OH 1654 | Oral History

OH 1654

Test pilot, aviation executive, and Deputy Secretary of Defense. Childhood in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois; work as a young man in the oil fields; family’s experience in the Great Depression; matriculation at Kansas University; enrollment in Civilian Pilot Training program; enlistment in Naval Air Cadet training program; training at Jacksonville, Florida; graduation and assignment to aircraft carrier-based squadron VF-26; combat in North African invasion; combat in Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Leyte Gulf and China; support for Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs; decision to become civilian pilot; career with Trans-World Airways; career as test pilot for Corsair Aircraft; career with Northrop Corp.; service to Department of Defense.

About this Oral History

Physical Description 87 pp. Plus Documents (3pp.)
Terms of Use Open
Interviewer(s) Peter B. Lane
Date of Interview February 1, 2008

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