McLaren, Ray 1982-10-13
Ray McLaren tells of his military experiences at Lubbock Army Airfield (later Reese Air Force Base) and in Lubbock during World War II.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Ray McLaren
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: October 13, 1982
Location: None Given
Interviewer: Mark Wells
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Ray McLaren background,
Born September 26, 1918, in Anson, Texas,
Involvement in Army Air Corps,
Fall, 1942, war,
Wiley D. Baker on draft board,
Draft registration numbers,
Draft getting near his number,
Baker (again),
Recruiter,
Rewards for recruitment,
Permission from draft board to volunteer,
Age,
To Reese Air Base,
Arriving,
Living conditions,
Examinations,
Basic training,
Oklahoma,
Clothing issue,
Shots,
No training,
Processing,
Shipping back to Lubbock,
Basic training,
Very little training,
Reasons,
Base description,
Being set-up,
Duties,
Squadron supply,
Living and working conditions,
New people arriving,
Barracks,
Marriage,
Salary,
Living off-base in Lubbock,
Ceiling prices,
Apartment,
Deferments,
Parents’ opinion of military,
Lubbock Army Airfield,
Physical appearance,
Layout,
Distance from town,
Roads,
Gas rationing,
Five gallons per week,
Getting around rationing,
Bootleg gas,
Cigarette rationing,
Cigarettes for gas,
Farmers had unlimited supply,
Crop production,
Commodities rationing,
Speed limits,
Lubbock, Texas (1940s),
Population,
Town,
Boundaries,
Entertainment,
Lindsey Theater,
Pictures,
Cost,
Clubs,
Alcohol,
Bootlegging,
From Amarillo, Texas,
Innocent country town,
Anecdote: Police system, blue light on top of motel,
Problems with military personnel,
Military police,
South Plains Glider School.
Tape 1, Side 2: Lubbock, Texas (continued),
South Plains Glider School (continued),
Weekend trips,
Anecdote: Getting caught taking pictures of gliders,
Not part of Reese Air Force Base,
Cost of living,
Women in work force,
Work available,
Taking over men’s jobs,
Men to war,
Stores and cafes,
Leisure time,
Little traveling,
Gas rationing,
Train seats taken up by troop movements,
Getting war news,
Radio,
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,
Twice a day,
Paper restrictions,
Printed limited number,
Ray McLaren (again),
Assignment to Reese Air Force Base,
Feelings,
Lubbock, 1940s (again),
"Across the tracks",
Level of tolerance for minorities,
Reese Air Force Base, 1940s,
Colored servicemen,
Quartermasters only,
Living quarters,
Prejudices,
Integration and segregation,
Flying operations,
Not involved with airplanes (McLaren),
McLaren (again),
Rate of promotion,
Responsibilities,
Difference in supplies,
Lubbock’s climate changes,
Sandstorms,
Holding down aircraft,
Military stories,
Lieutenant Heinz drunk story,
Aircraft accidents,
Tailor shop crash,
Activities on base,
Chapel program,
Base theater,
Post exchange,
USO shows,
Football games,
Played at Texas Tech,
Location,
Texas Tech University,
Dairy barn,
Size,
Students,
Ray McLaren (again),
Left Lubbock Army Airfield (1945),
Closed down (1946),
Enlisted period,
Duration of war, plus 6 months,
Officer training,
Back to cotton gin after war.
Range Dates: 1918-1982
Bulk Dates: 1940s
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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