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WILCOX, Norbert John (b. 1924)

Oral Histories

OH 1279

Podiatrist. His experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Civilian Pilot Training, the University of Chicago, 1942; pre-flight training, University of Iowa, 1942-43; basic flight training, Livermore, California, 1943; advanced flight training, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1943; assignment to flying the PBY; navigation and bombardier training, Banana River Naval Air Station, Florida, 1943; assignment to VPB-44 on Green Island, Solomons, 1944-45; living conditions on Green Island; anti-submarine patrols; evolution of the "Black Cat" squadrons; night patrols in conjunction with PT boats; open-sea rescues and "Dumbo" missions; flying characteristics of the PBY; Leyte Gulf preparations, 1944; rotation back to the States, 1945; postwar adjustments to civilian life.