Oral history interview with Mello Stapleton, [sound recording], 1994.

ArchivalResource

Stapleton, Mello 1919-2006,. Oral history interview with Mello Stapleton, [sound recording], 1994.

Oral history interview with Mello Stapleton, [sound recording], 1994.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/460684716

Mello "Mel" Stapleton, a North Lake, Wisconsin native, discusses his career with the Army Air Force including service with the 11th Bomb Group, 431st Bomb Squad in World War II and with the Air Inspector's Office in Kunsan during the Korean War. Stapleton cites the Depression as a major reason for volunteering in 1939 and mentions using the rifle range at Camp Williams (Wisconsin) during previous training with the Wisconsin National Guard Reserves. He describes the unstructured Army Air Corps basic training he received at Chanute Field (Illinois), being rejected from pilot school due to having astigmatism, and his first duties dealing with primitive communications equipment in the Signal Corps. Shipped to Hawaii, Stapleton tells of his ship being quarantined for measles and describes the five months spent on board. Stationed at Hickam Field (Hawaii), he speaks about living in tents while the barracks was being built, his duties, available recreation, and a lack of rivalry between service branches. He recalls in detail the attack on Pearl Harbor. At an all-night beach party the night before, he talks about the Hickam Field's dining hall being destroyed, everyone running to get guns, shooting at Japanese planes, the devastation of the barracks, and the loss of most airplanes on the islands. Stapleton describes regrouping after the attack, repairing airplanes, and eating lots of Spam because all the cooks had been killed. He describes flying B17Es with the 11th Bomb Group at the Battle of Midway and, based on Espiritu Santo (South Pacific), doing bombing runs at Guadalcanal. He mentions flying a combat mission to New Guinea to relieve the 32nd Division on Christmas Eve. Stapleton describes the crew of "Knucklehead", his plane, and, after R&R in New Zealand, discovering that their bombardier had committed suicide. After fifty-five missions, he states they had orders to go home but had to hitch-hike back on a Dutch freighter. Stapleton mentions getting married and training crews at Scotts Bluff (Nebraska), Caspar (Wyoming), and Albuquerque (New Mexico). He talks about reenlisting and duties as Communication Chief at Chanute Field (Illinois). After the Korean War began, he speaks of nearly getting an assignment for him and his family at Nagoya (Japan), but being transferred last-minute to the Air Inspector's Office in Kunsan (Korea) without his family. Stapleton describes Korea as a desolate country and explains he was restricted to Kunsan Air Base for his entire year there. He describes retiring at Truax Field in 1962, being a member of the Pear Harbor Survivors Association, attending 11th Bomber Group reunions, being legislative chair for VFW post 8483, lobbying for veteran benefits, and belonging to the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups as well as the Cameral Club. Stapleton briefly talks about his VFW post's involvement in politics, including the controversy over the Smithsonian's Enola Gay exhibit, the immigration of Russian soldiers from the Baltic states, and homeless Vietnam and World War II veterans.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 105 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 105 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 26 p.Military papers : 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center