Solr Search · The Museum of Flight

[Donald L. Balch oral history interview] (Item)

Fighter ace Donald L. Balch discusses his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in Guadalcanal with Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221). Special focus on a combat mission on April 7, 1943 in which he scored an aerial victory against a Japanese Zero (Zeke) aircraft and damaged another.

[Phillip C. DeLong oral history interview] (Item)

Fighter ace Phillip C. DeLong discusses his nearly three decades of military service with the United States Marine Corps. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212) during World War II and with Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) during the Korean War. He also touches on other assignments from his military career, such…

["Officers Only" pit toilet at Marine air base in Guadalcanal] (Item)

Photograph of the "Officers Only" pit toilet at a Marine air base in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, April 1943.Included caption: "VMF 213, 214, and 221. Gudalcanal [Guadalcanal] April 1943. Rest room very comfortable."

[Field shower at VMF-214 camp, Guadalcanal] (Item)

Photograph of a field shower at the VMF-214 (Marine Fighter Squadron 214) camp, Guadalcanal, March 1943.Included caption: "VMF 214 camp near Fighter One. Home made shower. 1943 March."

[Robert Baird oral history interview] (Item)

Fighter ace Robert Baird discusses his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a night fighter pilot and his time in Okinawa with Marine Night Fighter Squadron 533 (VMF(N)-533). Special focus on a combat mission on June 9, 1945 in which he scored his first aerial victory.

[Charles W. Drake oral history interview] (Item)

Fighter ace Charles W. Drake discusses his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the Pacific Theater with Marine Fighting Squadron 323 (VMF-323). Special focus on a combat mission on June 3, 1945 in which Drake scored several aerial victories and received the Navy Cross for his…

[Fighter ace Alvin Jensen standing next to squadron victory boards for VMF-214] (Item)

Photograph of fighter ace Alvin Jensen standing next to squadron victory boards for VMF-214 (Marine Fighter Squadron 214), likely in Guadalcanal, circa 1942-1944.Included caption: "VMF 214. Al Jensen, Ace. After war was killed flying a jet at an air show…recovering from a dive pulled a wing off."

[VMF-214 camp at Fighter One, Guadalcanal] (Item)

Photograph of the VMF-214 (Marine Fighter Squadron 214) camp at Fighter One, Guadalcanal, May 1943. Inscription on verso: "VMF-214 camp on Fighter-1, Guadalcanal, May 1943."Included caption: "VMF 214. Camp on Fighter One, Guadalcanal, March, April, & May 1943."

[Damaged propeller on Grumman F4F Wildcat aircraft] (Item)

Photograph of a damaged propeller on a Grumman F4F Wildcat aircraft, likely in Guadalcanal, April 1943. The aircraft's designation ("Geisha Girl") is painted on the nose.Included caption: "VMF 214. Two planes hit after fight on the first of April 1943. Grumans [Grumman] F4F's."

[Goodwill Meeting, American Fighter Aces Association and Luftwaffe Fighter Pilots’ Association (Part 2 of 3)] (Item)

This three-part recording contains highlights from a goodwill meeting between the American Fighter Aces Association and the Luftwaffe Fighter Pilots’ Association, held in May 1961 in Germany. In part two, the narrator presents excerpts from conversations between the American and German delegations. Topics discussed include the German scoring system for aerial victories, past and current…

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