Interview on experiences in World War II

Biographical sketch: Marion Christensen enlisted in the Army Air Force at Enid, Oklahoma in late August or early September 1943. He was approved for cadet training and sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for basic training and held there waiting for an opening in the Air Corp training program. He was sent to Las Vegas, Nevada for gunnery training and from there to Drew Field near Tampa, Florida for additional training as a ball turret gunner with an air crew. In August 1944, training was completed and they flew to Stone, Wales by way of Newfoundland and Iceland. Christensen describes that long flight north from Florida to Wales. They were assigned to Poddington, England as part of the 326th Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, 40th Wing, 8th Air Force. He briefly describes each of his thirty-five missions over Europe, and provides detailed descriptions of several missions of particular interest (including bombing the German General Staff Headquarters in Zossen, Germany and his last mission, that over Hamburg, Germany, where his airplane was struck by a flack explosion just 8 inches from his position in the ball turret). When his thirty-five missions were completed, he was sent to Liverpool, England to be processed and traveled by train to South Hampton, England for shipment back to the United States. He was discharged from the service on October 18, 1945.

Summary: Christensen entered the Army (Air Force) in 1943 and served until 1945 in the 326th Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, 40th Wing, 8th Army Air Corps. Interviewed by James Johnston on Oct 1, 1999, Christensen talked about military experiences in the Second World War. The 2005 Kansas Legislature passed a bill funding the WWII Veterans Oral History grant program. This transcript is from one of the nine community institutions that received these grants. The transcript from the interview is presented here; the original video copy of the interview is available through the Greater Barber County Historical Action Assn and through the Kansas State Historical Society.