Crouch, Emmett (1920-2011)

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/worldwar_oh/26/

Biographical Information: Emmett L. Crouch was born on September 22, 1920, in Richmond, Alabama. Crouch was raised in the District of Columbia and lived there until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He was a fighter pilot in the South Pacific during World War II. Crouch married his wife, Jean, in December 1945, and had two children, John and Kerry. Couch left the Air Force after eighteen years of service at the rank of Major, but was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Couch died on December 5, 2011, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Transcript Summary: Emmett L. Crouch described his experiences as an Air Force officer during World War II. He enlisted in 1942 and graduated from pilot training in San Antonia, Texas, in 1944. Crouch described his involvement in World War II, primarily talking about the South Pacific. He was stationed in Saipan, Guam, and Okinawa. He discussed his involvement as a B-24 pilot in the Marcus Island Raids in Saipan. While on a mission, Crouch and his crew witnessed the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945. At the end of the World War II, Crouch was a part of the liberation of Japanese prisoners of war, flying them back to the Philippines for relocation. Lastly, Crouch detailed his life after WWII and his duties while in the Air Force Reserves.

Interview by John Carter

Thank you to the Minnesota Digital Library for digitizing the audio for the interview, as well as the creation of the transcript.