William J. Lafitte Interview (2007)
World War II Oral Histories
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Interview
Place Covered: Philippines, Japan
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2007-09-11
Duration: 00:23:59
Subjects: Lafitte, William J. | World War II | Military | Veterans | World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives | United States. Army. Air Corps | World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Philippines | Bataan, Battle of, Philippines, 1942 | Bataan Death March, Philippines, 1942 | Prisoner of war | World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Japan -- Tokyo
Contributors:
- Ready, Crystal Interviewer
- Lafitte, William J. Interviewee
Description
An oral history interview conducted on September 11, 2007, with William J. Lafitte, a member of the 27th Bomb Group in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He discusses: his deployment to the Philippines before the start of the war; the Japanese attack on his base on December 8, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack; evacuating to Bataan; surrendering to the Japanese; the Bataan Death March; the lack of water and medicine in the prison camp; the high death rate in the prison camp; volunteering for work detail in Japan; the aftermath of the bombing of Tokyo; his liberation at the end of the war; and the brutality of war.