Veterans of World War II in the Pacific and Korean War
Pacific Wrecks interviews with veterans of World War II in the Pacific and the Korean War including US Army, US Army Air Force, US Air Force, US Navy, British, Civilians and Japanese. If you would like to be profiled or interviewed contact us.

U. S. Army (USA)
Herman J. Bottcher  32nd Division fought at Buna with distinction, killed in the Philippines.
William Buckner  24th Infantry Division - While stationed in Kyushu, Japan Buckner visited the wreck of a B-25.
Robert G. Bryant  43rd Division, 169th Infantry - Fighting on Russell and Rendova.
James L. Dalton, II  25th Division, Assistant Commander KIA May 16, 1945 at Balete Pass in Luzon.
Claudius M. Easley  96th Infantry Division, Asst Div Commander KIA June 19, 1945 at Itoman on Okinawa.
Edwin Fitchett  165th Field Artillery Battalion service in the Philippines and Japan.
Martin M. Friedman  31st Infantry Division, 155th Infantry Regiment, Rifle company commander.
Bill McLaughin  Americal Division on Guadalcanal.
Robert Petersen  photos from Biak campaign.
James A. Pounds  593rd Boat & Shore Regiment - New Guinea, Philippines & Borneo.
Dale W. Ross  25th Infantry Division, 35th Infantry Regiment MIA January 14, 1943 Hill 27 on Guadalcanal.
William Sabel  350th Engineer Service Regiment at Kolombangara Island.
Walter Seale  871st Airborne Engineers - Airfield construction in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Glenn Shankle  158th RCT at Sarmi, Noemfoor and Luzon.
Roger Sykes  491st Port Battalion - based at Oro Bay, returned to New Guinea in the 1970s.
Carl R. Thien  201st Counter Intelligence Corps - Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines.
Jorge Torralba  Filipino Memories of December 8, 1941 aid to General Kruger after liberation.
Angelo Viale  25th Infantry Division, 161st Infantry Regiment earned DSC near Kapintalan on Luzon in the Philippines.
George Walden  service in Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea and the Philippines.
George Watson  29th Quartermaster Regiment - Medal of Honor, posthumously 1997.
Frank Widay  892th Chemical Company service in Oro Bay, Biak, Manila using phosphorous and napalm.
Raymond S. Wood  Americal Division, 182nd Infantry Regiment MIA December 30, 1942 at Sea Horse on Guadalcanal.

