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Alex Vraciu oral history interview

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Title	Alex Vraciu oral history interview
Subject	United States. Navy Civilian Pilot Training Program (U.S.) Grumman F6F Hellcat (Fighter plane) VF-6 World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American. USS Independence (CVL-22) O'Hare, Edward Henry, 1914-1943 World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Papua New Guinea�Rabaul USS Essex (CV-9) USS Intrepid (CV-11) Fighter ace VF-16 USS Lexington (CV-16) Philippine Sea, Battle of the, 1944 (June 19-21) USS Enterprise (CV-6) VF-20 World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines
Description	The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alex Vraciu. Vraciu was born in East Chicago, Indiana on 2 November 1918. He graduated from DePauw University in 1941, where he received civilian pilot training. He joined the Navy and in February 1943. He joined fighter squadron VF-6, flying the Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat as wingman to Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry �Butch� O�Hare. He entered combat in August 1943, flying off the USS Independence (CVL-22) to make strafing runs on Marcus Island. Vraciu describes a mission he flew against Wake Island with O�Hare on 10 October 1943, during which he shot down a Japanese plane. He recounts bomber escort missions over Rabaul and recalls he shot down his second Japanese bomber on 20 November 1943. He was transferred to USS Essex (CV-9), where he participated in raids on Kwajalein in December. When he learned of O�Hare�s death, he had the difficult job of informing O�Hare�s wife. In December, VF-6 was transferred to USS Intrepid (CV-11). Vraciu describes downing three Japanese bombers over Kwajalein and raiding Truk on 17 February 1944 where he shot down four Japanese Zeros. Vraciu volunteered to return to combat with Air Group 16 (VF-16) on USS Lexington (CV-16). Action with VF-16 included Palau and New Guinea and a return to Truk at the end of April, where he was shot down and recovered by a destroyer. He describes the Battle of the Philippine Sea (Great Marianas Turkey Shoot), during which Vraciu downed his 19th enemy, making him the foremost United States Navy ace. Volunteering for another combat assignment, Vraciu joined VF-20 on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). In December 1944, Vraciu was shot down over the Philippines and rescued by guerrillas. He spent over five weeks with them on Luzon before flying to Ulithi and rejoining the Lexington. When VF-20 was relieved, he returned to the States and was stationed at Patuxent River, Maryland Naval Test Center when the war ended. Vraciu ended World War II as the fourth-ranking naval ace, having shot down 19 enemy aircraft and destroyed 21 more on the ground.
Creator	Vraciu, Alex
Publisher	National Museum of the Pacific War
Contributors	Marcello, Ronald E.
Date	1994-10-09
Type	Sound Text
Format	audio/mp3 application/pdf
Identifier	OH03808
Language	English (en)
Rights	CC-BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Title	Alex Vraciu oral history interview transcript
Type	Text
Format	application/pdf

Alex Vraciu oral history interview

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Alex Vraciu oral history interview

Alex Vraciu oral history interview