Wesley M. Hays Oral History
Object NameRecording, Video
Transcript
Narrator
Wesley M. Hays
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
Association
June Hays
DateApril 28, 2016
PeriodWorld War II; Museum Era
MediumMTS, PDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Wesley Hays. OHP.095
Object numberOHP.095
DescriptionWesley Hays served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) as an aviator with bombing fighting squadron VBF-10 during World War II, in 1945. The Museum recorded his oral history interview on April 28, 2016. The Museum also interviewed his wife, June Hays, on that date (OHP.096).See transcript for complete interview. Below is a summary:
Hays began his interview by providing an overview of his time on board Intrepid. He also briefly discussed his childhood as well as how he developed an interest in flight.
The interview then transitioned to flight training, and Hays described the stages of flight training and the aircraft he flew. He also explained how he was assigned to VBF-10 and provided a detailed description of the Vought F4U Corsair, the aircraft his squadron would be flying. Hays then discussed ground support school in New York and carrier training on Lake Michigan, before noting his assignment to Intrepid.
Before recalling his time aboard Intrepid, Hays’ explained how he met his wife, June, and stated that they were married in Pensacola, Florida at the Naval Air Station Chapel.
When the interview shifted back to his time on board Intrepid, Hays described his first combat mission, which was a strike on Usa, Japan. He also recounted his experience during the attack on the battleship Yamato. While discussing this mission, Hays recalled how he scored a direct hit on a cruiser, was hit by antiaircraft fire, and saw the Yamato explode. He then discussed a variety of other topics, including losing pilots, life on board Intrepid, the officers’ wardroom, writing letters to his wife and dropping supplies to POWs.
After discussing his wartime experiences, Hays recalled his trip home and life after the war ended, noting that many men were unsure of what they would do once they returned home. Hays also provided a few additional stories before the interview came to an end, describing a rescue mission to pick up pilots and one particularly long return trip back to Intrepid. Wesley Hays then ended his interview by stating how he felt about Intrepid living on as a museum.
Extent: 15 video files, 38 page transcript
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