U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF)
Abner M. Aust, Jr.  7th AF, 506th FG, 457th FS P-51D Mustang pilot and ace.
Jack W. Berry  5th AF, 35th FG, 39th FS Airacobra pilot MIA August 4, 1942.
Richard I. Bong  5th AF, P-38 pilot, highest Scoring American Ace of World War II.
David A. Campbell  5th AF, 49th FG C. O. P-38 pilot Missing In Action (MIA) over Babo
Richard H. Carmichael  5th AF, 19th BG commanding officer, B-17 pilot and 462nd BG B-29 pilot.
William O. Carter, Jr.  5th AF, 348th FG, 311th FS P-47 Thunderbolt pilot profile by son William O. Cotter, III.
Paul J. Cascio, Jr.  5th AF, 43rd BG, 65th BS radio B-17E 41-9207 Prisoner Of War (POW) survived captivity.
Claire L. Chennault  USAAC, Chinese advisor, AVG Flying Tigers, 14th Air Force in China.
Edward Cragg  5th AF, 8th FG, 80th FS, P-38 Lightning pilot and ace Missing In Action December 26, 1943.
Edward J. Czarnecki  5th AF, 475th FG, 431st FS P-38 Lightning pilot in New Guinea, escape and evasion.
Perry J. Dahl   5th AF, 475th FG, 432nd FS P-38 Lightning pilot and ace in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Richard DeBaugh  5th AF, 35th FG, 41st FS P-47 Thunderbolt pilot recollections of New Guinea and Gusap.
George A. Davis, Jr.  pilot P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with seven aerial victories in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Robert M. DeHaven  5th AF, 49th FG, 7th FS P-40 Warhawk pilot and ace that claimed 14 victories over New Guinea and Philippines.
Edward G. Dickey  5th AF, 475th FG, 432nd FS P-38 Lightning pilot.
John C. Dunbar  5th AF, 35th FG, 39th FS P-38 Lightning pilot, 151 combat missions in New Guinea.
Harry H. Dunham  5th AF, 374th TCG, 22nd TCS L-5 pilot killed October 23, 1943.
Math L. English  5th AF, 38th BG, 922nd BS pilot B-25 pilot MIA April 12, 1944 off Wewak.
Carlos E. Dannacher  5th AF, 35th FG, 40th FS "I may be the only guy who put a P-39 down on the Wau strip...".
John L. Fabale  5th AF, 345th BG, 501st BS B-25 pilot crash landed in jungle and escape.
Nelson D. Flack, Jr.  5th AF, 49th FG, 8th FS P-40 Warhawk pilot.
Oscar G. Fitzhenry  B-24 Liberator pilot, 5th Bombardment Group in the South Pacific.
James L. Folse  3rd Bombardment Group, 89th Bombardment Squadron A-20 pilot 67 combat missions.
George P. Gaffney  5th AF, 35th FG, 41st FS P-47 pilot MIA March 11, 1944 remains recovered.
Robert Giesige  5th AF, 27th Air Depot Group service record in New Guinea, Biak and Japan plus 20 years in USAF.
Victor Grimes  5th AF, 5th Bomber Command service in Australia and New Guinea.
Steele T. Griswold  5th AF, 8th FG, 36th FS P-38 Lightning pilot, two credited victories.
William C. Gronemeyer  5th AF, 475th FG, 431st FS P-38 Lightning pilot.
Leroy V. Grosshuesch  5th AF, 35th FG, 39th FS P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and ace.
Raymond F. "Hap" Halloran  20th AF B-29 "Rover Boys Express" 42-24769 navigator & Prisoner Of War (POW) in Japan.
Ed Hambleton  5th AF, 312th BG A-20 pilot service in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Jack Heyn  5th AF, 3rd BG, photographic section. interview from Pearl Harbor through V-J Day.
Gustave M. Heiss  5th AF, 3rd BG B-25 pilot crew member during the Royce Mission and MIA on September 4, 1942 off New Guinea.
James Hilburn  5th AF, 35th FG, 41st FS recollections about war in New Guinea served.
Jose Holguin  5th AF, 43rd BG navigator shot down over Rabaul, POW, searched for and located his B-17 crash site in 1983.
Jim Houston  5th AF, 22nd BG service in Australia, and flying the B-26 in training and combat.
Wellman H. Huey  13th AF, 347th FG, 339th FS P-38 pilot shot down February 14, 1943, POW/MIA.
John P. Henebry  5th AF, 3rd BG C.O. nicknamed "Jock" who flew 219 combat missions.
Curran "Jack" L. Jones  5th AF, 35th FG, 39th FS Airacobra ace pilot who flew from Port Moresby.
Randall B. Keator  5th AF, 20th FG and 49th FG P-40 Warhawk pilot in Philippines and New Guinea.
Benjamin H. King  13th AF, 347th FG, 339th FS P-38 Lighting pilot shot down July 17, 1943 and rescued.
Francis J. Lent  5th AF, 475th FG, 431st FS P-38 Lightning claiming twelve aerial victories MIA December 1, 1944.
Meyer Levin  5th AF, 7th BG / 19th BG / 43rd BG B-17 bombardier who flew 50 missions before went Missing In Action January 7, 1943
Eric Kyro  5th AF, 35th FG, 41st FS P-39 Airacobra pilot dive bombing Shaggy Ridge.
Charles H. MacDonald  5th AF, 475th FG C. O. P-38 Lightning pilot and ace who nicknamed his aircraft "Put Put Maru".
Grant G. Mahony  5th AF pilot in Philippines, Java, CBI.
John A. Mancini  13th AF, 17th PRS F-5 Lightning pilot MIA April 22, 1943 over Solomon Islands.
