The National Museum of the

Center for Pacific War Studies Fredericksburg, Texas

Interview with Dr. Thomas Earl DuPree Air Group 16/ USS Lexington Date of Interview: 5 June 2007

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zainbrano:

brothers

where

Wow,

County

ten

who

And

was

My 24 th,

to

some

War, This

I’m who Earl

information

thr

1

I’m

was

start

years

Pacific

father

sure

very

a

was

what DuPree.

lives

is

1919.

and

junior;

interesting

horn

that’s

I

off

Mike

which

am

or

it

old, shot tine

Texas

in

were

was

will.

with

War

in

sisters?

today.

related

some

Swainsboro,

Zambrano.

his

This

Stone

and

Mike.

five

was

Dr.

John

the

Studies,

you

In

Historical

stories

father

my

Thomas

pretty

interview

times

our

merged

names

Interview

to

Mountain,

Thomas

I

telling

hope

mother

this

previous

was

to

archives

in

Today

fascinating

Georgia.

2

of’

site.

tell,

Commission

Earl

this

the

into

me

John

is

DuPree

your

was

with

Civil

taking

Georgia

where

but

interview Dr.

is

Fulton

discussions

DuPree

Thomas

fbr

June

Ef’tie

parents’?

flr This

DuPree

War

family

the

and

place

and

the

County

the

right

Douglas

for

interview

National

my

and

is

DuPree, when

purpose

5,

how

over

the

history!

to

it

near

mother

still

seems

your

2007.

about

preservation

you

are

the

who

Atlanta

Museum

lived

is

of

Sr.,

liking.

you

Do

phone

were

in

that

was

1

seven

the

grew

am

a

support

to

you

today

Civil

interview, you

...

on

horn?

interviewing

tell

with

of’

up

years

have of

actually,

November

have

the

us

War

in

sir?

historical

of

Dr.

old

until

ago

any

PacifIc

the

quite

veteran

I’d

Dupree

Milton

Center

he

I

like

Dr.

was the

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

and

preceding

knew

were

the

more

57,

Wilkinson making

and

My What started. after

something Oh,

Her And and

Elizabeth

She in

I

had

Little

county

which

a

dad

what

was

name

died

I’m

I my

unbelievable.

or

one

long

we

was

had

He

it

was

less

sorry

Georgia

killed

grandfather,

were at

it

brother.

Moore,

a

was

World

was

her

one

line

County

seat

like

never

was

age

regional

of

the

to

name?

a

poor

sister

Elizabeth

of in

the

thirty

where

eighty

like

county

dusty

hear

and

War

a

got

dust

okay.

His

and

impending

training

I

because

p-owing

library

can

who

out

libraries

she

James

that

his

II

name

road

on

fbr

it

school

So

and

remember

Moore.

was

of

was

was

office Valentine’s

3

as sir.

can

and,

accident

the

area.

was

Harvey

everybody

we

far

up

a

sent

a

in

Depression

superintendent

very you

state

very

was,

were

as

of

in

the

Harvey

She

to

you

that

course,

sitting

tell

rural Oconee

Douglas,

about

of

successful

that

was

was

as

Day

could

me

region

Florida.

was

poor

Harold

area

county.

about

very

and

on

about

five

my

a

poor.

Regional

little

our

see

as

and

back

lbr

years

of

earliest

successful

weeks

Librarian,

fbur

everybody

DuPree.

four

the

in

porch

the

And

The

bit

he

in

both

of

miles

country?

was

about

specific

years

after

the

Library

recollections

Depression

the

the

early

directions

He

she

also

twenties

in

town

Depression down

World

else

ago.

your

what

was

built

in

purpose

a

system

the but

of

navy

childhood

Highway

named

she

days

War

Irwinton,

in

were

morning

nobody

are

pilot

down

did.

of LI

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DaPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

about

So

Oh,

know

important aside

and

roommate, there people

the have

down

was was

you food,

elimination

after from

What

Pensacola I

joined

Harry

movie

boy!

stations!

learn

at down

World

a

the

were

and

everything

what

who there

...

the

runway

coming

the

well,

cold

and

said,

to

if

movies

and

in

in

she

it

to

Harry

and

navy

base

War

the

fly

was

May

The

Miami

I

do

weather

let

said,

is,

went when

‘Pearl

from

Japs on

fighters

here

as

on

11

in warm

Japanese

but

mc

LifTher,

of

with

December

had

we

March

This

their

going

out

as

sent

‘42

I

ask

we

Harbor!

in

that

arrived

were

my

begun?

far

and

and

to

Atlanta,

and

better

back

this

the

4

is

from

through

was

away

the

of

roommate

have

I

no

dive-bombers

and

entire

I

can

first:

the

‘41

Who

and

base

went

they

drill!

coming

run

Westchester

just

as

we

which remember

6 th,

betbre

we

did

the,

out

fleet they

carried

in

and

through

stood

bombed

All

1941,

at

stayed

the

you

to

what

in

people was

Miami

could

to

the

navy

the

hell

late

around

and

bomb

go

with

the

County, that

a

war

that

we

Ibr

base

Pearl

brand

personnel

is into

‘32.

start

torpedo

out

day

Beach

them

call,

she?’

a

most

started

and

her!’

and

while

and

military They

there

Harbor!’

before

walking

new

New

in

fighter

to

vividly.

finally

when

1

find

planes

about

said,

and

report

Florida

had

were and

base,

York,

Pearl

service

out.

to

they

I

And

school

then

no

‘Well,

they

think

four

as

and

get

it

to

job,

She

to

1-larbor.

pulled

didn’t

puzzled

my

stopped

your

I

said, away

1

months

get

before

went

that

where

finished

must

I

no

don’t

down

ships

even

me

‘Be

the

to

I

be

or I atCaptain1ogan’s....‘ nowhewasacommanderthen,hemadeadmiral.

Be at Commander Bogan’s office Monday morning he wanted to pin the

wings on and make a little speech.’ So he told us that we were the best

trained military pilots in the world and proud to pin those gold wings on hut

that he wasn’t half as proud as we were, of course, and I was riding up to

Norfblk with my orders to report to the USS Wasp, CV-7. I thought about

that commander, what he said about me being the smartest, well trained

pilot in the world and I thought, ‘Well, I haven’t learned anything since

Friday and I was a dumb damn cadet on a Friday. I think I got I’ve got a lot

to learn!’ These were my thoughts as I was driving north to Norfolk,

Virginia to join the Wasp.

Mr. Zambrano: Well, I’m curious but what drew you to the navy?

Dr. DuPree: Well, my brother had been in the navy prior to me and he was an instructor

in Jacksonville and he had sold me on the idea that the navy flight training

program was the best flight program there was and if I could get in the navy

like he had done that’s what I should do. And I kind of had a fantasy of

wanting to he an pilot. [actually started flying in the CPT

training course that the government started in colleges all over America in

‘39 and ‘40 and I had about a hundred hours and a pilot’s license and

though I could do acrobatics, [was restricted from flying with passengers,

hut I learned in the CPT civilian training course betbre I went to Pensacola

and they gave us credit fbr that training course, but we started otYwith a

5 thirty-three hour check and that’s the reason I got through Pensacola so

rapidly. I didn’t spend much time in Squadron 1.

Mr. Zambrano: Now what were you flying down at Pensacola?

Dr. DuPree: Well, we trained in Yellow Perils we called it. They were naval ... some of

them were Stearman and some of them were built by the Naval Aircraft

Factory in Philadelphia, because they were all trainers, N3N trainers and

N2S trainers that the Stearman was. And then after we got into Squadron 2

we flew ... that’s when we learned formation flying in old aircraft that the

fleet had used up and turned over to the training command. I flew SBU’s

which is a Vought-Sikorsky dive bomber with no dive flaps and didn’t even

have the retractable landing gear. Then in Squadron 3 we flew the SNJ or

what the air forces called an AT-6 for instrument flying and when I got

down to Miami we flew lighters and torpedo planes that had been worn out

in the fleet and been sent back to the training command to train cadets in.

Mr. Zambrano: Did you have a preference for flying lighters or torpedo bombers or

anything?

Dr. DuPree: Well, it was a lot more fun flying fighters than anything else. They were

ever so much more maneuverable. They were single seat airplanes and the

ones we trained in were those old bi-planes like Roscoe Turner used to fly

around doing acrobatic shows. Ldon’t know whether you know who he was

or not, but I think he carried a lion in his airplane sometimes. That was part

of his show. That was the most maneuverable airplane I ever flew and one

of the most fun planes to fly. The bi-plane and I think the Stearman and

6

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr. Mr.

Mr. Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano: Zambrano:

close

Oh.

with

I and

Once

the

Oh,

I some then

What? the

Well, training

started Oh, Did

1

friends? Pensacola? So

remember

don’t

didn’t

did

friends

Hellcat.

okay.

you

okay.

1 you

the

the

relationship.

was

you

of

actually

you

know

out

quite

in

have

them

people

F2F-4

make

get

asking

Pensacola?

in

I’d

make

a

why

the

understand

lot

to

some

went

I

made

any

and

I

didn’t

Pensacola

of

flew

elimination

about

any

I

good

the

to

them roommates,

went

in

good

Jacksonville, with

...

F3F-2

Atlanta

your

friends

your

and to

as

7

they

friends

at

Pensacola

we

time

base

I

and

Pensacola.

question.

ran

I

shift

but

went

while

didn’t

in

-3

in

into

while

and

1

Pensacola,

you and

Atlanta,

didn’t

through

you

and

them

see

a

you

of

around

very

were

not

them

course

maintain

a

were

some

Pensacola,

any

lot

few

if

doing

much

from

you

but

of

there’s

going

of

of

any

these

we

us

them had

one

your

anymore.

went

just

the

through

close

made

the

week

other

training

went

people

didn’t

Wildcat

to

friendships

any

to

Pensacola.

places,

to

your

the

Corpus,

that

down

have

close

and

next

so

I

a in

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

you

gives

course

field

Well, that

Okay,

like?

That’s

squadrons

squadron. assigned

Chesapeake

to

concentrated

which

practice actually

Wasp

straight

like Well,

You

what

learn

we

that

so

said

you

you

I

until

I’m

was

you

what

was

were

if

they

to

and

got

and

to

how

if

you

a

know,

just It

were

the

about

had

about

cut

Scouting

I

ordered

my

we

listed Bay,

finally

called

I

getting understood

course

have

went Wasp?

to

curious

you

to

learned

called

orders

it’s

480

Ibilow

but

November

fbllow

as

an

a

cut

checked to

to

in

ready

kind

a

72.

lot

we

feet

Norfblk

Advanced

scouting

but

the

pre-Worid to

dive

it

to

his

of

you

The

were

his

and

the

of

8

long

Wasp

land

your

for

confidence

bombers

signals.

scary. out

signals

of

correctly,

Wasp.

Wasp

you

war.

concentrated

and

that

on

‘41

squadrons

first

on

from

Carrier

have War

a

the

Your

was and

a

didn’t

that’s

carrier

on

I

few

and

little

don’t

Miami.

Wasp

II

in

that

a

field

I

a

Training

carrier

landing

stall hadn’t

ship

we

your

converted

all

admit

because

boat

with

know

from

on

carrier

learned

was

you

and

and

I landing

...

called

didn’t

landings.

finished

as

that

signal

Pensacola

not

why

have

both

you

Group

by

we

it

landing

small

to

we

floated

this

in

the

get

just

didn’t the

signal

to

of

do

officer

port

had

flight

which

time

do

Long

what

the

my

jeep

orders

carrier

land

you

practice

so

around

a

and

want

officer

bombing

orders

bombing

1

training

is

carrier.

was

I

and

island

was

was

went

checked

when

came

landing

to

of

that

it

in

on a

to

and

admit

was,

very

the

he in

the

and

a

in I uh ... they told us that they were going to give us two practice approaches

and you wouldn’t land until your third approach and I think the landing

signal officer missed the count and I was the sixth one in the line and he

gave mc a cut Ofl my first approach so 1landed before I realized that I’d

make a landing. It was surprising how simple it was.

Mr. Zambrano: Really and why is that?

Dr. DuPrec: Pardon?

Mr. Zambrano: Oh, you said you were surprised at how simple it was.

Dr. DuPree: Well, he didn’t even correct me. I made a perfect approach and when he

gave me the cut I expected to wave mc off and so when I cut it the engines,

you know, you’re flying so slow, once you cut the engine it lands and the

plane caine straight down and I landed it on the deck, caught the hook and

I’d made a landing beibre I’d realized I made one.

Mr. Zambrano: Oh, gosh. Let’s see ... so you trained on the Wasp with landings and what

else did you do when you first got to the Wasp?

Dr. DuPree: Well, on our first trip we had no idea where we were going because the war

had started and we headed in a northeastern direction like we were going to

Europe and we knew that was the general direction of the fleet. There was

an interesting story about Admiral Wilcox who was the admiral and he was

on the Washington a new battleship that was in the task force and we didn’t

know it at the time but we were headed for Scapa Flow to pick up Spittires

for the RAF and ferry them down to Malta for the defense of’Malta and the

Wasp made two trips down there and, by the way, Malta was never, never

9

commander

and

to

so

He safily

Well, tlying minute that bridge

missing. the off

searching was the permission

storm secured

could great occupied

inventory

thur

was

the

admiral

flight

then

North

about

benefit

you

sound

and

but

and

and

admiral’s

people or

a

because

they

It

good

by

deck,

through

two,

Ed

couldn’t

the

he

Atlantic

110

kind

that

so

issued

over

his

the

general

for

ordered

Pctway

moved

Washington,

we

were

but feet

friend

it

she

affects

of

Germans

them.

the

to

bridge

had

got

the

an

dawned

the

hardly

cold

wide

was

the

lost

weather

quarters

Commander

crashed

order

thrown

of

into

launching

admiral’s

But

and

Washington

pitching

and

water.

mine from

and

10

so

see

a

on

Admiral

write though

not

North

so

the

was

900

or

him

into the

the

and

them

of

Of

they

to

a

quarters

planes

two

so

the

his

and so

Wasp

Washington

general

and

clear

Frank he

the course,

Atlantic

it

in

that

as

Wilcox

couldn’t

terrible,

parents

Washington

loads

was

leil

something

water

by

and

an

off

of

and

the

Turner

they

the

in

a

advisor

alarm

he

the

out

the of

gale

big

his

two admiral

had

before

a

the

time

was

sound

Spitfires

ship realized

of

from

letter,

Wasp

battLeship,

will

and

who

without

issued

had

waves

feet

that

didn’t

dead

to

they

into

he

general

that

the

all

had

the

gotten

which

to

was long,

vicious

got

that

must

got

in

the

an

were the

look

Wasp

captain

know

his

I

fallen

the

my

would

aboard

35,000 order

the

through somebody

water

Wasp

back

I

quarters

specific

have

tbr

breaking

did

matter

North

squadron

in

much

admiral

off

so

that

the

be

that

of

aboard and

flying

the

had

tons,

of

he

course, the

admiral. Atlantic

of

because

no

about

storm

the

Wasp.

into

would

fell some

over

was

a

it

one

one was

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

Zambrano:

came

have

going have

Wilcox

morning battleship

flying princess early secure

stayed Gosh, dive

the We

Sometime said

played wheels

Mountbatten,

lThillip

fighters

stayed

that

bombers

to

someone

April

steaming

on aboard

SO

after

at

checkers

Mountbatten

in

fly

is

as

he

they

out

RNAS

the

England

and

around

there

in

of

you

went

was

Frank

there.’

a

only

the

woke

and

and

‘42.

drowned,

aboard

back

storm

well

real

with

Hatston

for

on

Wasp.

there

the

torpedo

Turner

We

admiral

came

us

about

And

the

lived

know

across

mad

Phillip

like

first

who

were

up,

were

cruise

but

We’re

up

a

so

at

11

got

that

down

six

week

planes

[think

little

so

knew

that

the

we

to

the

he

the

on

a

that aboard

weeks.

anymore.

see

to

lot

Atlantic

did.

headed

ever

letI

princess

naval

first

a

the

in

about

Malta

to

it

regular

wasn’t

of

us

May

immediately,

And

was

hail

come

fell

total

people

the

fly.

The

air

for

flying

to

and

we

the

off

about

that But

but

Washington

Admiral

station

scuttle

basis,

military

dive

to

give

the the ...

801

picked up

I

it

England

was

and

didn’t

Pacific.

two

did

bombers

at

of

them

there,

admiral’s

but

butt

north

flew

four

sometime

May,

then

unit

Montgomery

turn

doors

up

he

believe

fighter

like

because

the

so

o’clock

aboard

of

Something

did

a

of’

we

out

and

and

new

a

Scapa

from

Shah

fighter

I bridge

lot

marry

all

thought

to

said, in

cover.

torpedo

it,

load

of

be

the

felt

we

in

late

him

of

of

Flow

and

the

Admiral

planes on

the

the

‘We’re

Wasp

didn’t

a

course

Iran

big

of’

March

and

it

lot

a

big

Lord

planes

SBD

was.

and

is

and

more

they

and

and

I or

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr. Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

during

the

it

CV-7. that

Enterprise, Oh,

And qualified because

Oh, they

And recall mentioned

remember

Well, Yes. Okay.

Are dive

[had

[have

carried

Wasp

okay,

was

okay,

you

you

first

I

bombers

a

no

anything

wasn’t

It

peace

a

question.

when

question.

named

was

still

might

the

I

on

went

was

airight.

airight.

never

that

something

and

the

same

time

there,

a

aboard

about

and

it

small

on

for

the

he

about

Wasp

Long

came

heard

I

Let’s

shakedown

when

some

talking

read

air

sure,

Hornet.

sir?

a

carrier

until,

that’?

group.

hundred

about

Island.

after

back

anything

a

see

anyway

we

new

little

12

about

uh

They

the

off

weren’t

that

an The

...

That’s cruise.

...

bit

ftet

Wasp cruise

accident

the

about

I

was

were

actually

money

guess

about

shorter

desiring

Wasp

when

designed

The

I

[had

the

three

was

some

the

with

was

Wasp

I

Wasp,

that

1

and

didn’t

just

on

Wasp

went

sisters

getting

a

appropriated

new

was

sort

was

Vought

about

finished

was

so

aboard.

go

and

tighter

of

of sunk.

an

[wasn’t

into

lost

aboard

ten

like

the

Essex its

Vindicator.

ACTG

the

in

feet The

shakedown

same

planes

the

for

1942.

until

war.

