Oral History Interview with John O'Leary, May 4, 2018 All Tracks

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John O’Leary. O’Leary joined the Marine Corps in February of 1943. He completed Aircraft Mechanic School, and served with the 1st Marine Division. In February of 1944 he traveled aboard the USS Barnes (CVE-20) to Espiritu Santo, where he was stationed at a Marine fighter airstrip base. O’Leary installed water injection on Corsair planes, enhancing the performance of the plane. He later traveled to Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Bougainville. They transported Seabees. From September of 1944 through the spring of 1945, they participated in the Battle of Peleliu and worked on the island, where O’Leary served as stretcher-bearer and aircraft mechanic on P-40s and B-24s. He returned to the US and was discharged in mid to late 1945.

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