Godron Manuel  5th AF, 43rd BG, 64th BS bombardier shot down & rescued from behind enemy lines.
Thomas B. McGurie, Jr.  5th AF, 475th FG, 431st FS P-38 pilot, second highest scoring American ace of World War II.
Robert F. Meeker  5th AF, 417th BG, 673rd BS A-20 Havoc pilot, MIA aboard C-47 "Windy City" 43-16011 on March 27, 1945.
Paul S. Miller  5th AF, 8th FG, 35th FS P-39 Airacobra pilot and flew in ETO and served in the Korean War and Vietnam.
John W. Mitchell  13th AF, 347th FG, 339th FS P-38 Lightning pilot, 11 victories, planned the April 18, 1943 "Yamamoto Mission".
John R. Mulvey Jr.  13th AF, 347th FG, 339th FS P-38 Lightning pilot, 2 victories in Solomon Islands.
Kenneth J. Murphy  5th AF, 6th PRG, 8th PRS F-5 Lightning MIA June 26, 1943 over New Britain.
William Myers  5th AF, Japan occupation "part of my job was to disarm the hundreds of planes left by the Japanese".
Harry Nelson  5th AF, 22nd BG 408th BS B-26 Missions to Timor and returning to search for target of his mission.
Ulmer J. Newman  7th AF / 13th AF, 307th BG B-24 Liberator pilot in the Central Pacific and South Pacific.
John O'Neill  5th AF, 49th FG P-38 Lightning eight victory ace in New Guinea.
Richard E. Oliver  5th AF, 7th BG tells the story of two crashed on the "23rd" in Hawaii and New Guinea.
Earle W. Painter 13th Air Force, 307th BG, 371st BS B-24 ball turret gunner, Final Flight Of The "Rum Dum".
Edwards Park  5th AF, 35th FG, 41st FS P-39 Airacobra pilot and author of two books on his experiences.
Myron E. Pedersen  13th AF, 347th FG, 339th FS P-38 Lightning pilot in the South Pacific.
Otis Oscar Perkins  USAAF, 75th Joint Assault Signal Company, L-4 pilot MIA April 29, 1945.
Carl G. Planck, Jr.  5th AF, 49th FG, 9th FS P-38 Lightning pilot.
Arthur L. Post  5th AF, 6th PRG, 8th PRS F-5 pilot shot down June 20, 1943 and rescued, killed in a test flight August 25, 1944.
George Prezioso  5th AF, 43rd BG, 63rd BS radio operator also service with 317th TCG, 39th TCS.
John E. Purdy  5th AF, 475th FG, 433rd FS P-38 Lightining pilot and seven victory ace.
Howard K. Ramey  5th AF, Fifth Bomber Command MIA March 26, 1943.
Robert R. Rist  13th AF, 347th FG, 339th FS P-38 Lightning pilot, MIA February 13, 1943.
Jay T. Robbins  5th AF, 8th FG, 80th FS P-38 Lightning pilot, 22 victories.
Daniel T. Roberts, Jr.  5th AF, 475th FG, 433rd FS 14 victories, KIA November 9, 1943 piloting P-38H 42-66834 over Alexishafen.
Thomas H. Roberts  5th AF, 6th PRG, 25th PRS P-39Q 42-19949 Missing In Action served with Australian Army.
Norbert C. Ruff  5th AF, 8th FG, 80th FS P-38 pilot claimed four aerial victories flew missions until September 1943.
Eugene Salternik  5th AF, 25th Liaison Squadron L-5 pilot in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Harvey J. Scandrett  20th AF, 506th FG, Headquarters MIA June 1, 1945 off Japan.
William A. Shomo  5th AF, 71st TRG, 82nd TRS, pilot P-39 and F-6 claimed 7 victories in one mission earned Medal of Honor.
John Shott  5th AF, 345th BG, 500th BS, radio-gunner survived crash on Formosa and captivity as a POW.
Carl H. Silber  5th AF, 8th FG adjutant crashed on Hinchinbrook Island in Queensland, Australia by don Carl H. Silber, Jr.
Richard E. Smith  5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron  P-38 / P-47, 7 victory ace.
William J. Smith  5th AF, 38th BG, 71st BS Kavieng and rescued by Nate Gordon.
Richard C. Suehr  5th AF, 35th FG, 39th FS P-38 Lightning pilot two tours in New Guinea and Philippines.
Don L. Sutliff  5th AF, 49th FG, 7th FS P-40 pilot and 5th Fighter Command MIA piloting P-70 October 22, 1944.
Charles Sullivan (O'Sullivan)  5th AF, 35th FG, 39th FS P-38 pilot and ace.
Clarence L. Tinker  7th AF, Headquarters pilot LB-30 LB-30 Liberator AL-589 MIA June 7, 1942 Battle of Midway.
Joel Thorvaldson  5th AF, 49th FG, 8th FS P-40 pilot survived crash near Lae, served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Boyd D. "Buzz" Wagner  5th AF, 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) in the Philippines first ace died in crash on November 29, 1942
Kenneth N. Walker  5th AF, Fifth Bomber Command MIA January 5, 1943 earned Medal of Honor.
Ralph H. Wandrey  5th AF, 49th FG, 9th FS P-38 and P-47 pilot six victories.
John R. Weldon, Jr. 5th AF, 475th FG, 431st FS P-38 pilot Missing In Action January 18, 1944 over Wewak.
Robert B. Westbrook  13th AF, 347th FG, Headquarters P-38 pilot Missing In Action November 22, 1944 over Celebes.
Charles W. Wolfendale  13th AF, 42nd BG, 100th BS B-25 pilot that flew 95 missions in SOPAC and SWPA.
Eliot R. Young  5th AF, 312th BG A-20 Havoc pilot crash landing Bountiful Island off Queensland.