Class

aboard

narrower,

Wasp

Yorktown,

it

design

and

back

too.

We

‘42

carrier

Do

was

when

and

I

were

and

don’t

you

but it Mr. Dr. Mr. Dr. Mr. Dr. DuPrec: DuPrec: DuPree: Zambrano: Zambrano: Zambrano: tough ailerons and Now It That’s Dauntless to So any when and Yes Okay.

flying liked a SB2U’s speed So still flaps Pacific? tough was San what I you Japanese,

the we arguing didn’t and at the the airplane, towards straight a [have Diego right. battle this old did. very and could that was plane’? the Wasp was. see dive point

I about rudders we We your read stable fuselage to went came we and fly Midway any too. was refuel had bomber picked didn’t you’re it that

impression whether level. activity through airplane. off straight built. on and was and you a the and up see hut flying it It little 13 covered reload didn’t went

was we the Wasp in the we and Pearl it Once of the early.

wasn’t were Douglas Panama got the SO make through the wobble prior and Pacific Harbor. easy you Douglas about

with going Dauntless, We get anything a to got to Canal Dauntless small canvas didn’t the prior a on ready that. fly

We to thousand it Dauntless’? Panama

the set tight and correction. turned and 10 The see as I to instead dive in mean, Guadalcanal. had good

head World planes we Midway, a SB2U miles dive Canal around like good were of it out

as War to sounds some It you, didn’t metal, the from to to headed controls was replace we and get Guadalcanal.

Douglas II it planes didn’t a Midway

have or was but went like to very

at not the the fbr it like you flank dive did back was see old Mr. Zambrano: Iheardthatit wasprettyheavilyarmored?

Dr. DuPree: Well, it hadbullet-proofwindshieldsandbullet-prooftanksthatsealed.If youshotaholethroughthemitwouldsealitandithadabulkheadinfront

of us andbehindusthat wasbullet-proof.Itonlyhad two .50’sthat fired

throughthe propellerthat the pilot firedandthentwo .30 calibermachine

gunsthatthe gunnerfiredandit firedabouta thousandroundsof

ammunitionin onelongstringof bullets.Youcouldshoottwo thousand

withoutstopping.Ifyouhada six planesectionor threeplanesectionof

divebombersyouhadaboutsix .30calibersfiringin the rearand the six .50

calibersfiringfonvardand it was a prettywellableto defenditselfagainsta

7S0.

Mr. Zambrano: It soundsthatway. Who wasyourcaptainat thistime whenyouheadcd

backto ?

Dr. DuPree: Youmeanthe captainof the ship or my squadroncommander?

Mr. Zambrano: Well, I guess both. Who was your squadroncommander?

Dr. DuPree: Well, Ernest Snowdenwas the squadroncommanderafter FrankTurner

went to the Washington.He was General ‘Hap’ Arnold’sson-in-law,the

five-stargeneralin the air force,he married LoisArnold.

Mr. Zambrano: LoisArnold?

Dr. DuPree: LoisArnold was his wife and she was the daughterot’the five-stargeneral

of the air force.

Mr. 7amhrano: Oh,okay.Whatkindof manwashe like?Whatkind of officer?

14

Dr. Mr. Mr.

Mr. Dr. Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano: Zambrano:

Academy. was

to

out

thirty-four

carrier

beaver

very Oh, his

Really. The What competent Academy

ever confident

retired. Well,

1 Captain Forest

So

have

Georgia

he

confidence

as

he

proud

captain

meet

well.

about he

was

commander

read

Sherman

landing

was

kind

Sherman

was

man

in

him

He

He

of a

zeros.

Tech

pilot

that

the

the

of

of

pretty

‘32

his

a

was

left

or

the

and

a

in

practice

very

fellow

...?

David

and

who

and

and

fellow.

having

He

know

me

made

Georgia

highly

ship

of

confident

a

fearless

he

he

became

went

good

was

and

the

that

McCampbell

was

was

him’?

and

kind

four-star

been

He

air

complimentary

his

15

the

immediately

leader.

Tech

taught

made

he

a

‘Black

group

kind

of

officer

the confidence

captain

courageous

to

was

liked

Georgia

and

leading

and

me

of

me

on

Jack’

a

too.

served

fellow.

went

lieutenant

having how became

when

a

the

lot

into

in

ace

Tech

Reeves,

of

guy

Essex

to

to

better

himself.

the

on

my

He

flying

the

a make

of

the

and

Georgia

before

the

ship

the

at

graduated

flying

and

Naval

pilot

CO

but

the

he

Wasp

and

landings.

navy

was

He

there

was

of

he

he

time

than

and

Academy he

boy

was

the

sunk

was

went

and as

a

was

he

from

David

and

I

well.

to

real

navy

a

was

He

replaced

shot

1

and

totally

to teach

knew

a

later

the

eager

very

gave

the

Did

because

and

before

had

down

then

Naval

and

came

Naval

David

self

you

us

been

by

he

he

all of

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr. Dr.

Dr. Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zainbrano:

Zambrano:

That

law

tell Okay.

Snowden?

7

And Air

We Scouting

Well, Now

Okay. had

So number picture Wow,

started

He

finally graduated

a

and

high

that

was

me

had

that Group

a

my

was

would

the big

before

You

I

very

regard

realized

they

if

would

of

just

an

of

scouting

was

squadron

72.

Ernie you

fighter

advantage

him

in

7 your

LSO

know

interesting.

began

wanted

pilots

on

my

the

1934,

knew

for

be

serving

Snowden,

that

the

air

on

squadron

war

squadron

squadrons:

him. before

..

was

generally

to

group’? 1

the

Wasp.

these

to you

in

believe

started

train

throw

as

Scouting

the

Wasp.

When

didn’t

1

an

men

16

my

go

commander.

people

was

fact

most

take

LSO

it

71

a

on

commander

I

or

was,

couple

have

that

VF-7.

was

and

I

72.

not:

a

on

who

of

forgot

turn

they

but

reading

72.

to

the

the

Lieutenant

of

were

be

yes,

at

And

were

[SO’s

to

flight

names

a

being

who

ask

pilot

I

not

about

the

knew

pilots.

deck.

was you,

were

out

pilots

LSO’?

torpedo

to

Commander

the

be

at

David

‘Hap’

but

pilots,

you

Wasp

to

an

what

squadron

be

LSO,

Arnold’s

and

very

but

LSO’s.

I

was

came

E.M.

you

hut

well

after

the

was

can

I

They

son-in-

across

and

think

the

just

VT-

war

had

it a

Dr.

Mr.

Mr. Dr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

DuPrec:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

and and

plane

storage

August We

Okay. squadron, remember

hit

combat You

Okay. squadron,

about

I Yeah, about were

torpedoed

Eldridge Oh,

FTc

remember

Guadalcanal.

was

it

flew

from

okay,

know,

in

in

exploded

that,

Lieutenant

After

I

on the

on

remember

the

the

the

out

got

San

in

I

airight.

the

a

his

the

but

7 th,

the

don’t air

commanding

group

a

Howard

San

of

John

killed

Diego

Lieutenant

squadron

island

Wasp

I so

the

war

1942.

and

never

Diego

Most

Robert

think.

his

Eldridge’s

that

Lieutenant

seeing

flames

at

is

flames

to

of

that because

Our

squadron

Guadalcanal,

a

of

saw

attacked

Guadalcanal.

can

Tulagi

long

had

Howard?

Howard

my

was

17 officer

target

a

in

enveloped him

site

you

the

just

time

experience

squadron.

we

Commander

in,

just

landed

that

and

after

tell

anti-submarine

was

of

got

I

the

ago

that

think,

north

Scouting

I’m

me

I

mentioned

the

We

matter torpedoed

the

got

my

memory

was

at

where

pretty

gasoline

Wasp

was

of

covered

he

Guadalcanal

a

airplane

Eldridge?

in

hit

Guadalcanal.

of

was

7

on

Scouting

on you

sure

a

was

to

that

duty

about

and

the

split

in

storage

whatever

the

me.

and

went

the

he

sunk.

he

Lexington,

when

and

Marine

second

five

I

did,

and

was

other

I

7

didn’t

just

then?

1.

scout

tanks

I

weeks

I

the

I’m

1-Ic

was

deceased.

it

think

held

scouting

and

landings

was

do

Wasp

wasn’t

not duty

and

the

but

a

after

much

my

John

that

sure

zero

tburth

bomb

I

and

was

breath

How

in

on

it

we

was

was

my they

them

it such,

bottom

first

until sands classmates

explosion

and the

waved

ibund lot

made

Sea. was

float on

swimming

water.

He

to

our

of

just

Wasp

knocked

launch

otThnsive

the

The

then

type

right

but

searching

of

a

it

My

to

tail

of

strafing

stopped

limit

and

Guadalcanal

submarine

the

him

we’d

and

zero,

that

the

there

rear

at

that

to

their

we

Japanese

the

the

of

the

Wasp

one

and

battle

knocked

seat

been

later

after

run

for

my

and

never

at

attack

ship

time

side

he

of

Guadalcanal

the

on

gunner

combat

suspended

1-19

landed

and,

became

I

fighting

them

waved

completely

and

and

and

dropped

got

were

his

Japanese

on

us

put

of

18

it

involved

as

all

out

Australia

airplane

cracked

said,

in

building

experience

course,

was

back

a

three

I

a

of

the

of

colonel flew

that

defensive

in

and

a

our

‘I

fleet

the

out

midair; water.’ sudden

and

torpedoes,

don’t

the

a

bomb

over

with

nobody

that’s

and

first

war.

couple

an

of

that

I

was

aviation

went

in

the

airfield

his

America

the

know

ofThnsive

battle,

And

he

And

Ithink and

Guadalcanal.

why was

the

water.

cared

plane

Japanese

of

quit

on

two

hit

so

one

first

coming

three

why

it

storage

and

but

back

it

firing

was

the

I

felt of

about

strafing

I’ve

saw

of

was

battle,

Marine

he

Guadalcanal

they

them

times

fuel

to

my

like

such

fleet

down

quit

seen

and

his

fuel

an

After

the

Guadalcanal

were

first

storage

you

we

simultaneously

it

aviation

and

plane,

and

a

to

he

shooting

Wasp

and

a

the

bloody

but

that

had

picture

step

grade

know,

landed

going

I

the

last

it

saw

we

was

dump.

it

to

we

blew

and

on

Coral

gasoline

was

time

battle.

never

stop

at

to

him

up

as

of

did

our

the

in

that

us.

use

up

a

the

I the

I

a in Mr. Zambrano: Yousaythatthatwastheonlyactionthatyousawwhileyouwereon

Guadalcanal?

Dr. DuPree: The only action I saw on the Wasp was at Guadalcanal, that’s correct.

Mr. Zambrano: Well, I assume that after your run you flew back to the Wasp. How long

after that was it that the three torpedoes had hit the Wasp and where were

you and what were you doing when the ship was hit?

Dr. DuPree: I had flown a search and destroy mission that morning and landed back

aboard about ten o’clock and I had lunch and went to the squadron office

which was on the hanger deck. It was along the port side, forward in the

corner of the hanger deck. All the squadron offices were kind of together

and I was in there with about seven yeomen working on some paperwork

when the torpedoes hit and, of course, it had a solid steel floor and a solid

steel walls and solid steel everywhere. On the entrance the hatches at the

fbrward and aft end and flame was coming in both those hatches. So we

slammed the hatches and I could tell that the captain had put the ship into a

turn and I assumed that if he got to 180 degrees, if he could hold it on the

course, he would because it would blow the flame away from the ship

instead of across the ship so [was cracking the hatch and this voice said,

‘Close that hatch or I’ll crack your head!’ So I didn’t know who it was until

1closed the hatch and then I said, ‘I’m Ensign DuPree, sound oiI1 And

everybody gave there rank and, you know, their rating and serial numbers

like I told them to. Well, it seems like I’m the only officer in this group so I

don’t know whether that’s good luck or bad, but this is my plan. I said,

19

Mr.

Zambrano:

Yeah,

the

wreck. were

upper

to

knocked death, that

two

busting

and on deck

we but

can’ blowing

me

I’m and

I

‘We’re

said,

him,

it

torpedoes

see

what

if

went

going

fellow as

until

and

even

hat

when

anybody’s

I fbrcc

but

‘I’m

soon

From

that

but

had

in

my

away

from

on so

your

it

to

a

I’m

with

to

had

it

they

cooled

deck

head

on going

read

turn

I

their

the

as

the

my

looks

cracked

hit.

the

thoughts

wondering

from

the

that

shoes

sounded

deck.

thought

and

very

that.

battle

starting

open got

battle

Every

bomb

to

ship

some

cool

red-hot

the

crack

abetter

when

on

the

instant

You

It

said,

station

that

stations

are.’

was

ship,

one

but

explosions.

off

that

more

and

to

20

hatch

if

this

couldn’t

we

deck

cool

he or

...

‘Well,

it

of

pretty

And

he idea

we

that

if

wasn’t

and and

get

not

hatch

there

didn’t

them

the

a

and

couldn’t

went

we’re

cooled

few

torpedoes

than

the

around

and

then

I

amazing

Ensign

captain

fly

nobody

invite

The

were

their

in

guy

cool.

hit

times

back

nobody

I

going

any

about

all

have, I

concussion his

swim

plan

that

180

landing

forty-three

DuPree,

each

but

It can

plane in

and

hit.

that

could

head

was

to

thirty

a

it’s

was

degrees

to

one

had

and

hold

of

waited

get

finally

the

get

off

so

on

time

gear

ever you

threatening

man

he

any

I

out

seconds

blast

it

was hot

out

like

the something

planes

was

on

so

to

another

to

crashed

we

remember

idea

of

evacuated

we

of

ship

your

so

the

do

that

had

speak

here

just

walked

here

great

couldn’t

what

on and

the

flame

at

done

course

plan!’

me

scared

while

minute

and

deck

up

all,

and

while

same

as

in

happened

whether

with

with

out

and

that.

is

SOOfl

they

it

the was

he

when And

walk

we

was

to thing,

and

on

or

tell

me

will

as

the

so a

Dr.

DuPree:

torpedoes.

was

watch off

up

began

leave I two

any result we’d

were

a twenty-three

injured

first. dropped

fleet. about also

Well

Ship!’

can’t

big

in

and

room

red

hundred

had

I

the

saved

put as

it

the The

we

two

it,

just

to

remember

and

got

was

that

hot,

group

into

uh a

air, get

them

deck

were

to

rescue

hundred

C02

I

blew

I

under

from

think

quite could

...

but

go

went

people

so

people

hundred

the

as

so

in

the

it

below

the

bottle

it

up

water

boats

the

was possible

the

I

a

the

a

they

down

return

wasn’t

last

stood

men,

blast

shower

pilots

the

to

in

Wasp

boats

destroyer

red

complement

that

(leek

come

put

group

one

that

and

lifejacket

a

just

to

and

there

21

sinking hot,

that

line

so

about

would

and

group

that

and

duty

were I

50

together

had

they

about

a

to

were

flames

about

on

1

little

number

sent

put

were

he

stood

but

twenty

coming

a

and

so inflate

and

the

didn’t

picked

lifejacket

of

forty

on

flying

them

bit

actually

whoever

halfway

picked

were

deck floated

and

men

we

out

survivor

under

but

torpedoes

have

minutes

so

around

were

on

if

on

around

up

and

going

and

I

I

there

up

to

on.

twenty-one

think

didn’t

around

deck

down

and

was two

any

the

eight

watched

the

by

clothes

You

kept

about

later

were

when

it

hundred

trouble

in

and

in largest

the

it

ship,

to

use

said

hundred

was tbr

charge

the

could

telling

the

the

destroyers

took

any

but

eight

my

I

the

a

and,

but

hundred

Wasp

got

487,

water

while.

group

seeing

captain,

men,

I

injured

C02

all blow

Wasp

ordered

still

I

people

to

thousand

of

or

guess

there

my

before

the

and

course,

so

left

on

bottle

We

couldn’t

you

in

it

people

burn

clothes ‘Abandon

people were

Lardner,

up

a

wasn’t

the

to

we

then

so

some lost

SO

it

get

and

feet

at

as

and

had

it

I

I

a

in it

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr. Mr. Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano: Zambrano:

Say

men

Lexington Well,

they

you

Right. twenty-three

got hundred There You

I Well, Gosh

the went

standing explosion

But

second

finally

can

hot

well

that

so

compare

ot’f

were

said

completely

imagine, I

...

we

were

I

many

sank.

dropped

time

ship,

had

of

again,

and

were

yeah,

on

there

had

not

shows

and

the

around

the

read

before

returned

The

blew

hundred

people

the

a

prepared

survivors,

ship.

busier

I

I’m

were

you

busy

deck

a

got

Titanic

that

under

I

bow

bomb

it

ever

looking

twenty-three

got

it

a

back

survived

twenty-one

afternoon.

of

than

you

finally

to

people

Navy

went

a

tbr

the

saw

the

on

duty.

but

when

Navy

22

up

won

most!

an

water

a

at

Lardner.

Cross

straight

in

eight

sank. out

carrier

too

that.

emergency. a

We

World

the

rode

Cross

picture

hundred

hundred

of

and

but

only

hundred

thr

Navy

That

the

up

up

in

this

lost

for

War

that,

the

water

against of

in

lost

was

Cross

what’?

men

hot

aboard

sixteen

the

it

Philippine

II

yes.

of

two

here.

one

and

and

steam

air

them

aboard

an

for

hundred

of

and

the

I

hundred

nearly

It

iceberg,

what

had

the

were

looks

from

ship

it

Sea

the

a

went

most

you

came

full

people.

injured

the

ship,

and

when

pretty

people

they

did

down

elaborate

view

ocean,

twenty-one

down

but

had

I

bad.

in

and

Now

was

because

of

and

getting

about

from

the

they

it

on

when

it the

Dr. Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

transport.

one

and that

surfhce. missed, the

you Group that

Calilbrnia. Well,

any City taken still

Okay. ship

something

Salt I

Brestagi

couldn’t

bombed

name

on

they

kind

thing the

calls

go’?

