Oral History Interview with Robert Hagee, December 4, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hagee. Hagee was one of eleven children and grew up in Alto, New Mexico where he attended a one room school. Upon graduating from high school he joined the US Navy and went to boot camp at San Diego, California. Following boot camp he was assigned to the USS Bainbridge (DD-246). While Hagee was aboard, the Bainbridge intercepted various fishing boats carrying diesel fuel believed to be used for German submarines prowling the Atlantic. Describing the procedures used by German U-boats to penetrate convoys, he tells of the sinking of the USS Ruben James (DD-245) and of the Bainbridge assisting in recovering survivors. Hagee describes the weather conditions encountered in the North Atlantic and of an incident that so damaged the ship, she had to visit a Navy yard for structural repair and refitting. Hagee requested a transfer into Naval Air Services, which led to his assignment as a maintenance chief in Patrol Bombing Squadron 20 (VPB-20). The squadron was designated as a Black Cat Squadron flying PBM3 aircraft. He discusses various missions they flew from different islands on which they were based. Returning home in 1945 Hagee left the Navy only to re-enlist. He recalls some of his experiences after re-entering the Navy as well as some after he retired