U. S. Marine Corps (USMC)

U. S. Navy (USN)
Charles V. August  fighter pilot assigned to VF-4 and VF-44 force landed January 4, 1945 and became POW survived
George H. W. Bush  Avenger pilot in VT-51 on USS San Jacinto CVL-30 bailed out September 2, 1944 rescued
Nathan G. Gordon  PBY Catalina pilot, rescued 15 airmen off Kavieng on February 11, 1944, Medal of Honor.
Thomas J. Hudner  F4U Corsair pilot Korean War earned Medal of Honor.
Dixie Kiefer  commander USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) injured by kamikaze and died November 11, 1945 in plane crash
Ernest J. King  Fleet Admiral in the U.S. Navy
John Richter  Corpsmen Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester with a 75mm gun
John A. Mair, Jr  USS Mississinewa sinking November 20, 1944 by a Kaiten submarine
David L. Mandt  F6F Hellcat pilot died March 18, 1945 piloting XF8F-1 Bearcat
Samuel Marsh, Jr.  Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2) co-pilot JM-1 Marauder Missing In Action (MIA) off Pityilu Island
David McCampbell  F6F Hellcat pilot and U. S. Navy's highest scoring ace with 34 aerial victory claims
Jack Clark  Lunga boat pool describes actions on Guadalcanal from his diary
Don Strating  USS Randolph, Japanese Kamikaze attack at Ulithi damaged carrier
William Strong  140th CB "SeaBees" service on Pitylou and Manus recollections
Philip Huston Torrey, Jr.  nicknamed "Tarzan" assigned to USS Lexington F6F Hellcat pilot shot down February 16, 1945.

U. S. Air Force (USAF)
Richard H. Carmichael  served 20 years in USAF, retired as a Major General.
George A. Davis, Jr.  pilot F-86 Sabre during the Korean War earned Medal of Honor.
Nelson D. Flack, Jr.  served in the USAF, retired as Major.
Oscar G. Fitzhenry  served in the USAF, retired as Lieutenant Colonel.
Robert R. Giesige  served 20 years in USAF.
Richard C. Suehr  served in the USAF during Vietnam.

U. S. Coast Guard (USCG)
John J. "Jack" Marcil  Electrician's Mate, First Class aboard submarine chaser PC-556 and USS LST-169
Douglas Munro  earned the Medal of Honor near Point Cruz on Guadalcanal.


Royal Navy (RN)
Robert Fraser  crew member HMS Electra who died in the sinking during the Battle of the Java Sea.