Lake

named

and

once

they

Now

16

the

name

but

And

and

were

we

and

it

of

Even hit

City

a

was

even

bow.

that

took

you

It

the

Japanese

I

before the

the

went

we

that

it

took got

we

of

showing

so

and

scared we

Hayitaka

read

the

got Hayitaka

ship

us

That’s

the

came

didn’t

credit

slow

carrier

to

us

up

called

we

then

compass

off

that

ship

Noumea,

was.

carrier

seventeen

to

us

from go

a

the

how

run

for

us

we

submarine

Espiritu

compass.

but

and

all

was

so

23

the

into

All

that

Wasp

a

into

transferred

Noumea,

I’m

to

much

in

was

I

hit

several

Hayitaka.

the

I

have

that

New

death.

it

the

know

days

any

on

sure

had

in

and

Santo

Hayitaka,

The firepower

and

Philippine

that

could

heard

Caledonia

Dutch

Japanese

bombs

on

one

it

you

was

One

New

the

to

wasn’t

people

and

carrier

that

five

have

that

were

a

that

day

and

Philippine

Caledonia

Dutch

but

we

got

slow

we

Sea

ships

inch

the

it

the

we and

who

we

and

outrun

on

shifted

I

close

was

had

don’t

Japanese

battle.

boat

were

Hayitaka,

transport

stood

another

gun

sailed

Vice

were

or

on

a

Sea,

misses,

to

it

submarines

big

over

know

without

on

all

that

if

watch

Admiral

San

Tell

on

to

the

where

it

carrier

ship.

up

didn’t

to

called

Noumea

the

Dutch

got

but

Diego,

for

these

some

on

fantail

the

up

an

ship

Where

up

I

sure

the

were

Weyrnouth

and

was

have

there

Salt

escort

the

although

people

on

of

who

(leek

on

and

what

Air

them

the

Lake

you

did a

and

the of

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

to

The

Now

Lexington

a

young

have

I

with

wouldn’t

looked

When

any

button.

Oh,

anything button

on

and

the

fire kept

were

vouch

drink.

Quonset

deck

sailors

Lexington

ID, it

gosh!

it

us

where

an

us

standing

by

made

man

we

the

about

coming

for

Pretty

on

didn’t

ID

because

but hand

let

got

with

So

gun

Point, course.

...

him

card

has

was

a

me

a

sixteen,

when

back

hell

you

soon

have

watch

was

or

five

will

had

Commander

back,

and

the

in

until

they

Rhode

you

of

know

because

They

to

under

inch

more

fire’

you

we

any

Lexington

I’m

a

were

finally

I

San

I

thought could

noise

remember

guess

got

got

uniforms

taking

gun

how

Island showed

...

24

combat

construction

Diego

pretty

ID

they

he

to

fire

Snowden.

a

going

and

because

sailors

we’d

Marine

cards

your

had

when

him

and

didn’t it

we

us

everybody

then well

his

and

by

to

off

spent

destination,

into

been

about

and

went

are

you

just

name

check

I

I

captain

versed

I’ve

when

at

think

tried

was

the that’s

...

joined

Quincy

attacked.

about

stepping

to

how

had

was

you

bar

twenty-three it

below

a

to

the

I

in

who

and

was

center

when

that

go

and

four

with

what

say,

marifime

Glidden,

her?

sailor

Navy

see

to

twenty-one

on

But,

decks

had

gun

he’s

or

‘If

me.

a

I there.

happened

a

so

was

bar

stepped

Yard

five

been

button

fired

of you

a

the

So

he

came

years

sailing

naval

course,

and

ordered

We

months

step

said,

he

on

gun

and

and

and

they

and

on

tumbling

old

didn’t

and

then?

the

officer

on

we went

and

you

‘This

the

it

one

I

to

and

ship

of

I

that

wasn’t

didn’t

went

had

they

the

could

have

off

of

and

up us

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DnPrcc:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

he

The

foggy that roommate

circulation

He Right. captain. so month and

into in Well, Were March,

combined and Washington training

Lexington?

the

they

won

said,

that’s

it

was

last duty

there

Jim

was

same

brained

immediately

took

and

it

and

In

time

‘Well,

a

to

twice,

when

Sybert

Pittsburgh

navy

on

lost

flict,

a

a

squadron we

the

forming

State

us

few

number

I

the

now,

talked

in

went

all

I

Korea

pilot

Cook’s

it

in

can’t

years

the

Lexington, the

to

merged

back

‘47

he’s

after.

the

on

fighter

that

winter

and an

of

to

for

War

chase

and

ago

still

to

a

him members

air

torpedo

about

all

25

Cleveland

won

shakedown

with

the

and

‘49,

so

group

of

pilot

living,

of

on

women

was

they

same

the

ninety ‘42.

our

then

Bombing

and

the

squadron

in

came

while

from

Thompson

combat

say

he’s

1

phone

he

my

squadron

navy

he

because

don’t

cruise

years

had

he

to

stayed your

squadron.

they

in

16

pilots

the

can’t

I

and

remember

Pensacola,

duty.

a

old.

said,

to

so

old

reserve

were

I

Trophy

Lexington

and

in

don’t

Trinidad

Cook

we

walk

and

He

air

Cook

the

‘Cook,

then

He

completing

only

lost

group

they

have

navy

Clel

squadron

with

Race

if

caine

hut

was

we

it

his

had

with

how

and

and

got

he’s

was

but

just

and

going

and

up

the

leg

to

one

Sybert

called

it

was

you

one

in

February

the

Scouting

retired

one

a

that

then

only

to

for

little

squadron to

Cleveland,

my

bad

doing’?’

leg

Lexington

leg.

about

the

back

we

from

fellow

bit

as

and

flew

or

16

a

a I

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

had

He

races’?

Okay,

all on

[interruptioni

got

airplane and planes,

As

Oh, He

Cook same

I

Pardon?

Did

anymore wouldn’t

It

Oh,

thought

sounds

of the

won

a

won

me

brought

a

the

you

okay.

civilian

them

flight.

4000

had

okay,

Wasp

to

they

National

the

the

that

say

liquor,

it

buy know

like

won

Actually,

so

horsepower

Thompson

was

National

in

were

we’re

that

was and

...

he

one it!

some

two.

what

one

Admiral

but

got Oh

he

the Air

ever

F4U’s

part

back

won

Navy

I

fancy

my

me

that’s

Lexington

Races,

Air

to

got

made

Trophy

and

engine

on.

do

to

goodness!

that

two

26

Halsey

Races

a

Cross.

carburetors

buy

what

Jim with

hell

Now

okay,

and

Goodyear

Navy

Race

and

one

Sybert

bought

twice.

of

them

Cook

I

had

you

Cook

was

okay.

a

they

Did

Crosses?

and

good

in

declared

were

if

asking

who

to

purchased

one

‘47

Cleland

had

you

I

were

put

caught

attitude!’

saying

and

and

was

built,

say

on

the

about.

three

he

they

he

got

a

his

one

fastest

three

with

fighter

that

ran

won

of

airplane

a

I

wouldn’t

and

Navy

thought

in

these

he

four

out

two

propeller

‘48,

pilot

I

had

can’t

of

Cross

rows

F2G

Navy

that

but

surplus

won

he

you

let

drink

was

of

somebody

knew

fighter

Cook

on

built

Crosses?

said

these

pistons

the

and

well that

buy he

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

before

pretty

I F2G’s

Right. it There

a back

Now Right. knew down

slipstream trying ran Thompson before

felt and

Right. force

supposed

didn’t

race

really

it

like

so

on

that

pilot

in

what

big

and

in

was

to

Gosh.

and

I

but

he

he

understand

wasn’t

understand

his

Cleveland

them

close

get

fellow

to

back

didn’t got

crashed

I

and

with

anything

in

Trophy

had

slipstream

can’t

increase

by

You

a

around

and

pylon

it

P-51

much

in

happened

him

three

even

had

flipped

remember

the

know

won

into

again.

Race

your

that.

Cook

and

got

won

turns

the

to

40’s,

of 4000

place

is

some

the

racing,

I

a

caught

comment.

somehow

it

from

power

what

27

guess

to But

the

contest,

could

and

upside-down

race

am

horsepower

in

his

him.

houses

cross-country

Cook

Cleveland

the

turned

he

[correct?

he

again

in

air

and

name

do

got

‘48

Cook’s

had

it

in

races

about

never

just every

in

slipping

that

into

‘49,

right

race,

to

Cleveland

engines

and

flipped

and

out

force

it.

P-51

slipstream

a liked

one

and

off

but

tight

flight

he

He

to

speed

around

of

‘49

the

land

upside-down.

he

hit

Lake

blaring

to

was

it

turn

them

speed and

put

upside-down.

talk

was

hat.

the

records;

it

flying

and

Tahoe

behind

behind

so

they

his

ground

about

failed

the

But

on

record

he

flipped

old

him

year

moved

behind

he

couldn’t

they

and

that

him

Cook’s

and

carburetor

had

before

on

in

that

they

were

upside-

because

it

he

the

that

never

the

him

blew

an

hit

even

three

he

never

P-5

P-5

air

the

had

up

I

he 1,

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPrec:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

just

six

I

metal

east

A

Naval

And

Really!

credit but

the

said,

$25,000

or trophy,

Jimmy

trophy

and that

Oh, a

Oh,

remember

very

paper

three

experienced

museum

really

have

coast

Cook’s

yes

ever

I

so

‘Hell,

was

trophy

of

Air

big

is

Doolittle

his

actually

machete

they

feet

for

something

this

won

in

wasn’t,

just

Museum.

deal

paper

if

the

the

name

his

tall,

and

is

were!

list

you

the

saying

in

day

back

pilots trophy

Smithsonian

it’s

not

and

and

trophy.

of machete

the

Thompson

it

give

is

Everybody

the

questions

like

was

a

on

sell

in

Roscoe

it

Smithsonian.

that

paper

to

and

me

was

Lexington

the

it

$55,000

paper

come

it

That’s

28

for

it trophy

a

to

he

‘40’s?

painted

machete

seems

tax

Institute

Turner

‘47

Trophy this

...

called

out

machete

wanted

interesting.

credit

okay, and

for

is

fellow!’

left

and

that

on

bronze

both

the

it.

replica.

Race

‘49.

with

for

for

shoot

display

to

so

He

air

and

Daytona

win

of

sea.

Now

you about

So

races

his

gave

was

and

some

Let’s

whom

some

It

the

them

joined

They

name

in

was

Cook

Cook

it

the

$50,000,

and

museum

Pensacola,

Museum

looked

see

collector

landings

won

and

trophy

a

called

on

air

the

tall got and

...

it

the

speed

it

where

like

Lexington

a

trophy,

twice

I’ll

that

more

gave

out

in

to

replica

oftred

only

so

but

just

a

Pensacola

the

original

records

and

the

metal

was

along

him

than

the

navy

maybe

Pensacola

give

next

of

wanted

Cook

on

I

onginal

a

once

the

here.

trophy

with

tax

were

pilot

it

the

and

two

to I

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Not

all

the bombs,

hundred

and out

The

What

Really. landing mixed

Pardon? somebody two

truth,

the

Buie

other

Southerland,

Benny

crews

these

Yorktown

over

only

one

down

Lexington

years

and

did

people

Dupe,

could

up

Wright

it

So

on

of

big

feet

the

lieutenant

was

Commander

you

with

in

haven’t

those

with

what

the

side

Essex

these

about

get

long

that

the

think

and

quite

Lexington

also

was all

me

did

some

ships

plus

Air

were

and

the this

made

other

Class

two

in

that

a made

a

of

you

Group

lot

ship.

one

the

Hornet,

a

high

was

experience the

Lydell

the

seconds

hundred

1

commanders

a

think

bigger

carriers.

29

knew

crowd

the

the

thrward

carrier

Lexington’?

squadron

You

ever

ranking

Commander,

first

first

and

the

of

could

ship

know with

sunk

and

feet

the

landing

I

in

Wasp,

day

landing

Ernie

and

think

stuff.

handling

than

commanders,

I

three

Lexington’?

wide

in

been

get

it

said,

What

that

one

World

was

Snowden

there

the

aboard!’

the

and

He

made

and

big

and

anybody

down

aft

‘Ernie,

were

Ticonderoga,

the

Wasp.

said,

when

aircraft

planes and

were

Commander

had

War

the

sister

at

your

took

those

So

Ernest

‘Well,

how

big

second

the

Two.

I

eleven

ever

It

on

fly

and

I

ship

was

impressions’?

elevators

me

made

Bureau

in

things

it

I’d

landed

to

Some

Snowden

Commander

the

loaded

the

about

of

along

in

landing

Sheik

tell

rather

the

them

the

hell

intrepid,

would for

of

you

on

that

number

nearly

and

Essex

with

did

them

take the

in

and

it.

and

the

stuck

it

all.

go

last

I

and

was

the

and

nine get

Paul

up six

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

the

the

he half

well only

was Nile

And

Trinidad Now before

Right.

That’s

Once paint

a

always They

fire

one

Hornet

were

hazard

played

stadium

shakedown

and

the

the

Essex

coordinated

Kirinick, while

5’9”

the

hit

on

learned

it

So

you

true.

felt

and

afternoon

gets

only

then

one

by

to

Lexington

and

saftty and

I

Class

we

went

assume

shipping.

like

after

the

,

to

Heismann wall

it

we

a

weighed

I

were

burning,

cruise,

goes

don’t

Wasp

lot

the

and

through

him carrier

flew

as

gets

if

about

you

paint

anybody

was

down

you

over

as

know

at

and

down

which

hot,

about

a

Trophy

must

some

the

was

it’ll

a

wanted

building

matter

30

the

inside

to

old

there,

new

red

University

whether

there

the

burn

ever

Canal

I

I’ll

have

172

of

Lexington,

ever

hot,

ship

winner

the

next

of

him

we them

tell

sunk.

and

pounds,

for

ships

had

fuict

then

saw.

again?

ship

so

had

you

you

room

to

about

then

were

we

of

a

when

at

and

in

a

the

is

He

ever

shakedown

about

CV-2,

Iowa,

the

young

took

but

the

what

and

you

a

damaged

he

paint

could

Nile

month

University

heard

he

early

played

you

in need

it

it’s

caused

to

fighter

was

on

in

a

got

do

sink

just

minute,

the

part

of

next

in

shakedown

to

cruise

in

one

about

tailback

killed

him

the

sink

Nile

Yorktown

can’t

because

typhoons,

pilot

of

of

room

armed

Gulf

the

or

in

Iowa.

but

as

it

Kinnick

down

put

by

the

not,

so

strong

war.

and

catches

they

of

once

cruise

the

push

it

it

Atlantic

He

but

but

and

Paria.

there

won’t

I

out.

We

name

think

named

was

and

the

ups

not

Nile

the

to

on

on

be of

just

happened

to or

when

here’s body his be

wanting plane they

because that

the

think his was

flew

everything and

left Stadium.

mc

put

launched

life

wingman

wing

1

dazed

I

in

an

use

straight

kept

and

followed

he

the

and

and

it

my

Life

jacket,

old

he

in

to

bumped

at

and

plane

And

when

after

of

gave

checking

report.

and

the

send

every

was

airplane,

was

Magazine

and

course

ahead

tracked

gave

I’m

trash the

confused.

Nile

his

sank

me

fine

I

about

a

Nile

his

came ball

I’m

report

C02

told

me

copilot

a

and

and

he

out

or

and

it

he

head

thumbs

him

came

game.

not

out and

a

was

do

drowned.

back

that

bottle,

sank

landed

until

he,

thumbs

Nile

that

Anyway,

31

going

of

whatever for

on

left. I

skipping

the

by

believe

Nile.

I’ve

and

fuel

with

said he

up

the

a

sank

or

to

I-Ic

about

little

Big

to

landed

and

up

wrote

We

never

instrument

and

make

got

to

he

it.’

got

change

with

when

and

it’s

10

you

get

and

while

I

was

were

out

three

they

had

out,

has

my

seen

in

a

true.

a

waved

it.

want

kicking

the

of

landing

still

life

the

no

it. launched

He

never and

a

walked

report

miles

the

big

the

panel

plane

I

You

raft

idea

to water

in

didn’t

was

to

he

airplane

coin,

with that

coin

black

able

out

and

me

out

they

left

can

he

and

out on

sank,

and

me

make

cockpit.’

in

had

and

with

of

it,

his

to

but

the

and

send

on

said,

he

smoke

front

right

his

hut

after

and

rescue

Niles

old

a

I

catapult

the

I’ve

was,

came

Nile’s

any

thought

problem,

it

parachute

this

‘Well,

walked

of

F4F

behind

if

his

wing,

out

I

read

sank

you effort

even

you

said,

the

back

is

wingman

picture

fighter

and

ready

what

we

about

know,

ship

waved

with

want

out

him

his

but

‘Well,

to

seat.

he

were

pull

on

and

to

that

the

to I

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPrec:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

That’s

No.

lifijacket

going

finished

Kappa

So he

He

Oh with

been

lifeboat

out Well,

The

Right. go

His

circling

Not I’m

just

you

out

didn’t

my

of

I’m

wingman.

sorry,

a

guy

it

confused

on’?

he

copilot

the

a

So

of

at

and

stood

think

goodness.

him

in

sure

tragedy.

one

that

opened

the

was

the

even Nile

...

but

the

that

year

when

he

University

he

on

turned

see

cockpit,

no,

a

side

was

or

never

realize

was

simple

was

might

the

his

they

What

he

of he

he

it

of

wing

the

law

around

confused.

canopy was

could

the

even

the

did

walked

had

have

what

sort

next’?

end

of

school.

copilot

in

32

airplane

waiting

that.

a

opened

have

Iowa

of

a

hit

and

of

was lifeboat

but

Where

tighter

out

thing

Nile.

He

his

pulled

he

left

that

happening

and

on

and

that

had

his

head

didn’t

and

before

in

to

the came

...

an

canopy

when

he

to

the

the

from

honor

his

and

he

wing

be,

could

make

parachute

out

C02

Nile

didn’t

wingman.

to

the

just

there?

you

or

and

him.

graduate

on

plane

have

any

bottle

got

didn’t

know,

the

even

waved

He

out

attempt

seat

gotten

wing

went

on

was

think

realize

in

of

pulling

and

his

at

law

the

or

down

a

out

me,

to

to

lifejacket

Phi

was

another

cockpit.

school.

what

get

do

that

if

I

Beta

he

was

he

it

a

that.

was

lifeboat

sank

hadn’t

1-Ic

He but Dr. DuPree: Well,we cameback aftershakedowncruiseto San Diegoagainandfrom

there we headed out to . The Lexington’s first combat mission was

the landings at Tarawa.

Mr. Zambrano: Okay.

Dr. DuPree: And that was one of the bloodiest two or three day battles I’ve ever heard

of We killed, I think, ten thousand Japanese and lost about six thousand

Marines in seventy-two hours at Tarawa.

