Oral History Interview with Elmer Batschelet, May 12, 2001

Oral History Interview with Elmer Batschelet, May 12, 2001

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Track One 0:36:60

Description

Transcript of an oral interview of Elmer Batschelet. Born in October 1918, near Spencer, Iowa he joined the Navy in October, 1942. Upon completion of Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Illinois he was transferred to Bremerton, Washington in February, 1943. He was assigned to the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) as a Fireman in the Engineering Department. He recounts his duties on the Mission Bay and transiting the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia and then across the Atlantic in convoy with other vessels to deliver supplies to North Africa. On his next deployment, the Mission Bay transported Army P-40 aircraft to … continued below

Physical Description

1 sound recording (36 min., 59 sec.)

Publisher

National Museum of the Pacific War
Place of Publication: Fredericksburg, Texas

Audiences

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Provided By

National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Established in 1967, the Museum honors the 8 million Americans who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater by sharing their stories with the world. Located in Fredericksburg in the restored Nimitz "Steamboat" Hotel, the Museum partners with the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the historical resources of the era.

Description

Transcript of an oral interview of Elmer Batschelet. Born in October 1918, near Spencer, Iowa he joined the Navy in October, 1942. Upon completion of Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Illinois he was transferred to Bremerton, Washington in February, 1943. He was assigned to the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) as a Fireman in the Engineering Department. He recounts his duties on the Mission Bay and transiting the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia and then across the Atlantic in convoy with other vessels to deliver supplies to North Africa. On his next deployment, the Mission Bay transported Army P-40 aircraft to Karachi. In June 1944 he was transferred to the newly commissioned USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) which then deployed to the South Pacific and joined the US Third Fleet engaged in retaking the Phillipines. During those battles he recounts two kamikaze hits on the Ticonderoga in January 1945. He recalls a typhoon in the South China Sea. He recalls being aboard the Ticonderoga in Tokyo Bar during the signing of the Japanese surrender. Soon after the surrender, the Ticonderoga was converted into a troopship and in December 1945 6,000 men were embarked for the return to the United States. He recounts the conditions onboard during that transit. Upon his return Petty Officer Batschelet resigned from the Navy and returned to Iowa.

Physical Description

1 sound recording (36 min., 59 sec.)

Subjects

Keywords

Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms

Library of Congress Subject Headings

World War, 1939-1945

University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure

Language

English

Item Type

Sound

Identifier

Unique identifying numbers for this recording in the Portal or other systems.

Accession or Local Control No: OH00123
Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metapth1607452

Relationships

Oral History Interview with Elmer Batschelet, May 12, 2001, [transcript] ark:/67531/metapth1603484

Collections

This recording is part of the following collections of related materials.

National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection

This oral history collection depicts an instrumental era in American history. In these transcripts of interviews with World War II veterans are personal experiences with the war, from the Doolittle Raid and D-Day to the Battle for Bataan.

National Museum of the Pacific War Digital Archive

The Digital Archive presents digitized collections from the Center for Pacific War Studies collections at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Collections and material are continuously being added and represent only a small portion of the archives' physical holdings.

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