- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Robert L. "Bob" Jones, part one of two
- Creator:
- Pahr, Marilyn A.
Jones, Robert L., 1923- - Date of Original:
- 2006-01-31
- Subject:
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Marauder (Bomber)
Douglas DC-4 (Transport plane)
B-24 (Bomber)
B-29 (Bomber)
Curtiss CW-20 (Transport plane)
Mitsubishi G4M (Bomber)
V-J Day, 1945
Atomic bomb
Jones, Dick (George Richard), 1922-1985
Jones, Harry H., 1925-
Carroll, Mary Frances Jones, 1927-
Jones, Michael, 1929-
Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1888-1957
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974
Halsey, Hump, 1921-2003
Warren, Joseph, 1883-1946
Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958
United States. Army. Air Corps
Austin College (Sherman, Tex.)
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Transport Command
United States. Army. Forces in China-Burma-India Theater
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Force, 14th
United States. Army Air Forces. Troop Carrier Squadron, 27th
United States. Office of Strategic Services - Location:
- Brazil, Natal, -5.805398, -35.2080905
Burma, Burma Road, 30.640187, -88.148114
China, Burma Road, 24.7340678, 98.9670967
China, Chengkung Airfield
China, Chihkiang Airfield
China, Liangshan Yizu Zizhizhou, 27.7462884, 102.0966149
China, Manchuria, 46.4097992, 127.6152447
China, Shanghai, 31.230416, 121.473701
China, Yunnanyi Cun, 25.4245784, 100.6894615
Ghana, Greater Accra, Accra, 5.55602, -0.1969
Himalaya Mountains, 28.598316, 83.931062
Pakistan, Karachi, 24.8667795, 67.0311286
Philippines, Corregidor Island, 14.38317435, 120.573950117693
United States, Arkansas, Jefferson County, Pine Bluff, 34.22843, -92.0032
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383
United States, Kansas, Leavenworth, 39.3113257, -94.922759
United States, Louisiana, Bossier Parish, Barksdale Air Force Base, 32.49587, -93.61185
United States, Oklahoma, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City, 35.46756, -97.51643
United States, Texas, Bexar County, San Antonio, 29.42412, -98.49363
United States, Texas, Pampa Army Air Field
United States, Texas, Sheppard Field
United States, Texas, Travis County, Bergstrom Air Force Base (historical), 30.19444, -97.66833
Yemen, Aden, Craiter, Aden, 12.77944, 45.03667 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
mini-dv - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In this interview, Bob Jones recalls his career as an Army Air Corps pilot during World War II. His father worked as a cattle rancher in a stockyard when he was a child. He was attending college when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He recalls why he wanted to fly and tells of riding bicycles with his brothers to the Wiley Post airport to watch planes. He relates his experience with a recruiter who told him to go back to school, and enlisted after his freshman year at college. He describes his flight training and lists the planes he trained on, including PT-17s, VT-14s and VT-13s. After basic, he was recommended for twin-engine aircraft. Although he didn't know it at the time, the invasion of Europe by the Allies was imminent while he was finishing his training. There was a surplus of pilots, so he was sent to China to be assigned to the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. He describes in detail the trip from Miami (Fla.) to China, including stops in Puerto Rico, Khartoum (Sudan), Belem (Brazil) and Chabua (India). He describes encounters with villagers and begging children, and his first taste of powdered eggs and milk. He describes the makeup of his crew, their missions and planes they flew. He describes the Himalayas and what it was like to fly in those conditions. He describes seeing a B-29 for the first time. They would ferry in supplies such as cement for runways and mules to the Chinese and bring out wounded; and he describes the cultural problems they had in dealing with the Chinese. He recalls an encounter with a Japanese "Betty" and how he and his crew would have to sleep in their aircraft to prevent pilfering of fuel and supplies. He discusses the farming practices and the friendliness of the Chinese. He recalls supplying Burmese soldiers as well as Merrill's Marauders.
Bob Jones was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/227
- 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:
- 1:02:22
- 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:
-
