Oral History Interview with Roland Fisher, February 16, 2011
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Oral History Interview with Roland Fisher, February 16, 2011 (Sound)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roland Fisher. Fisher was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska 19 January 1921. He reflects on the depression’s effects in his formative years. After graduating from high school in 1939 he applied for the aviation cadet training program but was rejected for colorblindness. Undaunted, he took private flying lessons, becoming certified in 1940. Upon applying, he was accepted into the Royal Air Force in May 1941 and was sent to Tulsa for four months of training. Upon completion of flight training he went to England where, in January 1942, he was commissioned as a flight officer and began flying AS-10 Oxfords. In the summer of 1942 he went to RAF Instructor School in Scotland and spent several months giving instruction in night flying. He was then transferred into the 8th Air Force. After flying B-17s for a time, he was selected to set up a night fighter training school in Orlando, Florida. During September 1943, the 418th Night Fighter Squadron was formed with Fisher designated as the operations officer. He was sent to New Guinea to assist in setting up a 5th Air Force night fighter squadron. The squadron suffered heavy casualties. During January 1944 he was assigned to the 63rd Bomb Squadron, flying anti-shipping missions. He recalls a night mission in which a Japanese night fighter damaged Fisher’s B-24 and wounded many of his crew. The Japanese pilot rammed Fisher. Following the war Fisher made contact with Yoshimasa Nakagawa, the Japanese pilot, thus beginning a lifelong friendship.
Oral History Interview with Roland Fisher, February 16, 2011 - ark:/67531/metapth1609769
Oral History Interview with Roland Fisher, February 16, 2011, text, February 16, 2011; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1605961/: accessed June 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.