Mr. Zambrano: What was your assignment during that battle?

Dr. DuPree: The fighters had gone in and destroyed all the airplanes on the runway and

we were assigned gun positions to try to knock out the guns. I had an

interesting experience. My first flight at Tarawa when I started down the

flight deck I realized that instead of getting fifty-five inches of mercury in

manifold pressure, I was only getting thirty, but I didn’t realize that until I

was over halfway down the flight deck so I knew as 1approached the end of

the flight deck I didn’t have flying speed and I filt that I was going to crash

in the ocean that I closed my flaps and counter tiaps and I knew [was just

going to fall off the end of the flight deck and I hoped I would pick up

enough speed before I got to the water because 1was hitting the flaps again

and it would fly and I had a thousand pound bomb on it. [couldn’t drop the

bomb because I was afraid that the ship might hit the bomb and blow it up

although normally the bomb would have to fall for several seconds to arm.

You can’t take that chance when you’re talking about dropping a bomb in

front of your own ship.

33

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

accident

Well, Oh

wadding.

pound

only

somebody oil

draft

and and and

keep

so’

drop

thirty

couldn’t about

inches

hit speed

So

Right.

from

boy.

about

I

and

they

we

when

pilot kept

the

carburetor

it

it

inches

fifteen

bomb and

of

in

went

was

I

that

leaking

bomb

keep

had

flew

forty

the

mercury,

until

I

they

forgot

I

know

just

just

didn’t

off

of

down

changed

minutes

bomb

up

around

percent

the

landed

and

mercury

and

dived

the

out

a,

to

with

of

flight

you

to

happen.

no

circle

and

pull

Lexington

they

that

on

the

to

for

the

I power

towards

the

of

know,

the

was

as

the

climb

successfully

and

got

34

stuck

three

hanger

if

flaps

oil

squadron

I

decks

I

cotton

rolled

the

back

they

in

could

at

an

up

with

hours

the

cotton

and

there

all,

last

accident

deck

SO

just

and

to

off

ocean

wadding to

...

so

because

the

plane

they

a

until

the

took

wadding

my

told

the

I

to

thousand

I

they

said,

carburetor

called

try

night

wouldn’t

and

that

great

flight

to

they

an

me

asked

out

to

I

land

‘Well,

just

SBU

couldn’t

could

to

the

before

find

in

got

surprise

deck

feet.

of

fly

and

before

the me

ship

stufThd

the

have

loaded

back

out

so

away

have

I

I

carburetor

if

and

I

didn’t

carburetor

didn’t

far

catch and

what stayed

I

it

to

from

I

thought

been

it

flew

with so

got

from

with

mop

told

had

the

them

good. have

have

the to

in

a

but

cotton

a

the

them

it

a

to

trouble

the

serious

the

thousand

so

I

mission

up

dime

just

with

flying

could

keep

it

I

fleet

i’m

ocean

plane

think

took

and

I

thirty

this

was

the

the

and

he I

Mr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mr. Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano: Zambrano:

Zambrano:

possibility

shoreline of head

of

had Well,

expected across

No,

wiped them not was combat

was

Do Well,

I seventy-two

Did

How

It

think

was

being

course

you

because

some

your

I

over

a

out

many

out

never

it

it

gun

a

out

the

I

mission

recall

was,

sounds

very

had

killed

of

and or

plane

with.

and

they

bad

Pacific

all

emplacements.

of

runs

the

got

not

they

hours.

three

from

close

swimming.

only

of

they

anything

weather

had

in

water.

sustain

like

any

I

the

at

against

quit

never

combat

caused

flights

the

Tarawa.

all a

a

call,

damage

zeros

it

dive-bombers

sixty

firing

ran

was

A

short

information

any

knew,

else

but

the

lot

The

it

35

because against

out

before

pound

You

a

damage?

or

I

of

when

all

Marines island

about

on

close

was

within

LST’s

not

but

them

never

it

that

pack

we

did

the

scheduled

but

you

the

they

call.

that

did

point

and

mission

lost

even

the

and

under

was

island,

know

tide

Marines

on

you

fire

battle’?

weren’t

I’m

time

their

of

LCI’s

them,

keep

got

was

at

have?

5’ó”

view,

whether

not

but

for

at

them

that

there

lives

took

much

all.

me

brought

tall

sure

so

the

by

probably

the

the

there

from

and

due

the

enough

and

next

the

you

whether

higher

fighters

tide

end

whether

to

the islands

them

flying

wasn’t

flight

knock

was

drowned

that

of

to

Marines

then

a

had

up

keep

the

a

high

and

in

tsunami

in

them

any

we

lot

close

we

the

third

about

already

my

knocked

there

higher

instead tide

...

first

out

to

target

day

we

and

or

the it

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

rear Now

back

I that And

DowdeH hoping

that than

Kwajalein, Air them, then

sinking, Officer Makin

it. above

I into After

I

had

later

can

We

Medal

flew

seat

was

a

that

they

we

to

I

tell

a

Tarawa

he

scrap

read

the

hit

know

Island,

regular

that

in

Tokyo

went

but

at after

to

was shot

with

you

expected

Wake

water.

the

for

Kwajalein.

that

yes.

let

I

with

I

that

sank

the

at

did

to

do

down

we

squadron

you?

that

we

him

gunner.

and

this

Kwajalein?

Kwajalein Island

So

you

a

Dauntless

islands

knock

came

hit

it

and

zero

repaired

fly

and

cruiser

a

that

but

New

recall

zero

in

That

then

His

a

back

the

that

and

a

I

was

couple

we

his

36

didn’t.

hole

Guinea,

a

name

little

patched

around

where

takes

night

the

it

my

had

hit,

Kwajalein

place

on

a

and

tragedy

in

cruiser

the

gunner

of

but

asked

short

They

was

two the

we

somebody

you

and

the

days,

Hollandia,

second

up

I

bow.

were

can’t

Dan

men,

Marines

to

first

ran

he, went

the

ran

for

who

and

we

fly,

Chief

hole

Dowdell, the

it

retreating

ashore

mission

remember

of

did

I

hit

next?

happened

aground

else got

he

December

and

Marine

were

you

in

Palau

had

Stafford,

a

had

to

the

we

hit

have

on

hut

not

wanted

keep

from

to

and

bow

to

hit

on

the

Corps.

to

the

keep

he

tall

sink

and

a

a

be

Truk,

exact

was

Peleliu,

from

Kwajalein,

Lexington,

regular and

cruiser.

Chief

enough

a

to

that

it it.

Chief

flying

they

get

but

from

sinking

sequence

I

had

was

night

we

crewman

a

I

I

went

to

Petty

got

shot

think

in

asked

hit

it

and

stay

I

and

my

was

an

got

at of

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

jammed

than food

engine

Lexington a

to

the don’t Lexington

That’s term, had six

Okay. screws, neutral

from

and

He’d

Heights, Dowdell,

D-O-W-E-D-E-L-L?

cloudless

Pearl

foot

rudder

a

came

twenty

in

the

get

that

know

total

Let

right,

Betty

position

the

something

wrench

Harbor

in

New

after

into

D-O-W-D-E-L-L.

back

was

me

back had

and

of

a

freezer

sky

if

knots

turn

D-E-L-L.

came

about

a

just

it

York. screws

Dan

knocked

to

with

fight

and

and

he

in was

and

and

come

and

go

the

and

like

was right

what?

one

a

drydock

he

the

the

He

with

back bright

on

there

neutral

because

Dan

wrecked

forty-five

stayed

back

able

hundred

two a

never

one

up

both

37

hole

Marines

a

was

the

was

moon

to

forward

on

second.

home

and

position

sides

went

down

in

turn

you

wake

the

a

the

about

and

they

the

thousand

little

that

or

with

right

couldn’t so

...

to

screw

there

The

screws. ship

eighty

and

army

got

the

college

a

by

and

chief was

two

nineteen

or

name

stuck

hand

and

him

boat

under

on

the

or,

horsepower

like

the

thousand

run

petty

forward

On

the

destroyed

and

out

if Captain

wouldn’t

left,

put

of

a

broad

the

the

he

the

torpedo

one

year

your

officer

of

he

the

couldn’t

but

screw

water

Lexington,

there

screws

side

was

horsepower.

daylight

old

rudder

cut

gunner,

in

the

all

be

in

that

a

kid

or

each

until

on

off

and

rudder

of

wild going

the

find

at

the

the

had

from back

the

the

but

and

about

screw

if

we

fantail

it

other

Indian.

a

one

that’s

power

in

had frozen

about

was

he

got

a

Jackson

in

a

twin

less

side,

put

so

a

turn so

four

of

back

the

a

it

the

the I

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

that

parachute.

legs we

me

doing

cockpit

sleeve

from

At

Was

Oh,

Was gunner on

not from the

Pardon? Japanese,

Dowdell seat

skipper

that

leave

were

but

skipper

leave

the

yeah,

hit

gunner,

he

he

Pearl

the

I

while

just

I point

and

the

plane

and

a decided

a

up

guess

anymore.

rear

came

the

pretty

pretty

he

he’d

Well,

Harbor

tail

one

he

pulled

at

he

his

I

we

was

ship

had

seat

was

about

flew

he

flew

up

of

fight

day

good

good name

to

were

I

a

the

was

gotten

he

didn’t

for

and

up

making and

kick

I’ll

good

with

up

and

four

every

took

airplane

the

gunner?

gunner?

and

firing

was

fixing said,

stay

Dowdell

straight

him

when

jump

away

me

gunner.

thousand

38 next

flew

my

time

McElheney,

my

on

‘If

at

out

for

to

gunner

and

six

he

the

out

a

firing

from

you

straight

through

do

he

the

of

and

towed

We

found

months

ship

tore

immediately

another

was

feet

the

let

rest

all

I

run

had

and

both

me

squadron.

until

out

ahead. sleeve

and

on

falling

to

my

out

of

and

a

and

so

be

land

shore

the

a

loop

got

mid-air

wing

Dowdell

that

we

couple

I

your

Ralph

and I

didn’t

I

debris war.

hit

an

because

agreed

hoped

go

and

Mac

leave,

But

and

by airplane

gunner,

he

back

collision

of

saw

his

jumped

have

could

and the

did

he

I

panels

he

had

to

and

head

I

home.’

what

knocked

tail

a

take

would

wanted

I

a

I

and

ioop

was

trained

land

finally

gunner

won’t

about

of

out

was

of

the

him

he

having

the

And

around

jar

his

that

and

to

it

out

fool

flew

even

the

my

ten

as

airplane.

off,

and

up

he

plane

he

his

of

my

was

miles

rear

on

sure

with

the

but

did

go the trouble pushing out because when the plane was spinning like it was with

no wing and it cut the throttle controls so the engine was running wide open

too and it was just spinning like atop. And I get almost to the top of the

cockpit trying to get out of there and when I relaxed my hold on the side of

the plane, the wind would knock me back in my seat. That happened a

couple of times so I decided I needed to figure out how to take advantage of

that centrifugal force spin and just slide over the side and it would throw me

out and that’s what happened. My leg hit the tail of the airplane. I had a big

scar under my knee and that’s the only accident, the only damage I ever had

in combat and that wasn’t in combat that was ten miles out from Pearl

Harbor. But when I finally got out of the plane and pulled the rip cord I was

down to about twenty-five hundred feet and Dowdell passed me on the way

to the water and he waved to me and I waved back and I asked him if he

was hurt and he said his legs were beat up a little bit, but he was fine. And

then I looked at the water and the Fletcher had already launched a boat to

pick us up. They saw the action on the radar and stopped the boat and put

the life rafis over and came over to me and I told them I wasn’t injured but

Dowdell was. ‘Pick him up and take him back to sickbay’ and they did.

They came hack and picked me up and both of us were on the Fletcher

within twenty-three minutes so that wasn’t a long journey.

Mr. Zambrano: So you weren’t in the water very long, then?

Dr. DuPree: No, not at all. And of course I had a life jacket and all I had to do was

and I knew they were going to come back and pick me up as soon as they

39

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

wear but

got

have

Oh water

Anyway, green height terrifying

He the runway he Well, Dowdell

skipper and coming him, assigned

Right!

Dowdell

pulled

never

gosh!

tower

once

Dowdell

said,

he

to

for

a

card

I

to

And

guess

second

get

said,

up

landed

and

the

we

him didn’t

and

take

‘That

flew

Dan

his

to

and

that

and

you

Dowdell

he

be

eastern

got

into

ripcord

‘Well,

I

to

lucky

his

see

became

any

ran

picked

he with

time

said

guy

in

know

a

a

free

the

non-flying

ID

if

young

an

tried

out

more.

is

for

he

half Dan

I

his

and

of

card

airplane

stayed

sickbay

and

could

how

no

of

it

the

was

him

to

the

wheels

up

it

of

ensign

if

gas

DuPree!

the

40

jump

and

vice-president

was

to

you’re

airplane

the

an

and

get

that

in

job.’

parachute in

so

swim.

with

go

expert

the

United

after

a

up

the

out

walked

and

that

he

job.’

take

He

not

I

squadron

and

no

had

Philippine

ain’t

of

it

He

on

that

was

swimmer,

said,

was wings,

going the

the

So

States

Dowdell

one

flared

a

got

into

experience

flying

of

a

Mae

he

swimming

airplane

no

quick

‘That’s

his

of

Sears

on

his

to

worked

and

spinning

problem.

out

the

West,

Sea

fly

friend

another

with

commanding

but

saw

experience.

he

and

Roebucks

first

with

battle

fine.

until

he

that

didn’t

him

these

right?

in

test

Bentley

went

with

flights

couldn’t

Well,

him

the

cruise

I’m

it

I

and

for

anymore!’

rode

learned

hot

even

tower

all

a

I

going

lady’s

him

we

It

full

guess

you

officers

he

who

and

sparks

over

to

was

swim

have

were

made

so

after

throttle,

know

a

that

they

over

was

ready-to

we’ll stop

the

he

And

a

office

a

in

that.

with

had

his

to

lick!

and

the

the a

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

painting

name

‘I’m can

‘Don’t call that

in-law

gunner Right.

He Wow! president

from And until

they

for and speak

So college

from

they

got

lady’s

talk

Dan’

was

said,

familiar

brought

that

I

up

Montgomery

on

Dan’s

don’t

had

do

into

that

education.

took

him

that

in

his

it

was

he

‘Well,

of

anything

ready-to-wear,

painted

and

Boston,

kidney

used

name!

Montgomery

even

says,

out

she

language

with

it

in

Mr.

I and

some

you’ve

of

wanted

did,

to

know

Dowdell?

that

‘He’s

And

a

Van

Wards

failure

it

he

I

about

play

picture

can’t

but

you

Harvard

started

and

picture.

after

called

made

what

fixing

to

a

I

41

and

your

can

Wards

sax

to

and

remember

won’t

he

send

of

take

he’d

they’re

that’s

home

so didn’t

a

in

me

had

MBA

dialysis

My

to

a

decision

him

I

dive-bomber

one

do

for

come

the

been

called

and

to

wife

what

and

anything

speak

a

the

graduates

of

the

talking

take

same

said,

copy

until

successful

off

the

drew

when

eastern

him

to

boys

he

dialysis

theirs

job.

that

big

turn

‘Dr.

of

you

did

about.

and

until

that

with

he

name

the

bands

and

dialysis

So

this

until

half

DuPree,

get

so

got

I

same

picture’.

for

and

I

told

he

my

of

he

Here’s

get

now. over

this

of

home

he

before

was

several

course

one

walked

number

him

the

picture. and

your

retired.

picture.’

sir,

to

He

executive

of

my

United

he

And

that

die.

these

the

picture.’

you

they

was

his

years

had

in

resignation!’

on

I

my

I war,

If

friends

one

need

have

He

said,

fellows

a

didn’t

it

a

anybody

States

in

rear

mother-

call

and

vice-

said,

Van

day

And

sales

to

a

seat

his to so then his grandchildren came to see him and spent the month with him so

he lived another year and then he called me and said, ‘1have lived for a

miserable year. This dialysis is absolutely the pits. I have one decent day a

week and I can’t live like this anymore. I’m going to check in the hospital

and I’m not taking any more dialysis. I’m going to stay there until I die!’

And he walked in there, didn’t take his clothes off and stood by the side of

the bed. When he was unconscious he fell over on the bed and he died right

there in that position. I wrote a letter to the fire department that used to take

him to emergency sometimes to the hospital on the weekends when his

dialysis needed to be done on an emergency basis and I sent a little

contribution with the letter. I got a letter from the chief that said, ‘I’m so

sorry we didn’t get to know Mr. Dowdell when he was well because he sure

was a hell of a man when he was sick!’

Mr. Zambrano: Oh boy. How long ago was this that he died?

Dr. DuPree: About three years ago.

Mrs. DuPree: Longer then that!

Dr. DuPree: Jeannie said longer then that. How much longer Jeannie?

Mrs. DuPree: Probably about five years.

Dr. DuPree: Jean estimates five years.

Mr. Zambrano: Oh, okay.

Dr. DuPree: I know he died in August, but I’m not sure what year it was. His wife

remarried about a year ago and she’s still living up in that area in Illinois.

42 When he moved to Montgomery Wards he moved to a little town right near

the Iowa border along the Mississippi River across the river from Iowa.

Mrs. DuPree: Lanark!

Dr. DuPree: Lanark, Illinois, Jean says.

Mr. Zambrano: Lanark?

Dr. DuPree: Lanark, yeah.

Mr. Zambrano: Okay. I wanted to ask you about the Philippine Sea. You mentioned a little

earlier that’s where you won your Navy Cross ... I’m sorry, you received

your Navy Cross when you dive bombed a carrier.

Dr. DuPree: That’s right.

Mr. Zambrano: Can you tell me a little more about that’?

Dr. DuPree: WelL that was the first Battle of the Philippine Sea. Now we hadn’t had a

fleet battle since Midway which was in June of 1942 and this was June of

1944. two years later. You know, I need to stop a minute. I’m going to hand

the phone to Jean and I’ll be back with you in just a minute.

Mr. Zambrano: Okay, well, i’ll tell you what; I’ll stop the recording for now and just let me

know when you’re back on.

Dr. DuPree: Okay.

Mr. Zambrano: Okay.

[Interruptioni

Mr. Zambrano: Okay, we’re hack on!

Dr. DuPree: You know I want to tell you a story about some things that happened while

we were at Maui waiting fir the Lexington to be fixed.

