Oral History Interview with Richard Donaldson, April 24, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Donaldson. Donaldson joined the US Army Air Forces reserve in 1942. In February of 1943 he was called to active duty. He shares details of his military classes at Washington University and flight training, including night flying and Link Trainer instruction. He graduated as a pilot in May of 1944, flying a B-29. Donaldson served with the 314th Bomb Wing, 19th Bomb Group, 28th Bomb Squadron. He worked as an instructor in order to become an Airplane Commander. Donaldson and his crew flew to Cuba, practicing over water navigation in preparation for the Pacific Ocean. They traveled to Pearl Harbor, Kwajalein and stationed in Guam. They flew their first mission in February of 1945, dropping incendiary bombs over Tokyo. They flew strategic bombing missions over the Japanese Home Islands and destroyed Japan’s war-making capability. They flew their last mission in August of 1945, completing 36. Donaldson was discharged in late 1945