Essex | Oral History

Essex

OH 1037

His experiences as a naval aviator in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Assignment to VF-3 as wingman for "Butch" O'Hare; assignment to the carrier Essex; Wake Island raids, 1943; becoming an Ace at Kwajalein, 1944; Truk raid, 1944; assignment to Fighter Squadron 16 on the carrier Lexington; second Truk raid, 1944; "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot," 1944; raids on Clark Field, Philippines; shot down on Luzon and subsequent operations with Filipino guerrillas.