43 Mr. Zambrano: Oh, okay.

Dr. DuPree: One day we had some old thousand pound bombs that had been in storage

there at Maui for years and they decided that they didn’t want to put them

on ships because they were afraid they wouldn’t explode so they decided

we’d have a dive bombing practice hitting them just south of Maui and I got

in the airplane and cranked it up and all of a sudden I could smell gasoline

and it started skipping and the engine cutout and then it bust into flames

with that thousand pound bomb on it. Of course I put on the brakes and cut

off the gas but it was too late. The airplane burned and finally the heat

cranked that bomb casing and the TNT went off, blew it up in the air two or

three hundred feet and I had run over to a steel hanger and got behind it

with Dowdell. I was the gunnery officer at the time and I had just lectured

on the difference in a low order detonation and a high order detonation.

High detonation means that the fuse sets off the bomb and it blows with

total force, but low order detonation is when the bomb fuse doesn’t work

and the TNT goes off from fire like that one did. I said, ‘This is going to be

a low order detonation. It probably won’t even blow a hole in the ground,

which it did not. It didn’t blow a hole in the ground, but it blew that airplane

way up in the air and the old chief looked at me and said, ‘Well, I’m damn

glad that was a low order detonation!’ Because it shook the hanger and it

shook the island, everybody on the island heard the explosion. They thought

the Japanese had started bombing Maui.

Mr. Zambrano: My goodness.

44

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

DuPree

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Lexington

Right. determine burning

When

and

Right. engine engine

hooked

Yeah,

course came

Had ground

ground

field

Well, bomber

Oh, what

So

I

it

gosh.

no

had

to

happened

loose

caught

I’m

that

Gosh.

I

it

catches.

is

because

you

get

to

idea,

can!

up

explosion.

had

to

turn

what

the

very

got

happened,

and

out

or

go

can

Did

You

fire but

an

on

engine

out

what,

around

of

blowing

fortunate

really

to

imagine

electric

all

the

it

you

and

said

the

to their

...

the

but

the

electric

and

that

it

ever

way,

happened.

I

town

you

other

exploded

island,

don’t

fuel

Pacific?

up

it

what

45 that

one

gasoline

was

determine

had

but

and

talking

pump

pump

planes

it

know

of

a

that

something

if

a

caught

falling

tragedy

the

couple

that

and

started

to

as

the

to

just

whether

first

why

thing

burned.

build

well

the

into

fire

Japanese

of

scrambled

that

thing

sailors

wrong

flowing it

as

stories

while

had

pieces

up

did

the

would

a

But

the you

manual

happened

that?

gas

had

with

club

it

about

by

there

gas

out

do to

was

have

line

nothing

the

the

explaining

the

when

pressure

around

and

still

was

the

ruptured

been.

time

peripheral

fifty

gas

the

time

sitting

no

you

to

line

it the

feet

fuel

before

way

do

got

crank

before

to

hot

or

and

with

on

of

pump

through

them

just

of

to

engine

the

the

the

of

the the

that the Dr. DuPree: Well, I was going to tell you another story about how I met Admiral Nimitz.

Bucky Waterhouse was the chief civilian defense officer for the island of

Maui. He and Pappy Cook were both Cornell graduates and raised horses

over on the plantations down there, that’s sugar cane plantations and

pineapple plantations. Now Pappy was a descendent of Admiral Cook who

found the islands and his father owned the island of Molokai, where the

leper colony was. Bucky’s father and mother lived on and they

owned land all over (he islands. Anyway, Bucky came over to the hanger

one day and said, ‘Dup, today is mother’s birthday and I’ve never missed

her birthday and I can’t get a flight until tonight, but she wants me to come

and have lunch with her. Do you suppose you could get a dive bomber and

let’s fly over to Pearl Harbor and have lunch with mother?’ and I said,

‘Well, I’ve got to ask Ralph’ and he said, ‘Sure.’ So we got in the dive

bomber and we flew Pearl Harbor. He said, ‘Just fly to the house and she’ll

come pick us up.’ I said, ‘You don’t want me to ask for transportation?’ He

said, ‘No, mother will pick us up at the runway.’ So we flew over the house

and I realized when we flew over her house that she lived right next door to

Admiral Nimitz, right out there at the naval air station at Pearl Harbor and

by the time we landed and taxied over to the where they park the planes,

here comes this black Cadillac across the end of the airfield along the taxi

strip right up to our airplane and I notice a Marine officer with his crew and

in a carryall coming toward the Cadillac at the same time and I’m

wondering what he was going to say about Mrs. Waterhouse driving down

46 the taxi strip. But he pulled right by the back door of the Cadillac, jumped

out and opened the door for her, saluted and said, ‘Good morning, Mrs.

Waterhouse. How may I help you today? How may be of service to you?

And she said, ‘No, I just came over to pick up my son Bucky’s and his

friend Lieutenant DuPree. Today is my birthday and they’re going to have

lunch with me.’ And then the Marine captain saluted and that was the end of

the problem. But I wondered about all that, you know, you’re saluting a

Cadillac riding down the runway and the Marine captain knew who she was

before she even got out of the car.

Mr. Zambrano: Really.

Dr. DuPree: And we were having a conversation about Admiral Nimitz and she asked

me if I’d like to meet him and I said, ‘Sure I would!’ So she picks up the

phone and she dials one number. Somebody answered the phone and she

said, ‘Chet, this is ...‘ and she told him her first name, they were on a first

name basis, obviously, she said, ‘Today is my birthday and my son Bucky

and his friend flew out from Maui to a birthday lunch with me. Are you

busy for lunch? Would you join us for lunch’?’And Admiral Nimitz

apparently said, ‘Well, sure.’ He’d be happy to have lunch with us. So he

came over in his full dress whites with ribbons all the way down to his belly

button and I was just dressed in a khaki uniform with no tie which was the

uniform of the day for the summer time in Maui, and Admiral Nimitz said.

‘Have a seat, son. This is a social call.’ And he was about as friendly and

nice a gentleman as [ever met. In fact, he offered to let me use his

47

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Gosh! Yes.

Oh!

The

government.

built.

Pardon?

So

the

So

But

she’s

the until

Harbor

the kind

Bucky after in

lunch.

stay. apartment

the

their

their

possession

Japs

attack

So

Waterhouse

I

he

the

invitation,

I

thought

going

So

Pacific

never

He

said,

that

to

left

family

family

hit

war

was

the

and

asked

over

explains

and

to

I

‘Well,

got

was

asked

US

that

and

that

had

be

of

gave

gave

the

but

she

me

family

back

Pearl

living

government

over.

was

I

the

never

mother

believe

BOQ,

he

Mrs.

said,

a

them

how

them

one

lot

to

an

did

Harbor.

I

owned

next

Pearl

left.’

said,

48

Waterhouse

‘Oh of

she

interesting

if

the

and

the

make

never

I

specific

I

answered

door

was

came

yes’

land?

land?

and

‘Well,

She

only

Harbor

Pearl

They

that

likes

there.

to

reserved

she

said,

into

time

questions

Admiral

story,

Harbor

offer

I’m

lived

if

and

to

was

most

she

‘Oh, town

you

talk

amazed

had

to

there

how

and

a

was

of

before

saw

me.

I

lot

about

Nirnitz

and

don’t

about

an

them

she

the

living

before

to

And

that

Admiral

opportunity

didn’t

stay

planned

they

this,

government

plan

to

how

as

you

we

in

his

the

in

long

but

gave

have

to

Pearl

things

had

their

were

Nimitz?

satisfaction,

naval

to

leave.’

they

as

it

a

to

a

stay

Harbor

home

place

she

to here

very

came

were

use

base gave

the

here

And

lives.’

that

during

nice

to

and

US going

into

was

Pearl

when but

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

thirteen

know because

flight

superstitious

twelve

never

squadron, Philippine much Tinian, Now

Right. take That

when him,

Philippine never

flight, covered Wow,

...

requested

off

was

you

we’ll

deck

how

a

flown

opposition. spoke

Joe

what

flights

big

and

airplane

from.

it

the

know,

the

was

in

Bryan

much

Sea

Sea

that

get

boat

Guam.

a

landings

with

to

our

about

that

only

story

down

The

back

going

battle

him

day.

in

came

and

air

courage

who

he

any

We

time

different

last

the

Now

to

other

group,

to

in

He

ride

it

to

we

there,

of

just

tell.

wrote

in

the

was

the

number

combat

that

be

looked

us

hit

Saipan

to

in

49

then

it

landed

Philippine That

New

his

and

and

his

took

we

drydock

my

I Truk,

...

the

met

thirteenth

that

thirteenth

mission

covered

thirteen.

Admiral

here

at

rear

I

was

Guinea

book

was

mc

did

and

him

the

we

time.

seat.

quite

to he

at

a

not

number Sea

hit

Mission

built

and

tough

Pearl

get

was

I

the

and

The

Nimitz

flight

know

flew

Hollandia

flight He

battle,

a

talked

in

an

landings

meeting.

just

Guadalcanal

Harbor

reason had

battle,

that

and

was

airstrip

Beyond

and

that

and

was

staring

in

never

to

airplane!’

we

at

we

the

the

he

at

but

he

him

very

and

at

Guam.

were

there

New

walked

said,

Darkness,

hadn’t

meantime,

gentleman

[unclear],

flown

Tinian

at

personally.

you

area.

much

them.

the

Guinea,

for

He ‘You

On

saw

with

flown

out

Well,

number

didn’t

the

said,

in

this

He

at

about

him

don’t

before

on

was

view

B-29’s

our

Saipan,

had

we

I

last

is

he’d

‘I

the

have

saw

but

was

the

the to determined to fly with you, but I’m superstitious about the number thirteen

and I sure didn’t want to go.’ Anyway, we bombed and strafed gun

emplacements on the Orote Peninsula in Guam and I turned around and

firing at us and Joe got a good feel of what anti-aircraft fire was They

were firing behind us, they didn’t hit us, but they fired very close behind

that rear seat where he was sitting and he didn’t tell anybody his

superstition until we got safely back.

Mr. Zambrano: What was his last name again?

Dr. DuPree: Pardon?

Mr. Zambrano: What was Joe’s last name?

Dr. DuPree: Joe Bryan, Joe Bryan III. He was an editor for the Saturday Evening Post

and he wrote movies a good bit too, he came out to the Lexington to write

the life history of Admiral Mitscher and Admiral Mitscher wouldn’t even

talk to him. 1-lesaid, ‘I’m not fighting this war, I’m running the fleet! You

need to talk to these boys that have got some stories to tell you!” And he

ended up writing the book Mission Beyond Darkness. He never wrote the

life history of Admiral Mitschcr, he also wrote a book about Admiral

Halsey, and he wrote a book called Sword Over the A’Iantle.That one of his

ancestors got from, uh ... it was said that the sword is the sword that

General Lee gave at the end of the Civil War and he had a descendent and

that he gave it back to a descendant of Lee, one of Joe’s ancestors and that

sword is hanging over the mantle of his ancestral home at Fredericksburg,

Virginia.

50

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Well,

Sure,

knows!

By

Oh

the

didn’t biggest

Duchess?’

the

that apologized

and

Jean’s

a cards book.

realizing

from this

wrote

I

Really!

have

letter

the

boy!

people

Duchess?’

he

book

long

I Joe

our

and

He

continue

a

way,

could

aunt a

said,

to

wimp

So

story

Well,

copy

that

that story

box

lived

at

the

all

of

he

He

for

gave

Jean

home.

‘Well,

have

of

England

publisher

he’s

called

thought

I

is

I

of

said,

that’s I

the

losing

knew

ever

with

as

a

said,

745,

the

me

asked

sudden

there

that

been

Duke

And

which

‘That’s

knew

book

The

the

an a

Swainsboro, the

‘Tell

contact

he

should

copy

done.

me

and

king.’

interesting

in

I

Duke

and

author

was Windsor

51

I

asked

one

Sword

and

France

me

lost

absolutely

if

they

of

the

you

the

be

with

do

and

I

about

the

that

track

him

said,

and

delighted

Duchess

forwarded

biggest

Over

you

would

Story

for

Georgia. people

mc, Duchess

piece

book

Jim

what

the

of

‘Well,

six

want

the

but

the

hem

that’s

Duke

and

send

of

for

years

wimp?

of

biggest

he called

that

Mantle,

I

me

30401.

information

it of

what

have

England

Christmas

and

I

thought

to

us

about

used

first.’

Windsor

she writing

to

Joe

The

when

a

bitch

tell

do that

copy

was

it

to

a

and

He

you

Windsor tells

about

should

you

exchange five

letter

I

this

I’ve

one

never

in

of

from said,

got

I

think

about

that

got

France

hundred

this

damn

the

time,

ever

in

the

he

‘He

their

someone

a

story.

Story

the

recording.

about

Windsor’s

letter book

glad

the

Christmas

know

not

book.

was

and

flyleaf

queen.’

page

Duke

and

Jim

that

the

back

I

wrote

the

wrote

and

who

And

also

he

of or

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Dr. Mr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

so Jap

squadron Well,

intercepted plan

problem

hitting

Okay, you

Airight.

and mail code

and them. Japanese Box

[Interruption] about

coming Say

Let

they

airplanes, me

hitting

we

dropping that

was

745

even

and

the

Now

a

I’m

our

would

tell

knew

hundred

out

Yeah,

just

was

Swainsboro,

so

we

had Fleet

Jap

at

sorry.

fleet

our

you

them

what

of

we

Midway

one

had

that

planes

they

the

that

most

have

the

we

was

fleet

had

about

and

miles

more

the

Go

several

job the

we

Philippines bomb

can

were

of

coming

no

a

a

landing

started

on Japanese

enigma

of

intercepted

lot

so

the

second

Georgia,

the

do

off

safe time?

please.

dropping

planning

we

on

miles

of

52 battle.

that.

planes

of

place

fighters

in

the

coming

knew

at

machine

Guam

time

and

didn’t force

Let’s

Guam

away

carrier, 30401.

We

of

their

to

bombs

on

that

from

and

the

between

on

towards

land

towards

see

had

launching

and

know

and

and

messages

they

then

combat

what

Japanese Tokyo

...

picked

even

up

they

rearming

we

was

back

were

go

and

the

the Guam

was

were

shot

if

back

air

in

their

that

up

down

fleet,

and

they Japanese

to

never

going

that

a

patrol

down

some

kind

position

the

and

and

we

to

fleet

we

made

like?

hut

the

the

got

Philippine

to

had

all

refueling

knew

of

over

evidence

of

fighters

bomb

Fleet

runway

carriers.

to

the

reading

it

broken

planes to

to

Guam.

four

what

carriers

intercept

which

Guam.

Midway

at

Sea

at

that

hundred

and

their

The

their

their

Guam

Guam

My

was

and

were

the

And only the fighters had a combat air patrol over Guam. Two or three of them go to flying around the around an airport at Guam, they shot them down. I think the only time that it was done by a fleet was a delayed action bomb with a delayed action fuse on it, I think it was the South Dakota, it hit one of the gun mounts on one of the big sixteen inch guns and bounced up in the air before he the fuse went off and it went off in mid-air and didn’t even knock the gun out of commission as I was told. But that was the only ship damage we had from that from that big fleet and we shot down over four hundred planes and I think lost less than fifty of our own. So the planes that the

Japanese had were mostly gone by the time we got to the ships. Now the next day we were tracking the ships by PBY and submarine and

Commander Snowden had the idea that he could lead a search mission with fighter planes and head towards Tokyo because he thought the ships would go back to Tokyo after they lost all their airplanes on June the 19th, but they didn’t. They went towards the Philippine Islands which put them under the protection of the Japanese Air Force flight cover. When we finally found them, we launched 225 planes off of about a half dozen carriers and we got in the plane and started to take off a little fellow came up to each plane and said, ‘New position of Jap fleet!’ And it was about 60 miles further then they had said when we were still arguing about whether they were in range.

Then we took off and rendezvous and headed out to the Jap fleet and then we got our second collection of positions and, by the way, that first position was incorrect. ‘Those were tankers, the carriers arc 75 miles further then we

53

up battle.

dusk, thought

bomb many don’t

when water. They and my

it that’s

ships later hit

difference that a

they

and

already

ship

anymore

all

it.

knowledge

we

if

fleet

didn’t

sunk,

were

were

have

We

sunset,

you

my

ships

what

you

it.

by

But

I

found

been

know

so

But

was

that

ammunition.

got

fire

saw

in

but

anyway

you’re

to

firing about

if

sit

they

were

after

the

sunk

and

they’re

go

several

the

name,

them

back that

up

it

them

not

thought

was

if

Shokaku

no

sunk,

at

fifty-five it

...

well

we

and

ship

you

one

our

was

at us and

more

but

either

the

not

damaged

hits

hit

the

and

they

out

As

but

target person

don’t

was

hit

getting

that

fleet,

it

firing

the

54

on

guns

than

and

we

was

of

I

the

they’ve

their

feet

were

in

was

was

ship that

want

was

range.

even

got

the

turned

the

Shokaku

severely.

about

they

and

and

kind

out

carriers

firing

carrier.

what

sister

we

on

the

Zuikaku

fleet

to,

got

they

of

at

that’s

stop

All

of

were

out

twenty-five

just

around

Hiyataka

a

the

our

back

a

ships

but

dark,

distance,

or

know of

And

record ...

firing

in I

what

water

turn

don’t

coming

the

intelligence

you

it

from

the

I

at

that

hut

wasn’t think

and

I

that.

Zuikaku,

those

know

around

because

western

we

can’t

and

of

like

think

the

it

you

sat

we

or

it

out

thought was

...

