| Title |
Robert D. Shaffer, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Becky B. Lloyd, April 29, 2002: Saving the Legacy tape no. 448 and 449 |
| Alternative Title |
Robert D. Shaffer, Saving the legacy: an oral history of Utah's World War II veterans, ACCN 2070, American West Center, University of Utah |
| Creator |
Shaffer, Robert D., 1917-2015 |
| Contributor |
Lloyd, Becky B.; University of Utah. American West Center |
| Publisher |
Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah |
| Date |
2002-04-29 |
| Date Digital |
2015-12-16 |
| Access Rights |
I acknowledge and agree that all information I obtain as a result of accessing any oral history provided by the University of Utah's Marriott Library shall be used only for historical or scholarly or academic research purposes, and not for commercial purposes. I understand that any other use of the materials is not authorized by the University of Utah and may exceed the scope of permission granted to the University of Utah by the interviewer or interviewee. I may request permission for other uses, in writing to Special Collections at the Marriott Library, which the University of Utah may choose grant, in its sole discretion. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold the University of Utah and its Marriott Library harmless for and against any actions or claims that relate to my improper use of materials provided by the University of Utah. |
| Spatial Coverage |
Hawaii; Solomon Islands; Guam; Bonin Islands, Japan; Japan; Korea |
| Subject |
Shaffer, Robert D., 1917-2015--Interviews; Veterans--United States--Biography; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American; Marines--Biography; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American; World War, 1939-1945--Military operations, American; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area--Personal narratives, American; Midway, Battle of, 1942--Personal narratives, American |
| Keywords |
Jimmy Doolittle; Doolittle's raid; USS Hornet (Ship); Panama Canal; USS Montpelier; War crimes trials |
| Description |
Transcript (72 pages) of an interview by Becky B. Lloyd with Robert D. Shaffer on April 29, 2002. From tape numbers 448 and 449 in the "Saving the Legacy" Oral History Project |
| Collection Number and Name |
Accn2070, Saving the Legacy oral history project, 2001-2010 |
| Abstract |
Shaffer (b. 1917) recalls growing up in Vandalia, Illinois, and discusses the Depression. He participated in ROTC at the University of Illinois and was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1940. He served aboard the USS Hornet at the time of Pearl Harbor, recalls Doolittle's raid over Tokyo, and the battle of Midway. He also served aboard the Montpelier and saw action in the Solomon Islands. After a period on Guam, he was assigned to occupation duty on Chichi Jima in the Bonin Islands, where he served as the senior member of the board of investigation for war crimes. He also served in Korea as naval gunfire officer for the 1st Marine Division. He retired in 1961 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Interviewed by Becky Lloyd. 72 pages. |
| Type |
Text |
| Genre |
oral histories (literary works) |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| Extent |
72 pages |
| Language |
eng |
| Rights |
 |
| Scanning Technician |
Mazi Rakhsha |
| Conversion Specifications |
Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s64t8mfb |
| Topic |
Personal narratives--American; Veterans; World War (1939-1945); Military operations, Naval--American; Midway, Battle of (1942) |
| Setname |
uum_slohp |
| ID |
1030365 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s64t8mfb |
| Title |
Page 20 |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| Setname |
uum_slohp |
| ID |
1030311 |
| OCR Text |
Show ROBERT D. H FFER PRI 2 2002 Islands Admiral Halsey and his group joined with the carrier Enterpri e and th Northhampton, the Salt Lake City and some more destroyers. Then we knew what w were going to do and so forth. Have you read anything about the Doolittle Raid? BEC: Yes, a little bit. But I'd like to hear you tell me about it. ROB: Well, I've got a whole book here you can read. But, anyhow the idea was that first of all, we'd contacted the Russians and asked them if we could have permission to land the planes at Vladivostok. Because Russia was not at war with 1 apan they said no. So then they changed the plan to land at Chungchow in China, which was controlled by Chiang Kai-shek and his forces. So we proceeded on and do you know what flank-speed is? BEC: No. ROB: Well, I always thought that full-speed meant as fast as you can go. But at least in the Navy at that time, full-speed was not quite the fastest; flank -speed was full. So here we are and I think the day-it was the 18th of April-anyhow, we're proceeding along and go to flank-speed and that's, you know, all out. The plan was to get within 600 miles of Tokyo. And the planes had been altered; they'd taken out the belly gun, they'd taken out the tail guns. They put painted broomsticks in the tail, you know, to simulate machine guns, to provide more gasoline space, more fuel space. So we were supposed to launch about 600 miles from Tokyo, which would give them enough range to make it to Chungchow in China. Well, we're hitting some heavy weather about 800 miles from Tokyo and all of a sudden the general alarm rings. Well, general alarm is general quarters; that means battle stations. So as I'm going up to my battle station, which is upyou know what the island is on a carrier? 20 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s64t8mfb/1030311 |
