John Lawrence Donoghue Oral History
Object NameRecording, Audio
Transcript
Narrator
John Lawrence Donoghue
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
DateSeptember 14, 2021
PeriodWorld War II
MediumWAV, PDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Captain John L. Donoghue, USNR - Ret'd. OHP.216
Object numberOHP.216
DescriptionJohn Lawrence Donoghue served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) as an engineering officer with Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) during World War II. The Intrepid Museum recorded his oral history interview on September 14, 2021.See transcript for complete interview. Below is a summary:
Donoghue began his interview by discussing his experiences growing up in Chicago, Illinois. He then recalled taking flying courses while in college, specifically a starting program and an acrobatic course. While discussing these courses, Donoghue stated which aircraft he flew and what he was taught, before noting that he hoped to become a Navy pilot. However, his eyesight was not good enough to become a pilot, and the Navy wanted him to become an engineering officer because he had an engineering degree. He accepted this role because he wanted to be in the service and it was the right thing to do.
As the interview continued, Donoghue explained that he joined the Navy six months after Pearl Harbor. He recalled when and how he learned of the attack. Donoghue then recounted putting on his uniform, and he described feeling like a changed person when wearing a uniform. He also discussed the training he received in the areas of aircraft engines, propellers, maintenance and repair, explaining that he had to know how to repair any parts on a plane.
Donoghue then discussed Air Group 18. He first noted when he joined his squadron in San Diego, before stating how Air Group 18 was formed in Hawaii. He also recalled Cecil Harris, discussing the tactics Harris taught the other pilots and Harris’ importance to the air group. Donoghue then described R&R in Hawaii, as well as some memorable interactions between the air group’s officers. He also explained that he was single at this time and that he wanted to wait until the war was over to get married, before recalling how he eventually met his wife.
The interview soon shifted to Intrepid, and Donoghue recounted seeing the ship for the first time. He described his daily schedule as the squadron’s engineering officer. Some planes returned to the ship so severely damaged that they could not be repaired, and the air group commander gave him one hour to remove parts from these plane so they could be reused. Donoghue then stated that the hangar deck’s sprinkler system used salt water to extinguish fires. When these sprinklers were used during a kamikaze attack, many aircraft were damaged by the salt water, as it deteriorated the cables inside of the airplanes, which could result in someone being killed. The damaged planes had to be pushed overboard, so he configured each plane differently (wings spread, wings folded, cockpit open, cockpit closed) before pushing them over the side. Donoghue timed how long each plane remained afloat, and he provided this information to the pilots so they knew how much time they had to get out of their planes if they landed in the water. After discussing how these damaged planes were utilized, Donoghue recalled accidents that occurred while aircraft attempted their landings.
The interview then shifted to squadron members, and Donoghue was shown some photographs of his squadronmates. He recalled Harry Cropper, their intelligence officer, before noting two kamikaze attacks. He described how these attacks occurred and where he was when these attacks took place. Donoghue then identified Ed Ritter, stating that he was a commercial artist. He also described some of Ritter’s humorous cartoons. Donoghue then recalled Blankenship, Denman and Morris, noting their nicknames, as well as some of the Ritter cartoons in which they appeared. After viewing another photograph, which depicted the men playing music in the ready room, Donoghue noted that some of the men had their instruments with them. He also discussed the camaraderie between the men, before recalling that, on two occasions, he had to gather the belongings of pilots who were shot down, in order to ship their belongings to their widows. He also wrote notes to their parents. One time, he served as the chaplain because there was no Catholic chaplain with them, so he led them in a rosary.
After Intrepid was struck by kamikazes, the squadron returned to the United States and was disbanded. Donoghue noted that he got out of the Navy in 1946, before backtracking to recall VJ Day. He next discussed his work after the Navy, explaining that he worked on the design for O’Hare Field. The interview then briefly returned to Donoghue’s service, and he discussed his relationship with the enlisted men, recalled his time in the reserve, and noted the ribbons he received as a result of his service aboard Intrepid. Donoghue was then shown another Ed Ritter cartoon, which focused on mail call and led to an additional brief discussion on some of his squadronmates. As the interview came to an end, Donoghue stated that he is happy Intrepid is now a museum. He then answered additional questions relating to his favorite aircraft, the F6F Hellcat, and how aircraft repairs were handled after planes returned to the ship. These final questions also led to brief recollections of the kamikaze strike on gun tub 10 and one instance when they attempted to help a crew member who was injured during another kamikaze attack.
Extent: 1 media file, 26 page transcript
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