| Description | His experiences as a pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His youth in Texas; pre-war flying experience; decision to join the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1938; flight training, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, 1938-39; Mine Warfare Laboratory, Yorktown, Virginia, 1939; operational training, North Island, San Diego, California, 1939-40; assignment to VP-44; training with PBYs, Ford Island, Oahu, Hawaii, 1941; his experiences during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941; temporary duty assignment to Utility Squadron VR-1; temporary assignment to the carrier Yorktown, May, 1942; his role in the Battle of Midway while flying combat air patrol, June 4-6, 1942; his downing of two Zeroes during the Battle of Midway; his crash landing on the Yorktown and suffering a broken back; recuperation in Honolulu; his transfer back to VP-44 in late 1942; PBY patrols around New Caledonia and the New Hebrides Islands, 1942-43; personal experiences with and comments about Admiral William F. (“Bull”) Halsey; working with coastwatchers around the Western and Central Solomons and Russell Islands, 1943-44. |
