Shaffer, Garner C 1982-09-10

Garmer Shaffer, retired Air Force officer, discusses his flight training and military assignments in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Garner C. Shaffer

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: September 10, 1982

Location: None Given

Interviewer: Marc Wells

Length: 55 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Born: Syracuse, Kansas (April 7, 1920), Moved to Lubbock in 1935, Father, Municipal Bond business, Electrical Department at Reese AFB, Education, Began Texas Tech in 1935, Entered pilot program, Left Texas Tech in 1941, Joined Air Force, Boot Camp, Kelley Field, San Antonio, Primary training (3 months), Chickasha, Oklahoma, Flight School, Flew PT-19, Commissioning program, Civilian operated, Basic Training, Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas, Flew BT-9, Description of aircraft, Cadet pay and liberties, "Square meals", Typical day for cadet, Classroom activities, Instructor, Organization of program, Advanced training, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, Flew AT-17, Decision to fly multi-engine aircraft, B-17 training (Florida), Opinion of B-17, Initial assignment (early 1943), Tolara, Peru, Submarine patrol to Yellow Pecos Islands, Flew LB-30, Armaments, Duties, July 1943, Shipped to San Francisco, Married in Houston, Texas, Stationed in Tucson, Arizona, Instructor pilot for B-24s, Problems, Transferred to Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, Flew B-24s and B-26s, 19^th Tow Target Squadron, Temporary Tow Target duties, Blythe, California, Cook, Nebraska, Flying the B-24, Compared to B-17, Anecdote about problem in Blythe, California, Transferred to Rapid City, South Dakota, B-17 combat training, Prep for European tour, War ended, Crews disbanded, Schaffer sent to Peyote AFB, Monahans, Texas, B-29 base, Instructed on B-29s, Flying the B-29, Description of aircraft, Instruction.

Tape 1, Side 2: Overseas tour of duty, Tow-targets requested from Biggs Field, Destined for India and B-29 practice, Flight to India, Conditions in India, Anecdote about cooling beer, Schaffer returned from India, Stationed in Rapid City to prepare for Europe, War ended, Instructorship at Peyote, Anecdote about night Japan surrendered, B-29 (again), Problems, Crew, Instructing, Discharge request, Rome, New York (October 1945), Returned to Texas Tech, Degree conferred (1948), International Trade, Worked for Veterans’ Administration, Adjusted insurance claims, Retired June of 1982, Connection with Class of 42H, Reese AFB, 42H Reunion.

Range Dates: 1935-1982

Bulk Dates: 1941-1945

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

---

Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.