But

I

thirty

other

all

our

in

guns

very

possibly

proceeded

one

don’t

could

we

I’m

and

of

people

the

still

the

sky

you

I

one

target

ended

the

of

sunk

low

and

carriers

feet

not

come

history

it

believe

other

it tell

light

won’t

the

of

dive

was

was

get

sure

of

in

called

out

so

them

it,

the

carriers

up

to

the back’.

course carriers.

enough

we back.

when

but

a

almost

because

of

of

shoot

the

shooting

how

they

lot

water

had

it

the

didn’t this

it

fleet

of

and

was To

You

we

had

in

on to

turned

and

ammunition. was

right

under

inches’.

missed him,

call!’

and

he

because

was me

windshield

with

and of

had

slight he

see.

aim

flew

had

and

I

he

right just

makes

no

We

he’d

towards

a

flew

But

him

turn

several

skid

pulled

he

him

a

way

then

straight

He

he

were

flying

zero

on

anyway

have

missed

back

and

and

another

tried

and

in

said,

over

of

his

he

And

the

up

and

times trying

the

finally

getting

with

straight

a

away

flew

a

at

tail,

to

five

right

direct

‘I

water

bulletproof

me

he

opposite

he

I

me

correct

run

could

saw

a

and

but

to

began

straight

was

about

or

from

caught

little

and

over

out

join

on

at

so

shot

ten

as

I

I

55

have

him a

couldn’t

realized

I of

I

me

him

and direction

him

bit

to

my

just lot

twenty

flew

feet’. up

into

at

the

up

bulkhead

lean

and

because

of

faster

touched

of and

head

me

was

on

turned

with

my

way

straight

a

Dan

course

this

that

the

over

shoot

skid

or

and

I

making

and

cockpit.

and

got

then

him

of

thirty

other

said,

time

he

I

sharply that

him’. of

on

and

had

it,

a

this

him

he

I

at

wasn’t

me,

and

course

zero

said,

it

because

was

him,

feet

‘We

I

over

look

that

side

protection

so

time

took

So

He

because

flew

so

to

making

‘Dan,

that

the

to

I

second

but

didn’t

and

said,

corrected

I

going

and

with

the

just

he

just

it

the

a

he

safest

when

and

if

he

missed

formation

right

try

I

I

flew

a

‘That

right.

had

I

put

miss

don’t

didn’t

against

to a

looked.

bullet

turned

pass

put

to

run

keep place

he

and

the

the

and

straight

see

was

it

him

So

me

he

on

made

think

have

plane

proof

altitude

in

flew

his

my away

he

on

looking

he

was I

So

me

twice

a

over

a

could

missed

him close

bullets

pulls

left

airplane we

his

he

any

at

down

and

in

going

from

him

six

and

turn point

a

and

be

so

up

I

if

I I

Dr. Mr. Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr. Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Paul

Right. At

one

Okay.

down But

Right. down

gunner,

Well,

Pardon?

didn’t just

During

Did

any

out

SBD SBD

and

accidental formation

Kwajalein.

time?

of

I

ammunition.

you getting

moved

Stafford.

did

pilot

and

a by

my

You

His

formation

shoot

zero. the

Stafford,

at

the

beat

they

gunner

last

behind

that

or

anytime

said

war

off

ready

me

fighter

if

him

name

shot

ever

and

did

they

Stafford,

down.

and

shot

shot

It

him

to

in

him

you

waved

was

during

beat

planes.

was

make

got

a

turned

one

a

and

dogfight.

at

zero

down.

a

my

a

Stafford?

56

was

rather

any

down

zero

a

to

the

I

I

called

my

call

run

down

didn’t

him

that

time

war

And

in

wings

and

exciting

but

He

at

and

a

the

the

Tulagi.

shoot

at

shoot

shoot dogfight I

didn’t

anyway

when

could

Kwajalein

Petty

he

fighters.

up

down

experience

waved

down

him

so

they

shoot

I

always

Officer

didn’t

they

I

and

down.

saw

any

I

started

any

back

and

me

never

got

could

a

brag

shoot

Japanese

that

Japanese

down.

couple

for

this

him

and

their

knew

flew tell

that

me.

third

one

shot

I

No,

got

that

of

run

Of

I

with planes?

down

whether

planes’?

was

one

down

F6’s

back

I course,

I

I

never

just

was

you

the

was

and

over

without

in

pulled

it

only an

that

shot

shot

he

my

was us

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

people.

tore then

plane

of minutes

up were

five three

the

Jay

That

him

and Ralph

who right

coming

section

Well, Sea? Paul

that

about

Lexington

Shields.

up

the

gallons

but

my

was

was

screaming

Stafford.

and

just

gallons

we

didn’t

and

the

behind

zero

down.

but

second

I

three

Ralph

Jay

started

don’t

finally

cutting

flight

[came

it

in

He

shot

take

left

Shields?

seemed

thousand my Okay,

He

Ralph

know

had

pass

was

Weymouth’s

and

making

deck

got

in

in

Jay

any

down

main

looked

my

front

conserved

hollering

the joined

and

anything

down.

Weymouth.

whether

like evasive

and

tank,

only

tank.

feet

to

SB2C evasive

57

of

like

damaged

a

land,

up

me

good

I

and

that

pilot

wingman

All

saw

about

maneuver

he

the

else

into

my

landed

and

I

circled

action

was

was

the

while

made

As

zero

Jay

we

fuel

that

squadrons

we

a how

others

we

few

aiming

my

lost

hit

on

dented

pretty

and

both

you

so

but

one

for

and

they’re

got

the

estimate,

the

planes

on

he

what

were I

finally

can

pass

had

joined

Jay

tried

water.

that

at

well

Lexington

changed

and

my

me

tell

out

to

stayed

and

and

bone

I

mission.

aerial

I

to

and

thought

I

between

take

and

was

up

me

got

of

call

killed

I

his

dry. I

got

I

gas

about

right

I

had

down

a leading

saw

or

and

pulled

Ralph

wave

aim

cut

We

was

not

so

And

a

forty

about

crashed

the

in

couple

Philippine

I

off

to

to

got

but

just

just

off.

and

formation

over

the

people

zero

about

Jay

by

and

back

forty-

anyway

a pulled

second

And warn

of

and

a

Shields to

few

fbrty

half

the to

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

from

left

and We point;

I’m

night lights dusk

the We

have

Had

ship

turned

And and

had deck hour

On

Now

for

main

Wasp

a

had

my

sixty

curious had

on

gotten

you

if

the I

enough and

...

was

while

landing

these

were

how

had

I

on

my

second

two

not

hadn’t

you

carburetor,

had

tank

gallons.

I

and

out

the

to

much later

down

first

on

were

and

but

qualified

main

know

turn

much,

speed

of

of

lights

was

the

when

pass

missed

you

pass

I

looked

any

commission,

the

had

to

fuel

Lexington

to

I

tanks

the

I

think

to

about

again

if

said the

so

don’t

the

kind

night

I

after

to

for

could

landed

get

one any,

it

that

at

SB2C

and

right

pull

you

and

there

night

58

and

aboard.

the

that

and zero

know

landing

where

practice

was

the

two

back

when

had

landed

but

to

ship

it

1

said,

I

crashed

were

landing.

so

had

just

Dauntless

ran

the

miss

how

wing

most

the

about

I

I

up

log

that

I

just

would

made

last

out

with

‘Land

had

seemed

fifty

in

fuel

again

the

to

tanks,

and

of

and

Admiral

the

of

forty-three

dropped

I

one

describe

been

night

ship

had

gallons

the

flowed

not

carry?

gas

aboard’

have

it

water

the

and

that

like

was

a

pilots

come

more

out

I

right

total

time

deck

was

I

crashed

Mitscher

I

down

an

back

with circled,

in it.

only

on

would

I

gallons

had

than

both in

of

hour.

It at

landings?

so

started

was

a

was

late the

Dowdell.

about eight

in,

search

close

and

not

into

one

mains

out

use.

I

the had

So

end

dark

in

thought,

of

the

making

ever

minutes

two

to

or of

the

the my

excess

It

and

gas

ordered?

of

minute

it

two.

commission

and

then

was

end

made

evening

the

fuel

hundred

but

at

landed

about

a

better

one

and

deck.

that

of

fuel

I

gauge

pass

they

didn’t

a

the

the

the

the

on

at an

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Okay.

rafts

hut

posted was

get

where

information

Well

Yeah,

carrier? and

that. Yes,

You

Okay,

When They

have back

care

to

Okay

take

there

I

your

posted

and

of

mean

don’t

sir.

the

anything

into did

...

weUl

we

now

it

their

all

that

came

Mae

pilots

gear

another

gunner

what

the

were

the

think

putting

on

the

other

for

flights

that

left

ready

West

fuel

the

to

to

now?

gun

had

you’?

and

came

they

and

rearming

than

do

question.

main.

bulletin

the

out

so

a

crews

where

and

and

with

other

ready

even

they

the

ammunition

down

of

they

ammunition

the

59

that

time

did

board

we

knew

the

pilots,

had

When

room

on

knew

other

all

or

were

plane?

that

a

the

too. were

when

teletype that.

that

how

it

tanks,

when

in

you

board.

going.

came

They

and

had

it?

We

there

would

they

would

they

because

their

in

to

a

didn’t

The We

did

teletype

were

special

their

rearming

you

were

pistols

could

have actually

gunners

have

going

ready

that

spend

crews

going

a

with

sit

bulletin

and

the

anything

excess

fly,

room.

had

to

there

your

all

plane,

to

that

check

fly.

what

a

the

fly

and

fuel

time

ready

They

board

actually

to

because

fleet

did

their

would

we

do

would

on

room

would

you

that

with

knew

life

the

took

you

that run

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

the

gotten

eight. Well

ran

What

went

second That

How know,

the

pistols

pistol two

bottle.

They

inflated

when

What

seats.

the

And

easiest

out

life

pilots

man

the

first

in

many

they’d

was

It

had

a

with

you kind

high

They

time as

of

rafts

the

was

large

by

Wasp

life

time

well

gas.

the

flight

to

would

got

water

ammunition

times

olsurvival

blowing

concentration

was

dark

meet

we

had

find

raft

group

longest

into

on

as

was

had

suits

a

life

go

when

knives

in

so

did

and

the

us

mid-air

your

about

the

of

to

we

it

a

at

rafis

you

that

Wasp

time

the

die

up

people

equipment

their

the

they

side

were

and

plane?

but

60

third

with

five

end

marker

they

calorie

that

collision

that

plane.

I

planes

a

picked

of

that

spent

the

up

together

shoulder

hours.

were

your

time wore

you the

was

last

in

food

When

and

or

airplane.

and

about

spent

us

the

off

mouth

was part

and

uniform

We

Ofle’s

pretty

some

up.

that

and

harness.

of

water?

the

they’d

the

of

they

didn’t

in

five

Pearl

Have

but

was

we

gunners

picked

the

food

much

the

We

Philippine

in

had

hours

were

also

parachute

said,

in

water?

get

Harbor

And

general

had

I

that

mentioned

life

what

a

up.

by

picked

would

waterproof

the

in

knives

‘Man

the

was

jackets

pulling

the

Sea

when

we

largest

would

gunners

seat

in

water

go

up your

had.

Battle

and

the

to

that

Dowdell

to

until

and

the

you

group

you

container.

planes’,

we

Of

raft,

their

and

also

when

could

C02

they

about

course

had take

we

the

you

rear

and

had

and

had

had

a

be

I

.38

in

I a

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

were man

anything

were

him commanding

and face.

Well,

What

he

motioned

the one

about

somebody you

‘Come

see Well,

Okay.

Did But

knew

ladder,

him

he

because

day

most

who

start

you

low

in.

He’d

kind

he

ninety

of

was

on

He

up

and

me.

was

ever

course

in

on turned

off

of

me

up,

been

waiting

of

so

an

the

there.

had

fuel

the

he

I

the

percent

officer

a

man

up,

see

I

got

Dupe.

admiral

very

world

saluted

had

he

a

a

people

on

ladder,

and

but

or

One

very

dive

to

do

was

at

the

been

small

speak

the

on

I

of

some

I

the

he

you

can

time

that

came

bombing

warm

lights

and

on spent

the

the

from

top

could

61 top,

a

think

fellow

remember

to

the

pilot

enjoyed

were

people

Hornet started

when

and

on

feeling

Admiral

on

several

the

and

Admiral’s

to

up

he

himself

pilot Admiral

having all

bottom,

and

save

I

if

backing

on

was? and

when

got

being

the

you’re

fhr

when

hours

he

on

the

Mitscher?

his

to

apologized

carriers

to

the

and

had

Can

the

it bridge.

Mitscher

be

ship.

you

an

pilots.

hunt

took

a

down

I

in

pilots

old

he a

was

a

admiral

senior

you

the

assume

senior

tough

Well,

the

appreciated

for

Jimmy

Lexington.

Every

If

a

the

describe

water.

and

to

was

senior

night you

a

lieutenant,

sort

carrier.

lieutenant,

and

ladder

I

him.

that

he

went

standing

time

remember,

Doolittle

we

of

we

would

lieutenant’.

him?

if

I

the

He

knew

wind-blown

and

up

came

there’s we

He

liked

senior

the

was

situation

flew

do he you

had

at

to

him

hack

having

the

he’s

ladder

said,

Tokyo

the

know

I

is

So

and

top

could

and the

we

he of

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

operation

Yes,

You

was

our

pilot

Radford

Yeah,

Everybody I’ve

of

had Japanese

lights Now

pilots, fleet

searchlights

searchlight aircraft

green

Right.

pilots

[unclearj.

to

always

also

said

Admiral

was

and

there

on

travel

I’ve

do

and

camers,

was

that

read

the

Admiral

acted

unbelievable.

submarine.

of

was

you

read

were

loved

and

a

the

lights on

carrier.

doing

wouldn’t

little

Radford.

that

to

like

know

the

fly

about

58 th

dangers

so

launch

Admiral

Radford?

he

bit

on.

to

carriers

a a you

Task

They

great pilot

had

all

it

of

that.

They

have

He

That

didn’t

and

a

the

feeling

of

62

a

Force. torpedo,

job from

Mitscher

was

wouldn’t

That

great

and

him

been you

didn’t

pilots

he

have

as

a

was

all

his

doing

was

among

knew

very

amount

an

saved

loved

have

the

so

position

to

because

willing

admiral

have

pretty

the

successful

look

that

that.

other

the

at

any

him,

of

risk

to

night

was

pilots

amazing

for

We

loyalty

to

as

big

searchlights

look

he

and

that

but

risk

vice-admiral.

a

a

really

should

if

ships

carrier,

he

admiral

carrier.

that

for

I

he

he

the

know

for

wasn’t

that

carriers

hadn’t

was

did

Admiral

had

fleet

the have

you

he

on

and

that taking

...

their

men

a

to

had

turned

anything

run

just

pilot Admiral

he

either.

in

he

save

Mitscher

red

under

felt

the

done

into

with

saved

find

but

on

the

and

overall

like

All

a

but

that.

the

there

him.

the

those

a

they

a

had lot

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

brown

Oh, Airight,

Are

[Interruption]

and

count Group

his Yeah,

He

money while

because

the

Not

any.

glad

brown

Was

Well,

read

Now

pay

sounds

black

yes.

the

you

that

to

I

about

there

the I’ve

of

the

remember

he

shoes

16

shoes

than

be

a

Lexington

we

still

of

I

being

I

little

was

ones

shoe

never

black

in

can

got

a

much

like

that

the

were

brown

I

the

and

there?

were

do,

admitting

a

recall.

slower.

that

officers

term

on

he

flight

question

shoes

did

twenty-two

the

conflict

talking

one

you

the

was

had

the

were

shoe.

Hello?

feel

‘brown

black

You

time

pay

just

Lexington

were

We

aviators.

other

quite

said,

that

like

about lost

about,

You

63

between

and

make

know,

lost I

shoes,

Dr.

the

was

shoes’

months

he

the

air

there

‘You

after

would

all

DuPree?

brown

a

line

was

groups.

uh

it

comedian.

having

hundred

I

I

the

but

the

realized

was

a know the

wasn’t and

...

officers

lot

glad

that

extra

have

you

squadron

shoes

two?

I

any

quicker!’

‘black

hope

dinner

That

Okay,

Dupe,

we

to

and

jealous

know

to

money

that

great

wear

that

were

and

ask

was

it

six

shoes’?

just

in

doesn’t

y’all

I

went

after

black

were

problem

used

the

the

pilots

just

the

of

on

you

a

the

don’t

black

second.

black

her.

World

wardroom

out

to

during

not

shoes.

make,

seem

and

black

be

on

And

between

pilots

make

shoes

shoes

jealous

gunners

War

the

odd,

the

but

shoes,

that

Randolph

and

and

more

time

if

Two and after

but

didn’t

the

they

of

in

the

one

I

getting

that...

I’ve

you

a was

was

Air

had of

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mr. Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

that

tried

he

Well,

Really!

Alex,

when

brother Yeah,

I PBS zero

Vracui, Vracui.

recognize

have

working

I’ve different. officers

shoes.

over

don’t

told

he

got

to

should so

they

had

Alex

but

they

I

just

Naval

think

me

get

he

I’m

in

knew

okay.

do

another

uniform

a

I

We

did

Chicago it:

really

that

were

him

think

absolutely

was

feeling

and

surprised

have

they

Alex

aviators

Alex

had

away

they

to

our

so

in

name

worked

Kay

contacted

but

ever

agree

a

Vracui?

devoted

college

of

that

very

pilots

with

had

green

jealousy

that

they

is

wear

couldn’t

talked

I

gave

dead

to

want

contacted

well.

the

at

64

do

doesn’t

naval

wouldn’t

and

cut-off

to

it.

dark

him

green

a now.

now.

to

to

his

He

In

about

hundred

do I’ve

Alex.

and

throw

officer’s

navy

fact

wife,

shot

exist

the

it.

him

They

naval

I

got

have.

hadn’t

include

more

Now

Alex’s

ventilator

blue

down

out

the

more

in

several

dollars

don’t

aviator

uniform

the

here

to

than

last

and

talked

more

wife,

nineteen

than

you

navy

even

time

every

stories

is

water

I

support

uniform

even

the

and

twenty-five

to that

about

Kay,

anymore,

have

I

him

guy

talked time

just

airplanes.

I

to

realized.

all

want

and

system

it

tell

uniforms

in

and

that

pilot

like

he

in

he

a

to

to

you

the

so

shot

the

few

times

shot

the

him

got wore

see

and

they

He

movie,

about

brown

months

line

down

down married

that

about

if

had

and

said

as

must

you

are

their

a

but

a it

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Now,

and

He

knew

hand

I

Oh,

student

say Alex’s

ran

course

he’d

boring

up

Oh,

fire it

Well, and

His

Well,

nineteen

knew

boring

was

the

to

he

about

my

fraternity

department

not

okay!

ever

up

him?

he

when

that’s

the

requested

net

he

him brains

lecture

that

and

goodness!

ever

in

was

zeros

and

heard,

window,

landed

it.

so

the

very

he

ever

Alex

understandable.

He

going

fairly

that

he

brothers

splattered

he

air

was

and

and

gave

and

well.

Alex

to

created

in

was

next

was

smiling.

