- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Paul A. Koshewa
- Creator:
- Lowance, David
Koshewa, Paul A., 1922- - Date of Original:
- 2005-05-30
- Subject:
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (Fighter plane)
B-24 (Bomber)
Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Fighter plane)
Lightning (Fighter plane)
Mustang (Fighter plane)
C-124 (Transport plane)
Atomic bomb
Westminster Schools (Atlanta, Ga.)
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918-)
Reichswerke Aktiengesellschaft für Erzbergbau und Eisenhütten "Hermann Göring"
Citadel Academy (Charleston, S.C.)
Danville High School (Danville, Ky.) - People:
- Carroll, Madeleine, 1906-1987
Pressly, William Laurens, 1908-2001 - Location:
- China, Yalu River, 48.3944545, 122.2274347
Italy, Foggia, 41.50281055, 15.4528996096277
Italy, Mount Etna, 37.7487871, 14.9668501477787
Japan, Tokyo, 35.709026, 139.731992
Korea, Yalu River
United States, Delaware, Kent County, Dover, 39.15817, -75.52437
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383
United States, Georgia, Cobb County, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, 33.919538, -84.51632
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Ansley Park, 33.79316, -84.38076
United States, Mississippi, Harrison County, Keesler Air Force Base, 30.40718, -88.92539
United States, Nebraska, Lancaster County, Lincoln, 40.8, -96.66696
United States, Texas, Bexar County, San Antonio, 29.42412, -98.49363
United States, Texas, Ellington Air Force Base
United States, Texas, Kelly Air Force Base, 29.37325125, -98.5663553693529
Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, 10.7758439, 106.7017555 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
mini-dv - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In this interview, Paul Koshewa recalls his service in the U.S. Army Air Forces and later, the U.S. Air Force. He describes enlisting right after the attack on Pearl Harbor and choosing the Air Forces. He describes his training bases and his arrival in Italy. He relates living in a tent and building a hot water heater out of a belly tank, tubing, and a potbellied stove. He describes how their missions were given code names such as "teakettle" and "coffee." He describes some of their missions, including those over Ploesti, Linz (Austria), and Southern France. He recalls being wounded, hospitalized and working as a gunnery officer while recovering. By this time, the Germans had surrendered and he had been ordered to the Pacific, but the war there had also ended. He relates that upon his discharge he was invited to join the reserves and he consented. He worked as a high school coach until he got a telegram stating, "you have been selected," and he was off to Korea. In Korea, he flew with the transport service, where he dropped propaganda and warning leaflets, some of which he displays during the interview. He also flew Korean and Chinese girls who would translate similar warnings over a loudspeaker from the plane as Koshewa circled around at 200 feet. He also flew moonlight expeditions dropping saboteurs behind enemy lines and re-supplying them. He was discharged due to a reduction in force (RIF) but was recalled after the Tet Offensive to serve in Vietnam. He describes his duties there. He concludes by relating a humorous story about touring Rome while serving in World War II.
Paul Koshewa was in the U.S. Army Air Forces and later the Air Force during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/238
- Language:
- eng
- 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:
- 47:07
- 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:
-
