Oral History Interview with Oscar H. Sauer, May 15, 1976 Page: 14
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Sauer
14Marcello:
Sauer:
Marcello:
Sauer:
Mar cello :
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Marcello:
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Marcello:
Sauer:That boy looked at me right in the face, torpedo and all,
and he dropped that torpedo, and, of course, he zooms off.
Okay, describe this in a little bit more detail. Here
you look out the window, and you see this Japanese plane.
How low was it?
It was real low, and I could see the pilot's eyes. That's
how close he was (chuckle).
And you actually saw it drop the torpedo?
Yes, sir. The torpedo was hanging there, and it looked
like it was going to hit me right between the eyes. I
didn't know . .. but I started praying.
Could you actually see the wake of the torpedo as it was
coming toward the ship?
No, it was too close. When he dropped the torpedo and
it hit the water, that was about it. Then I couldn't
see anything anymore.
So what happened at that point?
I started saying my prayers. I just knew that I would
be blown sky-high. The whole ship just shook. It kind
of rattled my teeth a little.
Were you knocked off your feet or anything of this nature?
Oh, no, no. I said, "Oh, gosh, that isn't bad," so I
kept on closing portholes. It wasn't long until here
came another one--right in the same spot.
You saw it?Marcello:
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Marcello, Ronald E. & Sauer, Oscar E. Oral History Interview with Oscar H. Sauer, May 15, 1976, book, May 15, 1976; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc306809/m1/16/?q=%221976-05%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Oral History Program.