Hulbert "Hub" Pinkerton, a Madison, Wisconsin native, discusses his service as a Technical Sergeant in the Army Air Force 64th Bombing Squadron in the Pacific Front during World War II. Pinkerton describes life in Madison before the War and how the Depression affected his father's apartment renting and remodeling business. Pinkerton attended the University of Wisconsin for two years and helped his father fix up apartments. He recalls he was playing ball with some kids in the street when his father told him about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Pinkerton explains he received a short deferment from being drafted to care for his mother who had broken her arm; however, he enlisted in the Army Air Force in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) in January, 1942 and left for Jefferson Barracks (Missouri) the same day. Pinkerton mentions he originally considered being a conscientious objector because he "wasn't interested in killing a lot of people," but a talk with his pastor (a World War I veteran) and the desire to protect his mother and sisters influenced Pinkerton to join. Pinkerton describes basic training early in the war as poor, stating he marched a lot but had no weapons to practice with. Pinkerton observes that many of his fellow troops had some college education and jokes that until he joined the Air Force, he "didn't know how to swear." Based on his mechanical skills, Pinkerton was assigned to Turret School at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver (Colorado), but his training was delayed by an outbreak of meningitis. Pinkerton and other airmen were given live vaccines and quarantined for two weeks before arriving in Denver. Pinkerton details his turret gunner maintenance training. His training focused on the Sperry turret for the B-17 bomber and the Martin turret for the B-25 and B-26 bombers. After the eight-week session, Pinkerton flew to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson (Arizona) and from there flew to Hickam Field (Hawaii). Pinkerton portrays facilities at Hickam Field as still in disrepair following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He mentions inspecting and repairing aircraft that participated in the Battle of Midway in June, 1942. Pinkerton explains the "skip bombing" tactic employed during Midway, which involved planes flying low and bouncing bombs over the surface of the water like skipping stones to take out Japanese ships. Next, Pinkerton discusses being stationed in northern Australia in Charleville and later Moreva. He explains he was in charge of the maintenance of six turret guns on six airplanes. He describes modest living conditions in Charleville: airmen slept on cots on outdoor verandas. A couple months into his stay, Pinkerton relates that he filled in as a ball gunner during the night bombing of Rabaul (New Guinea). He states this was his only mission of the war, as he generally performed turret maintenance on base. During this mission, Pinkerton reveals he had the chance to shoot an open truck of Japanese soldiers that was putting out a fire, but he admired their courage and couldn't bring himself to shoot. Pinkerton spends much time contrasting the B-17 turrets with the B-24 turrets. A gunner sat inside the B-17 turret whereas the B-24 guns were operated remotely. Also, B-24 turret guns were retractable, but the guns on the B-17s Pinkerton maintained were not. Pinkerton mentions Charles Lindbergh came to the Pacific and advised the Air Force that by redistributing fuel, the B-17 could accept more cargo and fly further than the Air Force thought. Pinkerton states he worked in the repair shop with a capable technician named Brewer, but they were often understaffed. Later in the war, airmen who reached their mission quota helped Pinkerton around the shop. Pinkerton tells many stories of socializing during his service. He remarks that, at each new base, he would find and repair a vehicle (car, truck, or motorcycle) so he could move quickly from aircraft to aircraft. He tells of driving into town with other airmen for dances in Australia and the Philippines. He feels the Australians and Americans got along very well. In December 1942, the 64th Bombing Squadron moved their base just outside Port Moresby (New Guinea). Pinkerton describes going on a week-long trip back to the technical supply in Barraba (Australia) to collect spare parts. Pinkerton tells how he bought a used motorcycle in Australia to make the trip and almost got killed taking hairpin turns in the highlands. Pinkerton comments on life in New Guinea: he enjoyed the variety of fruits and songbirds but had little contact with the natives. He mentions the Air Force played movies for the troops on base as there were no towns or taverns. Pinkerton describes getting malaria as they moved from Dobodura to Hollandia (New Guinea) because he never took his atabrine pills. He claims he recovered by staying active, hiking up a mountain, and taking a cold spring bath. In 1943, his unit was stationed at Owi (Philippines), an uninhabited island on a coral reef. He discusses the challenges of digging for water on the beach and walking over the sharp coral. Pinkerton reveals he snuck on a mission back to Hollandia and got in trouble with his captain. Later, Pinkerton recounts how witnessing an airplane crash on the runway convinced him not to sneak on any more missions. Pinkerton was able to return home on a 30-day furlough for Thanksgiving. In Madison (Wisconsin), he describes falling back into old routines, helping his father fix apartments, and going out nightly to dances and taverns. Pinkerton rejoined his unit in Leyte (Philippines), which he claims had the worst accommodations of the war. They soon moved to Clark Field (Philippines) where Pinkerton expresses frustration that the officers had nice barracks while the enlisted men had tents. Emphasizing the innovation of mechanics, Pinkerton tells how he and other troops improved their tents with screens and lumber from a shipyard in Baguio (Philippines). Pinkerton's friend bribed the port guards with three bottles of whiskey and the airmen took the lumber and built a barrack into the side of a hill. Pinkerton feels the Philippines were much more social than New Guinea and that Filipinos and Americans got along well. He describes driving into town for evening parties with Filipinos where American music was played, and befriending a Filipino family that invited him for dinner regularly and briefly convinced him to go into the rice business. He touches upon visiting brothels in the Philippines, using Army-issue condoms, and taking pills to protect against venereal disease. Pinkerton frequently references attempts by airmen at home brewing. In Clark Field, airmen brewed unfermented "green beer" in an old Filipino beer plant. Pinkerton also mentions making coconut liquor and fruit beer. Pinkerton relates he was sent home earlier than expected because the Army switched to the point system. He was sent home in July, 1945. Pinkerton recalls hearing about the bombing of Nagasaki while on a troop ship to Hawaii. He comments he initially did not believe that one bomb could destroy an entire city. Pinkerton goes on to say he is "on the fence" about whether dropping the bomb was the right thing to do but feels the Japanese were not ready to surrender without a long invasion. Pinkerton describes reading his Bible cover to cover on the ship back to the States but also spending three days in the brig; he lit a cigar one night during a blackout, which was against ship rules. Pinkterton describes travelling through Panama and landing in New York City where he saw the Statue of Liberty, but the V-J Day parades were already over. Pinkerton was discharged from Fort Sheridan (Illinois) in 1945 and moved back to Madison. Pinkerton explains he went back to UW on the G.I. Bill, finishing his BA, then graduating from law school. He states the G.I. Bill covered all his education expenses and touches upon what it was like having so many veterans on campus. He lived at home but recalls many veterans commuting to UW from Badger Village. Pinkerton makes a short digression on the life of Edgar Cayce, a religious leader in the early 20th century who supposedly had mystical and healing powers. Pinkerton reveals he participated in a study group on Cayce at the Veterans Home in Madison, which brought him into contact with Vietnam Veterans. Finally, Pinkerton addresses how his personality changed during the war. He loosened up in the Air Force, learning to smoke and swear; his father said he "wasn't the same boy that went over there." As a handyman, Pinkerton explains that he was always trying to make living conditions better. He tells of tinkering with bomb-loading pulleys; improving tents in the Philippines; and fixing up an old Japanese weapons carrier for his personal transportation. Pinkerton states that to him being in the service "was all one great big adventure. I didn't really consider it as a sacrifice."
