Personal Narrative 3D Object Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Kenje Ogata Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Service Unit/Ship: Company B, 32nd Medical Training Battalion, Medical Corps; 726th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 49th Wing, 15th Air Force
- Location of Service: Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois; Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; Lincoln, Nebraska; Davis-Monthan Air Field, Tucson, Arizona; Topeka, Kansas; Foggia, Italy; European Theater
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/76800
Enlisting the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Staff Sergeant Kenje Ogata assumed that, having gone through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, he would have no trouble securing a spot on a bomber. Instead, he was shunted into the Medical Corps. After two years of advocating for a transfer to the Army Air Corps, he was finally given a chance to fly-but as a turret gunner, and not a pilot. During the course of completing 35 missions out of Italy, he was shot down twice over enemy territory. His letters to his wife, Wilma, convey not only his dedication to her, but also to doing his patriotic duty, even as his country discriminated against him.
Interview / Recording
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PlayEnlisting the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Staff Sergeant Kenje Ogata assumed that, having gone through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, he would have no trouble securing a spot on a bomber. Instead, he was shunted into the Medical Corps. After two years of advocating for a transfer to the Army Air Corps, he was finally given a chance to fly-but as a turret gunner, and not a pilot. During the course of completing 35 00:06:54.9 - 00:11:10.4
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PlaySent to Camp Grant, a medical training center; went through basic training as a medical corpsman; became obvious he was not going into Air Corps and that Japanese American soldiers were not advancing. 00:11:10.5 - 00:15:58.2
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PlayArrival in Italy; supposed to have 30 days of training before flying; recruited to join crew to fly a mission days after he arrived; no one on crew would talk to him. 00:27:57.0 - 00:30:21.5
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PlayHaving premonition of death before mission but surviving; celebrating; flying mission the next morning and missing briefing; having to go on mission without knowing destination. 00:33:57.2 - 00:34:53.0
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PlayHazards of bailing out of a B-24; learning techniques for staying alive; jumping out of plane; no sensation of falling; successfully landing on ground. 00:39:40.3 - 00:45:01.1
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PlayFinding himself alone; dense ground fog; hearing artillery; couldn't see anything; not knowing what country he was in; hid parachute in haystack; crossing roads; walking and then resting; how he came to be the only one in enemy territory. 00:45:15.2 - 00:49:33.2
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PlayEncountering a man who eventually guided him to a village; reuniting with other crew members; stayed with Hungarian family; figuring out plan to get home; crossing the Danube under fire; eventually getting to Romania. 00:49:34.6 - 00:56:56.8
More Resources
Interview with Kenje and Wilma Ogata 11/14/1994
