Oral history interview with Thomas A. Thompson, 2000.

ArchivalResource

Thompson, Thomas A. 1919-2002,. Oral history interview with Thomas A. Thompson, 2000.

Oral history interview with Thomas A. Thompson, 2000.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84737636

Thomas Thompson, an Ely, Minnesota native, discusses his World War II service in Europe as a pilot with the 2nd Bomb Division of the Army Air Corps and stateside as a member of Air Transport Command. Thompson touches on working for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a firefighter, attempting to enlist in the Air Corps in 1942, and being turned down because he was classified "4A" as the sole supporter for his family, as well as working in the essential iron mining industry. Drafted into the Air Corps in 1943, Thompson mentions flight training at Santa Ana (California) and Yuma (Arizona), learning copilot skills primarily from his pilot rather than instructors, and being sent to Tibenham (England) in a B-24 Bomber. He details the two missions when his plane crash-landed, including being hit by anti-aircraft fire, trying to fix the mechanical problems, and bailing out over the English Channel. Thompson portrays the fate of his crew and comments on giving a statement for the Nuremburg war trials. After thirty missions, he speaks of rotating back to the United States, ferrying cargo planes for the Air Transport Command, and delivering planes to the Russians. He touches upon joining the inactive Reserves and nearly being deployed during the Berlin Airlift. Thompson discusses using the GI Bill for the "52-20 club," receiving a Silver Star, his brother's stateside service, his career in forestry in the Midwest and the Bahamas, and being an inactive member of the American Legion.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Videorecording : 1 videocassette (ca. 45 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 25 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center