John Pletcher served as an Army Air Corp Reserve pilot during World War II. He entered the Aviation Cadet training program on November 10, 1939 at the age of 24 years.
In this interview he talks about his experiences as a B-18 and B-26 pilot in the Aleutians from March 1941-February 1943 as a member of the 73rd Bomb Squadron.
Images of John Pletcher
The complete interview, including audio and text transcripts with images, is available in five large sections:
It is also available in much smaller sections, broken down below.
Typical winter flying gear in the Aleutians, B-26, various models audio / transcript
As a B-26 instructor in Florida and Louisiana, B-26 as tow target airplanes, General Electric testing of the B-29, flying tow targets in the B-24, instructing in the B-29 audio / transcript
Special Alaska modifications for the B-26 audio / transcript
Thanksgiving Day mission to Attu, P-38 fighter escort, B-24 weather ships, low fuel landing audio / transcript
Flying in fog, Aleutian weather, radio aids to navigation, replacing the B-26 with the B-25, B-26 fuel tank replacement audio / transcript
B-24 weather ship overshooting the runway , mission to Kiska, B-26 getting shot by Japanese on Kiska audio / transcript
Assessing the damage to the B-26 from hit audio / transcript
Young guy handling the pressure of missions, B-26 primarily a patrol airplane, how bombing runs were conducted by B-26, B-17 and B-24, return to base, low on fuel audio / transcript
Scavenging wrecked airplanes for parts, maintaining the P-39, Marston matting audio / transcript
Nearly missing an airplane on the runway, problems with the Curtiss propellers on the B-26, patrolling from Umnak to Adak audio / transcript
Transitioning from the B-18 to the B-26, young guys coping with responsibility audio / transcript
Losing classmates and friends in aircraft accidents, flying on instruments with Colonel Eareakson audio / transcript
Flying on instruments to Nome with Brady Golden audio / transcript
Having confidence in the pilot, bad pilots audio / transcript
Skill in instrument flying, training B-26 pilots and B-17 and B-29 instructor training, testing the bomb audio / transcript
Entering the Army Air Corp, aviation cadet training, pay, basic trainers audio / transcript
Assignment to the 73rd bomb squadron, confusion between the 37th and 73rd bomb squadron, the 73rd bomb squadron audio / transcript
Views on being sent to Alaska, learning the ropes from veteran Alaskan bush pilots audio / transcript
Caring for aircraft engines in winter, pilot responsibilities, flight engineer responsibilities, transferring fuel audio / transcript