Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Joseph R. Pitts Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 346th Bomb Squadron; 99th Bomb Wing
- Location of Service: United States; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2148
The son of an army chaplain who served in World War II under General Douglas MacArthur and then became a missionary, Joseph Pitts understood early in life the value of having a mission. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1963 and became an Electronic Warfare officer, flying 116 combat missions in Vietnam. Joseph Pitts was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1996, representing Pennsylvania's Sixteenth District.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
-
PlayDuties of an electronic war officer. 00:12:17.0 - 00:14:12.0
-
PlayThe ongoing training process. 00:22:01.0 - 00:24:27.0
-
PlayHow being alert placed demands on his family. 00:24:54.0 - 00:27:19.0
-
PlayHis decision to leave the service. 00:28:04.0 - 00:28:51.0
-
PlayCamaraderie among the crews. 00:30:12.0 - 00:33:12.0
-
PlayHis plane deployed as airborne artillery. 00:34:13.0 - 00:35:35.0
-
PlayFeedback after bombing missions. 00:39:14.0 - 00:41:31.0
-
PlayReacting to the antiwar movement. 00:47:26.0 - 00:48:50.0
-
PlayHis experience shaping his views on military readiness. 00:50:11.0 - 00:53:35.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Joseph R. Pitts Collection
Names
- Veterans History Project
- Perry, Edwin M.
- David Taylor
- Library of Congress
- Pitts, Joseph R.
Home State
- Pennsylvania
Headings
- - Pitts, Joseph R.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 346th Bomb Squadron; 99th Bomb Wing
- Location of Service: United States; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1963-1969
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected 2002-10-08; 2002)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2002-10-08)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2002-09-29)
- Manuscript: Other Manuscript Material [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
- Video: Betacam SP [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-10-08)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-10-08)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2148
Cite as
- Joseph R. Pitts Collection (AFC/2001/001/2148), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video