Oral History Interview with James O. Stiles

Partial Transcript: "This is Thursday, October 18, 2007".

Segment Synopsis: This is a continuation of Part 1 of Mr. Styles interview regarding his service in the US 5th Air Force in World War II.

Keywords: 22nd Bomb Group; 408th Squadron; 5th Air Force; Pacific Campaign; World War II

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky.; World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area--Aerial operations, American; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American

Partial Transcript: "Now, Mr. Stiles last week we kind of rushed at the end through your service in the Pacific Arena and your return home but I would like to back up and talk a little bit more about your specific service there.."

Segment Synopsis: Continuing his interview, Mr. Stiles clarifies his rank during service in World War II. After meeting his bomb crew in Riverside, CA at March Army Airfield he continued bombing training on the B-24. Mr. Stiles explains the roles of the crew members aboard a B-24 bomber.

Keywords: 22nd Bomb Squadron Association; B-24; Flight schools; Hong Kong; March Army Airfield; Military training camps; Navigation; Phillipeans; Riverside (Calif.); Riverside, CA; Shang, Hai; South Pacific

Subjects: 22nd Bomb Squadron Association; Aerial bombing--History; Aerial navigation; B-24 (Bomber); Flight schools; Hong Kong; March Field (Calif.); Navigation; Riverside (Calif.); Shang, Hai; World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Anecdotes; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: "In the Pacific the toughest this you have is the weather, there is always storms coming up..."

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Stiles explains the formation of the 22nd Bomb Group on a typical mission in the Pacific. The biggest threat he recalls is the unpredictable weather and violent storms in the Pacific. Five planes were lost around the Philippines and were never found. Maps were in short supply and there were several small islands around the Philippines that were submerged and could only seen from above making operations more dangerous for ships below.

Keywords: Aerial Operations; Hong Kong; KY Veterans; Luzon; Navigation Difficulties; Navigaton; Pacific Storms; Phillipeans; Republic of Formosa; Submerged Islands; Taiwan; US Army Air Corps; World War II

Subjects: Aerial navigation--Japan--Maps.; B-24 (Bomber); Philippines; Submerged lands; Taiwan.; World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American--Anecdotes; World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky.; World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area--Aerial operations, American; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: "Now how long did some of these missions last...what would be a typical mission?"

Segment Synopsis: Typical bombing missions were 8-10 hours long. Planes were very loud but warm because the flight altitude was much lower than those flying in Europe. Navigators would physically get into the bomb bays with bombs that were 500-2000 lbs and watch to report where they think they hit.

Keywords: 2000 lb bombs; 500 lb bombs; Biak; Bombadier; Clark Field; Hong Kong; John Rodgers Field; Kanton Island; Los Negros Island; Navigator; New Guinea; O'ahu; Tarawa

Subjects: Aerial navigation; Aerial navigation--Japan--Maps; B-24 (Bomber); Clark Field (Philippines); Hong Kong; Mather Field (Calif.); Taiwan.; World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American--Anecdotes; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--New Guinea; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area--Aerial operations, American; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews

Partial Transcript: "But it got to the point in Europe and in the Pacific where it was better just to use the lead plane to lead the target and all of us in the planes would drop their bombs when the first plane dropped theirs. It was scatter bombing".

Segment Synopsis: Scatter bombing became the desired method of because the approach could be made from the sea so as to miss Anti-Aircraft fire from the shore. B-17's were used in Europe and had much loner bomb runs than the B-24's used in the Pacific. Losing fellow air men was always hard emotionally. Mr. Stiles reflects on respect for the members of the Infantry who had little comforts and were often in harms way.

Keywords: Anti-Aircraft; B-17; B-24; European Bomb runs; Louisville, KY; Male High School; Pacific; Pacific Bomb runs; Scatter bombing; World War II

Subjects: Aerial bombing--History; B-17 bomber.; B-24 (Bomber); World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American--Anecdotes; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: "In the Air Force you always flew home and got to a good meal, good bed, and had a mission about every other day."

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Stiles recalls life in the Air Force was good compared to other branches as he always had food and shelter. Runs were about every other day so they were able to rest in between missions. He remarks about the American war effort and how people at home sacrificed and endured ration programs so the troops could have food and supplies. Patriotism and politics are not what they were when Mr. Stiles came home from the war. The British and Russian people suffered greatly during the war.

Keywords: 1937 Flood; Allies; British suffering; Democratic Party; Food rations; Gas rationing; Home front; Kentucky; KY Govenors; Louisville; Pacific Campaign; Patriotism; Russian suffering; Tents; US Air Force; US logistical supply; World War II

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American--Anecdotes; World War, 1939-1945--Anecdotes; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky; World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area--Aerial operations, American

Partial Transcript: "Sue and I have done a lot of travelling after being in the service, I learned to educate myself by going to every foreign country I could."

