China, Hainan Sheng, 19.2000001, 109.5999999United States, Arkansas, 34.75037, -92.50044United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383United States, Mississippi, Keesler Army AirfieldUnited States, Tennessee, Davidson County, Nashville, 36.16589, -86.78444Bruckner, William JosephHenson, Kenneth E., 1921-20102006-03-29In this interview, Kenneth Henson recalls his history in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre during World War II. He wanted to enlist and after basic training he received further training in hydraulics in New Orleans. He became a cadet and learned to fly heavy bombers in Montgomery (Ala.) and Boise (Idaho). In Salt Lake City, he assembled with his crew. They were issued equipment in Topeka (Kan.) and given further training in Miami (Fla.), but they were not told their destination. They traveled in military transports from Miami, down the east coast of South America, to Ascension Island, over the Sahara Desert, Karachi, and finally arrived in Kunming (China). He describes harrowing stories about some of their missions as well as playing softball in teams. He returned home to be a pilot trainer, but the war was winding down. He displays commendations he received from the Chinese. He describes the effects the Communist movement had on the local population. He describes his post-war career and describes what made him want to be a pilot.Kenneth Henson was an Army Air Corps pilot during WWII.video/quicktimehttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Veterans History Project oral history recordingsVeterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History CenterB-24 (Bomber)Atomic bombWorld War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, AmericanChennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958Powell, Harvard W., 1915-2003Carswell, Horace Seaver, 1916-1944United States. Army. Air Corps. Air Force, 14thUnited States. Army. Air Corps. Bombardment Group, 308th. Squadron, 374General Motors CorporationEastern Air LinesUnited States. Army. Forces in China-Burma-India TheaterOral history interview of Kenneth E. HensonMovingImage