seattle during his time in Asia. They eventually had five children. In his free time, Harris enjoyed playing handball. Harris died March 3, 2020 at the age of 98.

Biographical information derived from interview, additional information provided by interviewee, and online obituaries.Table of ContentsIntroduction and personal background -- Becoming an Army Air Corps flight instructor -- Transition to Ferry Command and service in the China-Burma-India Theater -- Training Command experiences -- Stateside experiences in Ferry Command -- Deployment to India -- Law career, time as a civilian flight instructor, and wife’s wartime work at Boeing -- Experiences in the CBI Theater, part one -- Encounters with Howard Hughes and Mickey Cohen -- Experiences in the CBI Theater, part two -- Closing thoughtsCreation Date2019-10-07SubjectAir pilots, MilitaryBoeing B-17 Flying Fortress FamilyCohen, Mickey, 1914-1976Curtiss C-46 Commando FamilyFlight trainingHarris, Richard D., 1921-2020Hughes, Howard, 1905-1976LawyersLockheed P-38 Lightning FamilyMartin (Glenn L.) B-26 Marauder FamilyNorth American B-25 Mitchell FamilyUnited States. Army Air ForcesUnited States. Army Air Forces. Ferry CommandUnited States. Army Air Forces. Flight Group, 1332ndUnited States. Army Air Forces. Training CommandWorld War, 1939-1945PlaceBurmaCaliforniaChinaIndiaMohanbari (India)Seattle (Wash.)United StatesWashington (State)Extent1 recording (1 hr., 24 min., 11 sec.) : digitalLanguageEnglishOriginal Formatoral histories (literary works)born digitalBibliographic CitationThe Museum of Flight Oral History Collection/The Museum of FlightRightsIn copyrightVideo FileRichard D. Harris oral history interview

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Richard D. Harris oral history interview