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Stiles and his wife have enjoyed travelling all over the world. Visiting Saint Petersburg, Russia and learning about the struggle of the Russian people was memorable. He reflects on how his travels have helped him develop empathy and understanding for people in wartime.

Keywords: Battle of Lenningrad; Brutality; Cold War; Dresden; Dresden bombing; England; France; Germany; Greece; Japan; Lenningrad; Pacific; Russia; Russian mass grave; Saint Petersburg; World War II

Subjects: Dresden (Germany)--History--Bombardment, 1945; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area--Aerial operations, American; World War, 1939-1945--Russia (Federation)--Saint Petersburg; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews

Partial Transcript: "Was that pretty much the mentality by the time you got to the Pacific?'

Segment Synopsis: His first encounter with the Japanese was after the end of the war and it was a positive experience. He reflects on the brutality of the Japanese and the Americans toward each other. Prisoners of War were transported home from the Philippines in the cargo bays of B-24 bombers.

Keywords: American Pows; Atom Bomb; B-24; Bataan Death March; Iwo Jima; Japanese; Japanese Brutality; Japanese Coal Mines; Japanese POWS; Louisville Courier Journal; Marines; Pacific Campaign; Philippines; Tokyo; World War II

Subjects: B-24 (Bomber); Philippines; Prisoners of war--America; World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities.; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Kentucky.; World War, 1939-1945--United States--Personal narratives, American.

Partial Transcript: "I think I touched on how fortunate I thought I was growing up in the west end of the city.."

Segment Synopsis: Growing up in Louisville was a happy time. Mr. Stiles father served as a radio operator in WWI. After his service he attended Harvard and worked for the Federal Reserve Bank. His father grew up in Buffalo, KY and took care of his siblings from a young age including a sister who was sight impaired.

Keywords: Boy Scotts; Buffalo, KY; Federal Reserve Bank; Harvard University; KY School for the Blind; Louisville, KY; Male High School; Radio Operators; University of Louisville; West Broadway Baptist; World War I

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: "How did you keep in touch with your family when you were in the service?"

Segment Synopsis: For a period of ten years at least one of the three brothers was away in the military. All three brothers survived their time in the military and went on to successful careers in different fields. Mr. Stiles loved living in Louisville and enjoyed a happy life. The grandchildren are carrying on the family tradition and are also enjoying success.

Keywords: Aircraft Carrier Pilot; Army Air Corp; Atlanta First Baptist; Eastern Kentucky University; Harvard University; Korean War; Louisville, KY; Naval Air Corp; Sears Roebuck and Co.; World War II

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: "What do you think....when you were in the Pacific what did you do on your free time?'

Segment Synopsis: Soldiers kept busy during free time in the Pacific playing sports and board games. Many were thinking ahead to life after the war. Some made items such as bracelets from downed planes to sell to other soldiers as a souvenir.

Keywords: Army Air Corps; Basketball; Board Games; Louisville, KY; Pacific; Volleyball; World War II

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: 'Do you remember where you were when you heard that the war had ended?'

Segment Synopsis: While at Clark Air Field, Mr. Stiles heard the announcement that the Atom bomb had been dropped on Japan. All of their missions were cancelled and they were told after the second bomb dropped that the war was over. He moved to Okinawa where a monsoon had struck. Supplies were flown in from Guam. Mr. Stiles comments on the effective logistics of the American war effort.

Keywords: 22nd Bomb Group; Atom Bomb; Clark Field; End of War; Guam; Japan surrenders; Okinawa; Typhoon; Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield

Subjects: Clark Field (Philippines); World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American.; World War, 1939-1945--America.; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: "When did they tell you that you could go home?"

Segment Synopsis: After a flight back to the US, Mr. Stiles finished his trip home via train. Friends and family were returning home and starting school again. Life was back to normal for the most part. One brother continued his active duty as a pilot in the Korean War.

Keywords: Air Force Reserves; Alaska; Atom bomb Test; B-52 Bomber; Camp Atterbury; Clark Field; Edwards Air Force BAse; Fort Knox, KY; Indiana; Japanese surrender; Kappa Alpha; Kentucky; Korean War; Lexington, KY; Louisville, KY; Mather Field; Michigan; MPO; Ohio; Philippeans; POWs; Richmond, CA; Sunset Mission; Troop Carrier Trains; Underground Yugoslavia; University of Louisville

Subjects: B-52 bomber; World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: "What did, as you look back on the rest of your life, what did your World War II service mean to you?"

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Stiles had an overall good experience during his service. Although the servicemen wanted to return home they were dedicated to the job they had to do. He worries about the future of the country and the state of US politics. There is nothing that can be done but he still worries about the direction of the country.

Keywords: Basic training; Cattlesburg, KY; Eastern KY; Gunnery school; Jackson, KY; Kutztown; Louisville School of Law; Navigation school; Ohio State University; Pilot training; Richmond, KY

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews.; World War, 1939-1945.