Australian Army (AIF)
Thomas J. Barnes  Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action
John R. Chandler  Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action
E. T. Dennis  Z Force, sole survivor of Operation Cooper who swam ashore
Ronald E. Eagleton Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action
Alan R. Gubbay  Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action
Benjamin G. Hardy  22nd Garrison Battalion KIA August 5, 1944 Cowra POW Camp earned George Cross posthumously
Michael S. Hagger  Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action
Ralph Jones  22nd Garrison Battalion KIA August 5, 1944 Cowra POW Camp earned George Cross posthumously
Jack Wong Sue  Z Force inserted behind Japanese lines on Borneo to engage in Guerrilla warfare and report
Malcolm F. M. Weber  Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action
Spencer H. Walklate  Z Force Operation Cooper, Killed In Action

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
John G. Gorton  pilot survived four harrowing incidents during WWII, Australian Prime Minister
Sir Jack Brabham  No. 5 OTU post war racing champion

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
Bryan B. Cox  pilot No. 16 Squadron flying the F4U Corsair in the South Pacific
Ronald C. Warren  pilot No. 20 Squadron flying the F4U Corsair and Prisoner Of War (POW)

Coastwatchers
Martin Clemens  Guadalcanal Coastwatcher who evaded the Japanese and helped the U. S. Marine Corps
Jacob Charles Vouza  Guadalcanal Coastwatcher and scout who aided the U. S. Marine Corps

Civilians
Allan Champion  Resident Magistrate, Buna who witnessed Japanese landing and assisted B-17 crew
Merle Farland  Methodist Nurse assisted coastwatcher on Vella Lavella and Segi
Michael J. Leahy  "Mick" New Guinea Explorer and World War II career with RAAF
Charles A. Lindbergh  aviation pioneer who flew combat missions during the Pacific War

South Korea
Byung Mook Chang  Korea-Japanese Division in New Guinea.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
No Kum-sok (No Kum So, Kenneth H. Rowe)  Korean People's Air Force (KPAF) MiG-15 pilot.

Philippine Army
Ferdinan E. Marcos  battle of Bataan, Bataan Death March and guerrilla activities

Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)
Zenji Abe  pilot D3A Val aboard Junyo participated in the attack against Dutch Harbor in Alaska.
Tsuneo Hitsuji  shootout between H6K and B-17 Amazing account of action of combat off Guadalcanal.
Haruki Iki  Kanoya Kokutai G4M1 Betty pilot sinking of HMS Repulse.
Keizo Kondo  701 Kokutai G3M2 Nell pilot flying from Rabaul and Solomon Islands.
Shigetoshi Kudo  Tainan Kokutai J1N1 Irving pilot over Rabaul and the Solomon Islands.
Jinichi Kusaka  commander South East Area Fleet surrendred September 5, 1945.
Kenji Mitsui  coastwatcher landed on Guadalcanal and evacuated.
Saburo Sakai  pilot A6M2 Zero Tainan Kokutai, author of "Samurai" his wartime memoirs.
Katsuma Shigemi  pilot A6M2 Zero pilot Zuikaku MIA February 4, 1943 in the Solomon Islands.
Isoroku Yamamoto  Commander In Chief (CinC) Combined Fleet, killed April 18, 1943 as passenger aboard G4M1 Betty 2656.
Satoshi Yoshino  Chitose Kokutai / 4th Kokutai A5M4 Claude pilot.
Matome Ugaki  Chief of Staff, Combined Fleet, died August 15, 1945 participating in kamikaze mission.

Imperial Japanese Army (IJA)
Hatazō Adachi  18th Army commander officially surrendered September 13, 1945 at Cape Wom near Wewak.
Terushige Ishimoto  Interpreter Rabaul, Shortlands and Guadalcanal operations.
Toshio Kojima  228th Infantry Regiment killed January 1943 on Hill 27 remains discovered.
Kokichi Nishamura  144th Infantry Regiment on Kokoda Trail and Sanananda, returned to search for war dead.
Ei Yamaguchi  14th Division Peleliu Island holdout until April 1947.
Tomoyuki Yamashita  commander 14th Area Army Philippines surrender September 2, 1945 war criminal hanged.