William Butler Hutchison Interview

Bill spent two and a half years in the Aleutian Islands.

William Hutchison

Bill Hutchison joined the Navy and elected to fly multi-engine land based bombers, certain he’d end up in the Pacific Theatre. The day he arrived on Attu, Tokyo Rose sent him a radio message identifying him by name and home town. Not to be deterred, Bill flew 21 missions in his 2 ½ years in the Aleutians. He flew the PV-1 Ventura and late in the war the PV-2 Harpoon on missions over the Japanese Kurile Islands. In Bill's World War II Recollections and his interview, he recalls eventful flights, colorful characters in his squadron and unusual incidents that occurred while in the Aleutians as well as stories of his flying experiences following the war.

In his photo gallery below, don't miss his photo of a particularly memorable flight over the Kurile Islands, where you can see a Japanese "Oscar" fighter practically touching his Ventura, as well as crew photos, training manuals and more.

Download a full transcript of Bill's interview.

• Interview - W. B. Hutchison (part one)

  
  

  Listen to part one of an interview with William Butler Hutchison, a pilot for VP-139. Bill flew sorties over the Aleutians and Japanese Kurile Islands.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS / Janis Kozlowski

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

• Interview - W. B. Hutchison (part two)

  
  

  Part two of an interview with William Hutchison, veteran of the Aleutians Campaign of World War II

  Credit / Author:

  NPS / Janis Kozlowski

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  William Butler Hutchison Transcript Summary 2 [0:00:08.7] Permission to tape the phone conversation. [0:00:33.3] Flying planes to maintenance in Shelton, Washington. [0:02:01.6] Rolling over the plane. [0:03:58.0] Saying thank you. [0:04:21.2] Story about the old plane photo. [0:05:51.8] Final thank you.