That’s

raised

young.

when

Butch to

be

the

get

his

him

recover,

jumped

going

in

moved

day

were

net.

a

all fraternity

any

college

65

the

certainly

fire

the

an

O’Hare’s

He

in

over

The

going

to

excitement

‘A’ doctors

the

window

department

to

didn’t

up

he

jump

whole

the

the

he

in

middle

and

absolutely

brothers

to

a

the

was

wingman

ground

Lexington

way

out

know

be

recommend

said,

and

class

course

in

standing

the

in of

to

net

jumped

a

what

made

his

‘I

one

and

get

window

psychology

rushed

could

and

can’t

in

and

psychology

and

of

some

he

the

the

a

out

during that

the

out

said

plan

not

stand

was

our

to

night-fighter

professor

into

on

attention!

his

most

the the

cut

air

that

standing

to

the

class

the

it

wife

the

window.

window

go

group it

anymore!’

class.

boring

he

ground

middle

off.

net

down

was

and

is

was

So

with

brain

because

squadron

he

going

lectures

to

you

the

Of

to

holding

of

found

see

his

He

the

dead

a

only

to he

Mr.

Dr. Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr. Dr.

DuPree:

DuPrec:

DuPree: DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Yeah,

Commanding

down

familiar.

caliber time

International, Really.

didn’t

O’Hare’s me Tarawa! No, really

I Betty’s the Oh,

Was first

Enterprise you Butch

do

to

wingman’s

Tarawa?

no.

about

think

mission

and

it

at

come didn’t

that

have

O’Hare’s

Guam

bullet

were

It

Tarawa

That

So

after

final

that was

it.

was

and

their

up

he

like

on

flying

It

from

or

after

officer

night

reading

a

the

he

flight

what

was

to

conversation slipped

the

stray

wingman

and Saipan?

1FF

night

the

got

first

him.

a

around Butch

Lexington

I

twin

they

I

of turned

CIC

bullet

shot

was

the

think

island

my flying

the

named

engine

book

center.

and

O’Hare’s

going

down

memory

the

night

accidentally

that

on.

and

we and by

...

fleet

called

I

the

that

to

they

the

hit.

Betty

did

fighter

the

He

that’s

oh,

ask

for

and

gencral

night

airport

night

wanted

not

way,

what

were

Fatal

might

you

some

how

they

hit

squadron

know

fighters

the

and

was

vectoring

next.

in

Butch.

opinion

Rcndezvous

we

me

were

reason.

have

night

Chicago,

the

at

the

got

to

Flis

the

took

on

firing intelligence

shot

name

Anyway,

listen

old

we

is

him

time

the name

that

off

him

went

O’Hare

Alex.

about

stray

of

Enterprise. to

up

that

from

a

sounded

a

island.

down.

he

stray

to

on

recording

He

bullets

twin

Butch

officer

a

was

the

the

plane

had

.20

I

engine

very

shot

told

all

been

asked

that

of the

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Harbor

came

log

when

and Well,

What

Let’s

the

down,

Congressional

when Well,

No,

Oh,

He

But he

Wow!

sunk.

Lexington

Butch

Okay.

shot

book.

top

came

the

he

okay.

no.

up

see.

Joe

we did

they

I

I’m

was

So

and

died

ace

think

last

down

He

to

were

back

Bryan you

[think

After

Could

not

found

or

Eniwetok

in

then

already

was

flight

at

Alex

our the

do?

five

Philippine

sure

award

in

and

Philippine

killed

we

flew

the

you

out

the

old

I air

zeros

was

organized

flew

an

if

shifted

last

process

group.

that

and

in

Saratoga.

tell

for

that

ace.

at

recommended

my

was

mission

in

Tarawa.

67

some

me

we

his

Sea.

had

Sea

He

the

over

rear

against

came

brother

anything

of

the

anything

had

Coral

reason.

what

I

landing

to

seat

don’t

I

first

flew

shot

up

a

happened

Guam

small

and

was

Sea

to

night

for

more

know

But

was

down

to

at

Enterprise

after,

battle

paying

the

do

jeep

Guam

I

on

fighter

August

about

think

which

Congressional

with

five

the

then?

I

carrier

when

think

him

when

Orote

he

zeros

Alex

it,

squadron.

then

ship

the

Where

but

deserved

for the

...

called

this

5 th,

Vracui?

flying

Peninsula.

came

he

he

every

I

Lexington

wish

battle

‘44, was

never

did

award,

the

to

it.

off

zero

you

and on

I

Makin

Pearl

He

had

came

got

the

That’s

even,

but

he

we

was

go’?

was

my

the

old

shot

off but

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

that the because

say’. fly. went

the

name, commanding Yes. That That

‘The Oh, command

had without bombers.

‘Well, the Miami tactical

Island.

admiral

night

Chief

Once

I

okay. happened

Well,

only

And we’d what?

over

wanted

but

give

and

Came

instruction

having

I

flying

they

know

Night

We

they

way

he

and So

in

never

I

I

in me

was

night

spent

to

said,

officer’s

it

back

went

Jacksonville’.

in

talked

get

said,

I’ll

a

sounds

an

do manual

I’ll

Flying

the

gone

few complaining

on

take

accident.

‘Well,

flying

the

the

to

in

have

six

‘Well,

training

to

their

days

ACTG,

San

six

name

last

night

months

like

Officer

this

the and

a

before.

68

why

months

Diego

captive flight

to

year

we

job

superintendent it

I

I

flying

So down

command

think

found was

got

that’s

about

don’t

can’t

when

for

is

of

they

gear

and

a

if

without

a

the

audience

the

there

lectures about

letter

letter

they’ll two

Advanced

do

you

so

called

I

then

in

war

fighters

was

many

that

before.

the

or

was,

take

from

it

of

I

an

down

of

three the

let

and

the

as

went

ready

without

and

commendation?

accident

accidents

over

the uh

well

me

the

Chief

and

Carrier

admiral

look

they’ll

there.

errors

to ground

..

do

room

admiral

the

torpedoes

as

Miami

I

getting

it

Night

the

can’t

teaching

in

night

Training

over’

In

in

and

listen in

ready

lectures

the

school

six

the

night

saying

as

remember

Flying

they

permission

flying’.

training

and

months

and

to manual

a

to

the

combat

flying,

Group

everything

and

told

fly, I

before

dive

that

looked

Officer

flying

I

said,

him

I

and

said,

his

never

was

in

the

from

we

in

I I

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

Zambrano:

a

graduated

gone

Oh,

made

So about

I

didn’t positions,

get

and

district We

were the

responded

really

when knew

He

it.’ and

had

midshipman;

you

my

said,

So

separation

no,

want

then

Paul

to

leaving

stayed

lieutenant

it

we

me

impressed

accept

the

couldn’t

senior

that

Annapolis

no.

then.

‘Don’t

go

Buie

him

had

very

but

from

admiral

to

Not

had

to

in

it.

and

it

been

I

year

stay

area

Annapolis

who

the well,

I

was

Annapolis

and

medical

I’ve

all

let

have

commander

would

the

they

and

navy.

in

agreed

in

killing

necessary

DuPree

he

had

I

already

he

wondered

admiral.

had

the

gone

college

had

had

done

have

said,

been

school.

I

navy’.

69

another

in

and

could

without

somebody

a

decided

to

sign

so

the

grade.

warrant

been

the

‘If

the

in

mathematics

Annapolis

It

then

convinced

many

had

They

Dupe

senior

grade

out

If

week

have

fighter

letter

a

I

giving

And

to

we

lieutenant

had

of

a

officer

times

about

realized

letter

find

finished

wants

and

I

year

the

went

from

got

signed I

commander

and

could

up

I

they navy

the

and

wanted

if

home

as once

of

stationed

six to

my

taken

him.

I

commander

right

that

a

commendation

Annapolis

give

would

at

up

offered

have

until

months

student

rank.

a

least

and

And

fir

most

week

medicine

to

two

the

on

gone

he

go

at

have

the

1

I

three

when

me

really

lectures,

wouldn’t

in

the

in without

the

talks

of

medical in

in

navy

Annapolis

to

in

each

the

one

night

been

Lexington,

end

grade

years

there?

the

Annapolis I

to

was

and

came

combat

of

I’d

naval

of

Paul

an

better

let

senior

flying.

school

have

those

and

I

frustrated

of

have

the

accident

him

through

college

Buie.

and

line.

I

pilots

been

off

he

and

It

do

I if

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr. Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano: DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

those

Wow!

So

next

and

have

time’.

a

are

wouldn’t

comparative

think

to

And

I What

went

I year

No,

So

the

class.

was

was

tough

be

that

the

you

country

sent

I

week.

what

when

any

courses.

sure

straight

the

was

taking

going

college

There

I

three

was

said,

didn’t

a

my

business

first

let

course

I

were

in

I

a was

to

transcript to

got

me

toughest

pre-med.

were

analysis

my

‘Well,

good

to

were

quarter

finish

combat

Mercer

you

take going

flight

accepted

as

senior

two

going

decision

any

you

I’ve

specializing

college

them

and

I

courses

training.

to

I

to

such

pilots

University

came

year

of

attending

came

been

to

Emory

be

70

biology

as

these.

without

Emory

jobs

on

serious

before

and

a

to

back

back

teaching

at

naval

my

stay

and

Mercer.

that

Ijoined

If

in?

at

in

and

I

Medical

part.

the

I

and

you

took about

in

the

cadet.

can’t

Macon.

I

they

got

organic

dean’s

the

celestial

went

time?

entered

Fortunately

Nobody

quantitative

the

a

gave

med

do

navy.

I

School’.

letter

just

navy

to

well

approval

chemistry

school

out

Mercer

navigation

the

dropped

of

ever

in

in

in

service?

admission

I

But

these

March

analysis

didn’t

each

and

takes

and

for

I

and

out

made

I

courses,

another

naval

and

he

ended

in

them

fail

the

of

and

said,

my

to

I

college

any

three

think

registrar

district

Emory

all

senior

up,

year

I

‘These

of

don’t

at

A’s

I

that’s

one

just

and

in the

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Nir.

DuPree: DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

doctors

didn’t

general was

here

Yes.

I And

Emory?

medical

I

Oh, Of

guess.

And years

Well,

resigned

So

Well,

commander

I

So

interned

went

stayed

course

what

what

a okay.

in

were

what

board

after

have

I

I’m

to

Atlanta

in

practice

can’t

school

inactive

year

happens

from

Emory

in

my

you

was

So I

out

the

an

didn’t

surgeon

they

surgery

remember

you

did

practice

of

anesthesiologist

a

the

war

your

and

did

that

general

in

the

for

wouldn’t

you

next?

go

navy.

get

ended

Atlanta.

then

you

final

seven

the

at

navy

SO

to

get

promoted

gave

Grady

I medical

go

You’re

now,

practitioner,

I next

learned

71

rank

out

went

and

under

years.

to?

let

anesthesia.

twelve

of

but

which

it

me

when

and

into

a

ended

the

school

anymore.

a

a

lieutenant

We

when

resign

[unclear]

lot

didn’t

general

navy?

you

years

is

did

gave

of

in

a

Now

instead

I

big

surgery

until

you left

was

‘45

have

I

until

anesthesia

practice

never

commander

and

teaching

we

service?

that

specialize

thirty-seven,

I

of

a

was

I

being

had

from

nurse

was

would

Annapolis

had

thirty-seven

and

done

to

hospital

thirty-seven

anymore

him

a

anesthetist,

in

lieutenant

each

at

be

one

that

something?

that

this

while

about

of and

other;

downtown

as

point.

was

my

active

years

what

I

interns

‘57

and

was

so

partners

twelve

we

the

1

duty.

old

I

in

in so

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

settle

Okay.

me’. duty

go. back

ensign

on

No,

Cross

back

You

Okay.

into

One

cancer examined

a didn’t wanted

and

surgery

general

active

But

no.

all

general

they’ve of

But weren’t

in

to

down?

that

So

particularly

in

that

the

that

Ijust

to

1948 medical

I

at

I’ll

wasn’t

medicine.

duty.

you

practitioner.

and

be

had

Grady.

hospitals

was

kind

practice.

be

got

called

or

refused

an

graduate

glasses

all

They

a

49

a

practice.

ophthalmologist

called

my

of

[unclear]

lot

those

We

like

or

anesthesia.

back

That

serial

in

would

more

to

50

gave

changed

People

from back.

Macon

it

points

do

and

up

would

72 and

number.

important

that

corps.

anesthesia

have

for

medical

taken

They

I

would

to

called

had

In

and

and

the

have

get

liked

and

I

1958,

didn’t

won’t

a

a

They Korean

I’d

I

out

hard

come

commission

said,

school

and

saved

the

took

and

it

find

1

of

if

Riverside

know

I

be

came

call

time

‘If

just

a

we

into

I

the

War?

somebody

something

and

had

year

a

the

back

knew

doctor

navy

divorcing

finally

where

the

back

where

resigned

navy

of

as

people

clinic

Clinic

ophthalmology,

how

a

and

to

and

I

lieutenant

resigned

else

needs

like

did

am.

Emory.

of

myself

wanting

to

a

my

and

that

you

from

an

JG.

course

They’ll

do

me

commission

incurable

went

had

spinal

decide and

[thought

having

JG

on

from

their

I

a

went

back

call active

wasn’t

or

but

Navy

taps

being

to

an

eyes

to

I I

Mr.

Mr. Dr.

Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Do hospital

(lid of

nephew

the

doctor, did

Well, Yeah. Twenty

And hospital

that As twenty ophthalmology

staff

there

Well,

I

1964

went

the

a

you

hospital

most

have

you

were

that

general

to which

it

first

L

back

years

Dr.

went

think

was

was years.

with

1984.

and

partnered

a

of

used

you

partner

staff

Daniel,

his

and

to

I

an

reopened

a

down

practitioner?

in an

...

hold

just

the

lawyer

When

Macon,

neurosurgery

open

residency

Macon.

residents

we

open

let

hospital,

in

with?

an

in

Bainbndge

had

me

finally

staff

the

did

business

that

interest

staff

it.

Georgia

put

a

hospital

you

It

small

was

73

and

hospital

made

and

gave

had

but

it

at

this

retire?

in

Dr.

when

for

where

it

I

interest

been

that

and

his

a

and

was

had

who

way:

Fields

good

yourself

and

brother

bought

hospital.

I

then

closed

not

all

they left

...

there

did

in

partner

kinds

who

in

we

that,

I

it,

accepted

the

or

came

an

partnership

an

a

were

too.

bought

was

did few

interest

war

of

when

interest

for

back

But

doctors

you

a a

months

have

me

lot

neurosurgeon

me

it

I

mostly

have

finished

to

in

from

in

in

of

with

in

any

do

the

the

on it

doctors

and

a

another

and

Dr.

hospital

an

the

affect

any

it

Riverside

ownership

I

was

in

another

practiced

Clay.

statE

of

the

on

and

on

a

doctor

them.

down

the

private

course

One

His

you?

he

of I

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr. Dr.

Mrs.

Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano: DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

bomber

Really.

landed

remind

Even Oh,

something as not

them

flying to

have

It

Jean

It’s

airplane we’d

You

[From

airplane. zero

sounds

get

I

sure

kind

can

boy.

know

says attacked

any

an

claiming

get

in

with

safely

another

you

before

get!’

what

atheist,

my

and

ofajoke.

Well,

back

I

that

explanations

the

like

had

I

me

that

section

never

everybody

on

Lord

me

I

way.

to

to

I

room]

dived

what’s

that?

or

am

his

I

took

board.

the

be

used

in

not.

had

but

A

looked

faith

the

if

an

ship

down

off

lot

The

I

the we

to

for

I

a

atheist.

thought

Philippine

else

know

of

nightmare

and

is

74

say

and

had

old

Lord

that

after

shaken

times

many

looked

I a

saying,

land

a

what

always

other

short

I

me.

looked

big

you

said,

a

times

when

Sea

and

young

battle

about

you

like

were

than

prayer

that

‘I

said

battle,

after

I

and

don’t

are.

they

wouldn’t

he

they

World

an coming

there’re

ensign

a

every

gets

everybody

you.

little

I’m

atheist?’

were

I’d

know

just

into

War

going

would

never

thank

time

up

have

no

didn’t

shot

whether

battle.

and

atheists

Two

He

I

was

to

a

gotten

to

you

come

got

bullet

hit

one

said,

fly

pieces,

and

all

Jean

into

prayer

me.

I

as

time

in

up

want

a

shot

‘Well,

until

hole

close

war hole

a

says

and

but

dive

one

when

up

you

this

or

in

in

want

to

I

to

I’m

and

of

don’t

my

my

you I

Mr. Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

oh,

and

That’s

I

So

I was

Palau

I

Now,

sometimes.

intervened

years.

ten him

college

the

Well,

ever

else,

If

And

got

guess

got

you

when

I’m

I

years

we

Civil

in.

that

guess

married

by

that

I’m

but

other

and

I’m

I

right.

don’t

not

were

you

in

neglected

a

did

Mercer

I

Air War

not

to

bullet

got

a

am

1902,

sure

‘62,

in

just

than

Baptist.

get

you

married

mind

in

claiming

Medal

my

a

telling

and

I’m

what

second

through

went

1945

in

the

was and

get

Mercer

to

me

my

my

not

Navy

when

My

married?

comment

I

all

before a

for

back you

asking,

dad

graduated

that

airplane

tougher

Air

sure.

that

Mercer

grandfather

about

75

education.

what

Cross

I

graduated

to

the

Medal

hit

the

included

I

Georgia

what

married

about

seventeen Lord

that

happened.

school

until

war

and

and

finally

and

faith

cruiser

loved

But

I

ended.

the

the graduated

I

from

finished

but

after

think

than

I

again,

got

in

Philippine

fact

I

are

years

it

tell

I

me

Mercer,

‘46,

and

the

Emory

did

In

mentioned

a

you

you?

that

Barbara

Presidential

that

any

Canton,

Emory

war,

but

and

I from

do

mentioned

hit

World

at

more

that

med

which

I

Sea

we

right?

a

used

alumni

Mercer

troop

Turner

med

and

I

a

got

battle.

school.

than

had

War

lot

to

is

Unit

a

school

I

transport

the

of

meetings

a

laugh

divorce

four

did

in

he

Two

Trammel

Baptist

battles

Citation,

Air

1868

It

did

not

children

took

in

and

Medal...

anybody

get

four

in

after

at

that

me

tell

for

hit

uh I

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Pardon’?

Oh,

avoided

owned

That’s

about

Right.

which do

I lady. knew

...

minister.

Wow.

