Solr Search · The Museum of Flight

[Henry K. Champion, James B. French, and Clinton L. Smith oral history interview] (Item)

Fighter aces Henry K. Champion, James B. French, and Clinton L. Smith are interviewed about their military service with the United States Navy during World War II. They describe their wartime experience as fighter pilots with Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9) and share stories about memorable combat missions. The interview is conducted by fellow VF-9 ace Eugene A. Valencia.

[Mayo A. "Mike" Hadden, Jr. oral history interview (Part 2 of 4)] (Item)

In this four-part oral history, fighter ace Mayo A. “Mike” Hadden, Jr. discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. In part two, he continues to describe his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot with Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9). He also shares details about his personal background, his high school and college years, and his family history. The interview is…

[Delno Carlton oral history interview] (Item)

Fighter pilot Delno “Del” Carlton is interviewed about his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. The interview focuses specifically on an incident in 1944 or 1945, when VM(N)F-542 (Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542) deployed from the USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86) to Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, Japan. Due to navigational errors, Carlton’s flight of Grumman F6F Hellcats…

[Frederick Libby oral history interview (Part 1 of 8)] (Item)

In this eight-part oral history, fighter ace Frederick Libby is interviewed about his life and his military service with the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. In part one, he describes his childhood in Colorado and the Midwest and discusses his family’s profession as cowboys and horse breakers. The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia.

[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.

[Mrs. Garrison (mother of Vermont Garrison) oral history interview] (Item)

In this brief oral history, Mrs. Garrison is interviewed about her son, fighter ace Vermont Garrison. She shares a few details about his childhood and military career and discusses her views on America’s role in future global conflicts. The interview is conducted by Delvina Wheeldon, a journalist and radio broadcaster based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The segment appeared in the Continental Air Defense…

[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…

[John R. Alison oral history interview (Part 2 of 2)] (Item)

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace John R. Alison is interviewed about his military service with the United States Army Air Corps. In part two, Alison describes his experiences as a demonstration and fighter pilot during World War II, including his time as an assistant military attaché in England and the Soviet Union and his combat tours in the China-Burma-India Theater with the China Air…

[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…

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