William J. Meier Interview (2007)
World War II Oral Histories
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Interview
Place Covered: Tunisia, Italy
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2007-09-12
Duration: 00:45:32
Subjects: Meier, William J. | World War II | Military | Veterans | World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives | United States. Army. Air Corps | World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Africa, North | Airplanes | B-24 (Bomber)
Contributors:
- Ready, Crystal Interviewer
- Meier, William J. Interviewee
Description
An oral history interview conducted on September 12, 2007, with William J. Meier, an aircraft engineering officer with the 778th Bombardment Squadron of the 464th Bombardment Group of the Army Air Corps during World War II. He discusses: his enlistment in the Army; training in Boca Raton, Florida; attending Yale University for an accelerated degree in aircraft engineering; training crews to work with B-24 planes; his deployment to North Africa; the difficult conditions he faced in Tunisia and Italy; being transferred to the Pacific Theater after V-E Day; going home after the dropping of the atomic bomb; and his life after the war.