I was We’ve

Oh,

married

ten

‘92.

won’t

was

she

with

years

let

okay.

married

After

her

there

Jean

she

had

fine.

all

me

been

go

that

all

Jean

business.

and

the

just

So

did.

into

since

a

that Josh

family

funeral

married

bookkeeping

to

about

it

stock

she

flip

all

my

tax.

sounds

died

she

and

the

doctor

the

second

She

in.

fifteen

home

married

for

I

details

I

tape

went

It

like

got

was

about

should

76

and

company

and

cousin years

here

a

you

paying

down

Josh

divorce

of

somewhat

we

fifteen

have

the

have

quickly.

ago

who

finally

back

to

things

corporate

that

help

in

in,

an

been

years,

was

in

September.

wasn’t

anniversary

I

business

decided

her

guess

that

1962

a

an

but

Chapter

tax

figure

undertaker

I

giving

and

it

advised

I

in

that

knew

advisor

was

So

a she

out

coming

5

C

she

her

‘89

that

that

Jean

was

corporation

what

her

and

for

needed

very

or

must

would

about

a

up

for

many

‘90,

she

a

real

good

Baptist

soon.

years.

have

wanted

to

and

but

have

sweet

years.

that

sell

advice

been

I

She

it

she

to I

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano: DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

because

I

atomic

recall

Okay.

and

and them.

because

them

took

rest

the

records

dispensed

in years

to

Okay,

I

Okay.

Oh,

was

Intemiption]

sold

and

stop

point

they

they

of

I

me

to

in

where

just

to

But

Something the

we’re

the

bomb

I

this

of

I

Miami take

had

they

wind

about

built

gave

thought

that

hospital

have

they

to

records

the

for

you

to

over

back

the

had

didn’t

I

this

down

up

minor

five

keep

just

used

was

teaching

to

people

were

been

about

that

that

that

flip

new

on.

and

in

years

a

able

want

the

that

records

children

second

1984

was

I

the

responsibility

So

and

dropped’?

I

hospital

twenty

forgot

that

fifty-two

got

night

to

hospital.

77

to

the

you

tape

what

the

to

dispense

wind

out

wanted

for

here.

records.

Charter

until

retired

flying

kind

to

over

beds

out

of

several

you

ask

that

beds

I

the

they

of

had

on

here

that

them

with

were

of

and

you

when

Medical

That

down

thing

hospital

the

to

the

to

years

reached

the

before

I

now

build

all

doing

and

rent

north

was

was

records

again?

that

after

majority

the

until

that

I

and

a

business

tickled

Northsidc

just

couldn’t

it

it when

side

records,

maturity

building

I

runs

was

it

it

sold

they

and

too

comes

took

of

would

you

to

going

out,

they

big

town.

it

could

completely,

destroy

we

death

to

to and

Hospital

me

heard

so

a

to

put

wouldn’t Charter

have

destroyed

to

problem

about

when

get

mind:

I’m

to

take

the

any

that

owned

know

them

just

in

records

two

I

Medical but

to

do

of

the

got

Macon

take

for

going

the

get

all

the

it

you

it to

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr. Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano: Zambrano:

just

Well,

combat

the

The dropped

developed stopping.

when we’re would Right.

Right. they Right, II.

doing Well, and

incendiary

flew

Station

Japanese

they

remember

atomic

dropped

fights

the

not I

dive

going

Did

Do yeah,

go

did

where

that

a

probably

war

specifically. to

lot

you

and

bombs,

it

bombing

not

in

bomb

was

Japan

to

I

to

come

the

of

combat

ended.

think

I

recall

that

know

I

stop

quit

was

incendiary

knew

sorry

second

was

burned

without

than

as

I

this

you’re

fighting.

a

training

was

what

about

a

I

fighter

that about

I such

instructed

complete

the

don’t

foolishness

one,

in

78

up

you

it

right.

a

the

bombs

atomic

training

a

the

fighter

was

in

pilot

more

I

classical

the

remember

never

were

atomic

Miami

atomic

surprise?

so

Emperor

in

instructor

before

bomb

of

right

escort.

command

doing

fast

fighters.

ran

Tokyo

bomb.

disaster

and

bomb

and

like

into

did.

now’.

they

just

and

I

I And

mean,

moved

in

could

from

That I

anybody

I

because

do

in

when

dropped

knew

for

interceded

ACTG,

I

Miami

when

didn’t

was

dropping

Japan

fly

the

to

you

that

so

that

Sanford

it

war

what

although

the

the

know

until

ended

and

high

where

the

and

was

just

war

atomic

regular

I

of B-29

they

was

that

said,

that

Naval

World

kind

fighting

started.

course

you

I

never

doing

quit they

had

bomb

they’d

‘Hey,

were?

of

Air

War

been

when

I in

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPrec:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

I

Okay.

Electra few

multi-engine but Not

actually

Do Well,

Beechcraft

engine

fighter think

Did so

propeller,

plane

and

war

I Okay.

flew

was

maneuverable

no,

you

I

hours

since

they

you

was

won’t

you

yes at

called

DC-ó’s

I

Well,

airplanes.

plane

which

still

flew

had

Sanford

continue

over,

put

I

I

can

but

in

and

had

got

take

fly?

a

an

those

actually

to a

license.

and

was

and it

beat

friend

where

little

a

heart

I

FM2

San

had

a

multi-engine Naval

owned

built

and

I

flying

physical

DC-7’s

a

four

owned

an

powerful

Juan

turbo

about

that

that

surgery

were

If

that

so

F6

by

engine

Air

I

a

on

good

could

owned

and

in

7()

General

General

was

twin

prop

an

that

1300

you?

because

your Station

that

airplane,

and

Nicaraguan

motor

that

my

rating

were

airplanes

engine

pass

four

horsepower.

little

four

own

my

Motors

next

Motors.

under

instructing

I

four

the

engine

in

and

know

engine

vision FM2

personal

Piper.

a

it

question.

physical

Cessna

so

and

engines.

10,000

I

with

had

finally

although

I’d

I

cargo

got

planes

even

It

I

built

guess

him

in

fail

time

flew

210

so

feet

When I

.

got

plane. flew

.

could

it,

bad.

.where

a

in

that

after

and up

I

it

it

lot

but

one

never

an

had

was

one

to

you

I

1

and

keep

I

F4F

don’t

the

I

flew

of

owned

10,000

a

do

an a

...

heard

tried,

little

those

I

war?

very

type

still

have

flying.

Curtis

he

to

fly

Cuba

a

had

tighter

feet,

but

have that

fine

twin

anymore

frame

quite

electric

I

it

an

the

little

I

and

a

was

a I

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

but

because

dislocated

charging through

Well, involves

gunners Okay,

never

still

what

stop

this were

weeks

and

Well,

anything?

anything

Well,

Even

I

oil

oil

had

after

got

stranded

in

when

the

even

let’s

I

well,

and

would

was

never

the

one

I

are

oil

well

crossing

through

that

didn’t

first

I

it

weeks

see.

had

got

world

in the

that’s

involved still

of

so

enough

had

you’d

time

my

come

in

those

out.

I

one Wasp

I

have

coming

was

don’t

for

a

the

because

a

skin

good! I

sleeve

I

was

When

bad

sleepless

like

out

crossed several

sleeves

incapacitated

in

equator?

enough

to

was

when

think

this,

dream

doing

fly

on

out

Just

to

80

behind

I

sunk

of

the

add

in

came

of

hours.

that but

the

I

I

a the

night

strength

that

have

to

went

question:

about

my

sheets,

about

and

equator

I’ve

oil

her

we

me

home

first

skin.

from

over

It

many

to

oil

that

tow

sheets

and World

heard

was

your

in

but

report

combat

came

on

what

Mother

flying

was

was

my

I

to

stepped

more

a

don’t

it

leave

war

about

month

fire and

War

took

left

to

on

floating

out

I

at for

did

experience,

questions

the

at

she

know

the

was

arm

for

of

Two.

several

Guadalcanal

on

a

and

about

later

or

navy

Lexington

my

changed

Wasp

a

my

fussing

to

on

what

month

if

a

put

skin

before

big

pilots

shoulder

the

two

tradition

weeks

left.

and

happened

the

any

sailor

water

for

with

the

to

and

air

Is

I

and and

I

tail-hook

three

stories

was

for weeks

got

bed

there

I

group.

me

and

that

came

that

their

guess

it

that

home

going

had and

weeks

to

about

and

or

we

to

me.

up,

I

all I

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr. Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

they

families

most That’s

already

you

Gosh.

weeks

Guadalcanal

hit

was the

and

we

Towed

climbed

crossed

Well,

had been Really!

...

right

people

crawled

doctor

mentioned

he

not

surgery

wouldn’t

of

about

we

Here’s

before

right

climbed

scheduled sleeve.

the

And

the

able

and

up

over

were

on

in

country,

on

four

equator

through

and

on

they

on to

how

the

another

August

the the

show

the

crawling

that

that

fly

on

August

it

weeks

sleeve

top

wanted Wasp

was

something

was

flight

out

for

PBS

on

it

shoulder

but

this

of

the

question

and

it

about

of

shown

the

since

and

relocated

me

7,

Georgia

that

deck

through

had

sleeve.

7 th•

them

81

the

they

Wasp

and

so

a

four

you

done

my

sleeve

about

about

big

and

on

we

that

to

still

his

They

didn’t

shoulder

a

and

PBS

got

my

sailor

know weeks,

must

I

a

towed

comes

knee

two

the

was

haven’t

and

special

it

shoulder they

didn’t

last

injured

Iraq

show

was

have

how

years

a

so

hit

but

sleeve

pollywog

had

to

were

Sunday

did

shown

on

people

my

crawling

know

to

mind.

I

crossed

it

ago.

made

been

and

again,

Air

I

get

for

hitting

shoulder

and

night

It

who

put

it

in

Group

some

that

When

dislocated.

being

the

still

I

in

the

touch

behind

he

went

me

us

Georgia, can

was

first

at

stepped

equator

reason.

and

gives

we

with

initiated

16’?

in

9:30

with call to

where,

flight

me

a

dislocated

spoke

sickbay

sling

sandbags

me

Actually,

on

their

but them

They’d

and

on

about

to

trouble.

when

PBS

they

before

it?

and

they

he

and

and

four

and

it

just

I

as

we I

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mrs. Dr.

Mrs.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

DuPree:

months

database

out but

to

Two

check

it And

Smithsonian

Okay,

upper

I’ll

Oh, she check

I’ll It And,

showed

It It

Florida,

to

was

was

was

it

in

they have

send

did

that

good!

an

also

veterans

uh

the

it

peninsula

it

thank

shown shown

shown

hour

to

and

for

gave

up it

and

it

in

a

a ...

my

Smithsonian

check

in

copy

would copy

the

there

at

what

they

and

you,

parts

Texas

last

local

me

nationally

nationally.

nationally.

and

least

Smithsonian.

of

of

of

it

they

did

week

and

Jean?

the

be

I

my

of

because

library

it

that

appreciate

Michigan

six

and

at

to

show

California.

number

see

sent

interview

if

months that

least

Hugh

you

they

on

I

if

82

in

it

wanted

it

it

they

they

PBS,

when

six

to

up

Swainsboro,

showed

would

to

Dresher,

who

that.

because

the

months there

check

lasted

had

were

Southern

I

I

to

called

Smithsonian

think.

get

take

received

see

it

even.

showing

out

about

Dresher

it.

in

there

before

it,

that

me

I

interviewed

South

California

on

had

but

about

an

had

long

the

it,

they

a

it

suggested

Films

hour

and

but

Carolina,

cousin

on

computer

been

to

it

got

for I

PBS

get

and

and

I

had

made

all

don’t

such

it

me

that

everything

the

a

I

in

all

that

a

Alabama,

asked

half,

on

not

card

the

a

Michigan

lived

think

in

World

big

I

email

to

the movie

wait

but

from

her

response

bother

up

showed

database,

on

they War

six to

and

to

in

the

and

and

the

find

the

to

cut it.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Okay. do

No,

Wasp

Oh

You

about

I’m

period

squadron.

flew

in

He

How

that.

was have

Oh

course.

Okay,

Okay.

I

can

the

but

no,

flew

yes.

pretty

I

over.

did

a

I

left

did stayed

give

that.

when

first

two

know

second

but

that

I

He

meant

a in

the

you

little

sure

I you

tours

group

our

would

it

was

knew

in

he

Lexington,

come

was

tour

the

he

squadron

a

you.

time

flew

and

a

copy

of

be

did, Conklin

young

sunk

reserve

on

to

Air

Did

on

then

in

great.

the

meet

of

but

the

the

and

Group

left

you

and

that

ensign

83

you

Randolph

until

I

very

reserves

Randolph

I’d

him,

don’t

I

the

do

I

interview

went

had

knew

appreciate

16.

he

well

any

air

in

just

know.

to

made

I our

back

group.

up

and

think

time

him

come

when

as

too,

air

in

too.

being

on

I

You’d

commander

the

on

Iowa

didn’t

that.

he

group

is

I

hack

he

the

already

that

the

whole

stayed

was

part

You

Lexington

for

have

for

Randolph?

know

and

correct?

a

of

a

time

shore

know

had

in

young

long

I

to

but

the

think

him

the

check

one

he

air

I’m

time

duty.

Dr.

and

air

ensign

during

was

Conklin

group?

tour

not

group

Conklin,

with

you

after

in

on

sure

in

that

couldn’t

combat

him

the

and

the

might

the

about

of war

Dr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr. Mr.

Mr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

one. reunions,

lived

We

time. Well,

Some and

Yes,

Well, Now,

In Museum

Oh, it

Well, anything

Okay. war

I

was So

...

can

at

Fredericksburg.

and

I

don’t

drove

you

ended.

Fredericksburg

Actually

a

got

sir.

in

do

When

I

its

it

folks

I

Chief

Well,

had if

would

Springs,

would

mean

that.

my

formal

or

that

I

is

plan

up

ever

been

refer

there

what

we

Night

two

I

to

Jerry

you’d

think

like

to

the

be

had

get

Fredericksburg

name

Texas,

tours

there

to

have

one

is

called

interview?

for

Flying

back

Pinicky

it

the

an

that

at

like

planned

simply

is

you

in

anymore, the

and

air

name?

she

the

pretty

to

the

to

and

84

Officer

group

Museum.

to

I

add?

Fredericksburg,

who

had

Nimitz

didn’t

National

as

came

send

for

much

the to

agreed

hut

was

reunion

this

and

that

me

realize

back

Nimitz

Museum

a

married

covers

Museum

lot year’?

I

a

museum.

to

flew

copy

and

in

of

have

that

Museum.

San

I’d

people

all

an

flew

or

of

to

was

of

a

my

like

ACTG

Antonio

the

a

this

mini-reunion

the

torpedo

in

what

questions,

had

World

to

interview.

the

Oh,

Pacific

see

at

wanted

ACTG

they

we

speaking

Sanford

pilot

how

War

rented

War.

called

sir.

and

you

and

a

Two

and

second

Is

when

of

a

I

they

can

then

there

it

talked

bus

at

hear

the

that I

Mr.

Dr.

Nir.

Dr.

Nir.

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

just

Well, old

Gardens

big

World

drive

I

Atlanta.

but

about Well,

Alright,

things

when

And Okay.

the

let

we

and she

to

think

the

them

friends. formal

have

reunion

I

going

and

give

if

hope

down

that

having

we

I’ll

lady

War

happen

that

you’d

the

We well

Inn

know

this

all

have

let

sounds

to

to

reunion

it’s

that

Two

to

and

photographer

of

had

so

you

sit

do mini-reunion

I’d

it

like

Callaway

in

it.

that

close

the

we

at

around

arranged

of

it

history a

appreciate

my

know

good.

I

Callaway

to

reunion sometime

other

can

have

course

like

Miss

be

to

health

just

and

we’ve

if

the

invited

You

from

and

a

pilots

Bolton

our

85

we

and

they’re

stroke

their

in

have

Atlanta

let

that

an

Gardens

have

said

within

ever

World

Georgia,

the

had

cameraman

everybody

invitation.

an

to

once

prevented

and

a

and

her

Atlanta

that

history

opportunity

a

get

place

with

airport

ready

the

War

the

in

developed

name

and

well

reunion,

I’m

next

a Georgia

to

photographer

Two

lot

if

airport.

That

everybody

room

talk

and

me

just

agreed

enough

going

was

they

year.

of

to

to

from interviews

it’s

would

sit

I’d

speakers

set

what

diabetes

which

want

record

Miss

We’re to

to

and

be

to

easy

up

pursuing

invited

meet

seemed

do

again,

glad

be

it

meet

with

in

Bolton

is

to

their

recorded.

not

it.

and

wonderful!

the

and

just

in

with

get

to

And

her

everybody

and

Miss

going Swainsboro

Callaway

so

to

history

let

this

I

south

about

a

had

our

will

enjoy

forth.

car

talk

I

you

thought

reunion

Bolt?

to

a

air

and

of

come

their

with

know

lot

and

have

We it

group

and

and

of

and

if

to a

Dr. Mr.

Dr.

Mr. Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Mr.

Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

Dr.

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree:

DuPree: DuPree:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

DuPree:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Zambrano:

Bye, Alright,

you.

Thank

been Well,

And Alright.

this

I’ll I

Well,

questions

Wow. and

Miss Okay. recording

reunion

Yes, You

all

Pardon?

can

these

get

mini-reunion.

she

bye. thank

a

mentioned

Bolton,

do

Bolton

I

send

you Well,

That’s

pleasure

back

thank

thank

works

and

that.

interviews

on

of

you

so

me

in

offer

I

their

teaches

this

yes.

you

a

much.

you,

guess

part

a

touch

so

very

speaking

the

copy

end

for

She

much.

that

history.

sir.

time

of

lady’s

I’ve

good

Glad

mathematics

with

your

sir.

of

works

opportunity

World

at

this

said

86

to

to

idea.

you

time,

name,

the

you.

have

for

at

this

War

library

when

your

sir,

the

Bolt

a

met

at

Two

to

couple

and

library

we

convenience.

East

everybody

now.

or

you

folks

your

have

Bolton?

Georgia

Mike

of

in

service

and

another

times

Swainsboro

that

and

she College

...

wanted

I’ll

to agreed

...

I

our

guess

he

if

in

and

we

in

country

to

to

Swainsboro

touch

I’m

ever

she

make

come

out

arranges

have

and

with

a

to

of

it’s this Mr. Zambrano: Bye, bye.

Transcribed by

Mike Zambrano, Jr. Round Rock, Texas 9 October 2007

87