Oral history interview with John R. DeVault, [sound recording], 2004.

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Oral history interview with John R. DeVault, [sound recording], 2004.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/756844837

John R. DeVault, an Indianapolis, Indiana native, discusses his experiences in the Army Air Corps in the European Theater of World War II. DeVault talks about enlisting, basic training in Texas, working on training airplanes at Cochran Field (Georgia), and learning airplane mechanics at the Academy of Aeronautics (New York). He describes the tightening of military protocol and security after the attack on Pearl Harbor. DeVault speaks of having pre-flight training at Santa Ana (California), primary training in Ontario (California), and being dropped from the air cadet program. After gunnery school at Wendover (Utah), he portrays his B-17 crew and his duties as mechanic and waist gunner. He talks about flying overseas and joining the 95th Bomb Group in England. DeVault discusses living conditions and the psychological effect of having the other crews he was living with get shot down. He states his first mission was to Berlin. DeVault describes a typical mission, being expected to practice shooting in his free time, and going to the theater for entertainment. After his plane was damaged during a mission, he recalls having to manually shut a bomb bay door in flight. He reflects on the heavy opposition from enemy fighter planes and flak. DeVault describes his thoughts when the number of required missions was raised. After thirty missions, he talks about going home aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth and being irritated by the good treatment of German prisoners of War. At Chanute Field (Illinois) and Roswell (New Mexico), DeVault talks about learning electrical mechanics for B-29s and being discharged as soon as the war ended. He touches on moving to Sturgeon Bay (Wisconsin), finding a job and housing, using the VA Clinic in Green Bay, and becoming active in the VFW.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 14 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

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SNAC Resource ID: 8143015

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

United States. Army Air Forces

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wb616q (person)

The Army Air Forces War Adjustment Course was established in 1944 at several locations in the U.S., one of which was Harvard Business School. The HBS program involved eight weeks of training in the business of contract terminations, cutbacks, and property disposal necessitated by changes in Army Air Forces tactical requirements. Approximately 4,200 officers received instruction throughout the country, about one sixth of them at HBS. The goal of the program was to train men for participation in t...

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69s5frp (corporateBody)

DeVault, John R.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6np3czv (person)

DeVault served from 1941 to 1945 in the 95th Bomb Group as an airplane mechanic and gunner. After the war, he moved to Sturgeon Bay (Wisconsin) with his wife, Margaret, and worked for Amity Leather. From the description of Oral history interview with John R. DeVault, [sound recording], 2004. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 756844837 ...

United States. Army Air Forces. Bomb Group (H), 95th

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63f9t5t (corporateBody)

Macdonald, Terry

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kh0t40 (person)