- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Walter Earle Harrison, part one of two
- Creator:
- Westbrook, Frances H.
Harrison, Walter Earle, 1921-2007 - Date of Original:
- 2005-10-17
- Subject:
- Marauder (Bomber)
Vultee airplanes
BT-13 (Training plane)
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Harrison, Walter Earle, Jr.
Johnson, Lindsay
Magruder, Peyton M., 1911-1982
Bjork, Paul, 1925-1977
Teter, Earl M., 1901-1942
University of Florida
Mercer University
American Red Cross
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Force, 9th
United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Group, 344th
United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Group, 335th
United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Squadron, 475th
Marauder (bomber Martin B-26)
Vultee Aircraft BT-13 Valiant (trainer)
Teter, Lucky (Earl M.) - Location:
- Brazil, Belém, -1.45056, -48.4682453
Brazil, Natal, -5.805398, -35.2080905
France, Amiens, 49.8941708, 2.2956951
France, Brest, 48.3905283, -4.4860088
France, Cherbourg, 49.6425343, -1.6249565
France, Rouen, 49.4404591, 1.0939658
Northern Ireland, Toome, 54.7551198, -6.4621064
Saint Helena, Ascension, Ascension Island, -7.95, -14.36667
United Kingdom, England, London, 51.50853, -0.12574
United Kingdom, England, St. Mawgan, 50.4547944, -4.9977827
United States, Alabama, Montgomery County, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, 32.38266, -86.35502
United States, Florida, Dorr Field, 33.8475082, -90.7241993
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383
United States, Georgia, Dougherty County, Albany, Turner Army Airfield
United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Augusta Regional Airport, 33.36986, -81.96428
United States, Kansas, Dodge City, 37.7527982, -100.0170787
United States, Louisiana, Bossier Parish, Barksdale Air Force Base, 32.49587, -93.61185 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
mini-dv - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In part one of this two-part interview, Walter Harrison recalls his career as a pilot in the USAAF during World War II. He remembers hearing of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and wanting to join the Army Air Corps. While in college, he had the opportunity to acquire some flight training, hours and courses such as navigation and meteorology. He needed his mother's signature to join, but she was opposed until his older brother convinced her to allow him. He describes the pitfalls of the training aircraft they flew and the process of putting a flight crew together. He relates the hazards of their journey to England using the South Atlantic Ferry route, including stops in Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Africa. He describes how the Air Transport Command navigator who had been assigned to them was not helpful, and how the German submarines would send out false signals to lead aircraft off course. He describes the Gold Coast of Africa, with its Firestone rubber plant and natives who would sell rubber boots. He also describes Dakkar and Marrakesh. He recalls a harrowing flight from Africa to England and their reception there. He describes a trip into London, hearing air raid sirens and bombs. He remembers several missions, targets, and events, including a mission over Utah Beach on D-Day. He describes his return trip home in a C-54 through Prestwick, England, Iceland, Newfoundland and Washington, D.C.
Walter Harrison was a USAAF pilot in Europe during World War II. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/196
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 58:09
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
