Burke J. Landry Oral History
Object NameRecording, Video
Transcript
Narrator
Burke J. Landry
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
DateSeptember 16, 2019
PeriodWorld War II
MediumMTS, PDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Burke J. Landry. OHP.205
Object numberOHP.205
DescriptionBurke J. Landry served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) as a seaman first class from 1945 to 1946. He worked in the V-6 Division as a plane captain. The Intrepid Museum recorded his oral history interview on September 16, 2019.See transcript for complete interview. Below is a summary:
Burke Landry began his oral history with a summary of his childhood and education in Louisiana and Texas, including a time his father worked as a bootlegger. He recalled how he learned to play trombone, which he later played on Intrepid.
Next, Landry discussed his reasons for joining the Navy and his early experiences in service. He recalled being processed through boot camp, including a medical exam and a haircut. He also described a brief posting to the psychiatric ward of Shoemaker Naval Hospital. He shared a story about a chief petty officer with “St. Vitus’ dance,” which he speculated was a form of shell shock (or post-traumatic stress disorder).
The interview turned to Landry’s time on Intrepid. He talked about his first impressions of the ship and working on the deck crew. Then, he discussed going into aviation and explained the job of a plane captain. He maintained two types of fighter planes: F6F Hellcats and F4U Corsairs. He also described his general quarters station, which was passing ammunition for the 40-mm gun tub.
Next, Landry described an attack on Intrepid he witnessed during general quarters. His gun tub shot down an incoming “Betty” Japanese bomber aircraft. He also recalled the April 16, 1945 kamikaze attack. His gun tub was 30 yards away from the impact site, but he was protected by bulkheads. He reported a rumor that the kamikaze pilot’s leg was shackled to the plane. Landry remembered attending the funeral service for the men killed in the attack. He also discussed listening to Tokyo Rose on the radio.
Toward the end of the interview, Landry discussed a range of topics, including being late for general quarters, getting married after boot camp, recreation of the ship and his life and career after the Navy.
Extent: video files, 30 page transcript
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