Morganti, Clyde 1982-10-29
Clyde Morganti shares his military experiences during World War II and subsequent career at Reese Air Force Base, where he was Wing Commander during the 1960s. He also relates his career at Texas Tech as well as thought and memories of Lubbock.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Clyde Morganti
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: October 29, 1982
Location: None Given
Interviewer: Mark Wells
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Clyde Morganti, background,
Born: 1920, in Rock Springs, Wyoming,
Raised in Colorado,
Education,
Colorado State College of Education (now University of Northern Colorado),
Graduated (1941),
Applied for Aviation Cadets (1941),
Accepted,
War started shortly after,
Entered Air Force in December 1941,
Flight training,
Country divided into 3 regions,
Primary training (Gulf Coast Region),
Oklahoma, Chickasaw Base,
Living,
Accelerated program,
Basic training,
Randolph Air Base,
Characteristics,
Advanced training,
Houston, Ellington Field,
Multi-engine training,
Selection of training based according to need,
No personal requests,
Feelings about training selection,
Graduated (1942),
Operational training unit,
Bomber,
Fighter,
Cargo,
South Carolina, B-25 training unit,
Rapid training,
Schedule,
Safety,
Casualties and possible casualties,
Overseas combat assignment,
Africa,
Trip,
Formation,
Length,
Combat casualties throughout war,
B-25 airplane,
Characteristics,
Safety of bombing altitudes,
Navigation,
Technology,
Base stationed at,
Dirt field,
Assignments,
Strategic bomb targets,
Rand and command,
Airplanes,
Combat losses,
Vulnerabilities,
Altitudes,
Bomb loads,
Types of bombs,
War stories,
Bombed Rome,
Six hour mission,
Targets,
Vatican avoided,
Plane losses,
British,
American,
Mission schedules,
Off duty time,
North African theater,
Leisure activities,
Liquor,
Poker games,
No way to spend money,
End of tour, November 1943,
Stationed in southern Italy,
Relatively safe,
Mission.
Tape 1, Side 2: Mission (continued),
Italian surrender,
General Maxwell Taylor,
Back to Reese Air Force Base, 1967,
Reasons,
Pentagon service,
Attraction of a flying wing commander,
People,
Weather,
Hospital communities,
Vietnam War period,
Reese’s annual production rate,
Production quality,
Assignments out of pilot training,
Safety,
Accidents,
Discipline,
Squadron changes (1966),
Two separate squadrons,
Flights,
Specialization,
Safety,
Efficiency,
Lubbock, 1960s,
Relationship with Reese,
No problems,
No resistance,
Support,
Clyde Morganti (again),
Community relations as Wing Commander,
Priorities,
Work hours,
Duties as Wing Commander,
Culture and environment,
Stable area,
University characteristics,
Relationship with Reese Air Force Base,
Progress,
University Medical Center,
Reese Air Force Base,
Cut back threats,
Politics,
Congressman George Mahon’s efforts,
Stability of base,
Big Spring Base cuts,
Laredo Base cuts,
George Mahon (again),
Characteristics,
Weather factors,
Crosswinds,
Landing problems,
Association with Tech,
Dr. Grover Murray, President of Texas Tech,
Job offer,
Special assistant to the president,
Job description,
Relationship maintained,
Social activities,
Use of facilities,
Military treatment of retirees,
Feelings,
Projection of relationship between Reese and Lubbock,
Change of politics,
National situation.
Range Dates: 1920-1982
Bulk Dates: 1940s
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.
