Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Richard Henry Peterson Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 30th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group
- Location of Service: Fort MacArthur, Los Angeles, Hamilton Field and Fresno Air Base, California; Clark Field (Philippines); Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/5829
Richard Peterson was stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked in December 1941, but for nearly six months he managed to stay one step ahead of the invaders. At one point, he could only watch in dismay as General MacArthur loaded a plane with VIPs to escape the islands. After a sojourn in Manila's notorious Bilibid Prison, he was shipped off to the Kawasaki Prison Camp outside Yokohama, Japan, and went to work at a steel plant, ten hours a day, with one day a month off. When American planes began flying overhead, Peterson was moved to an iron mine, where his living conditions actually improved.
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About this Item
Title
- Richard Henry Peterson Collection
Names
- Peterson, Richard Henry
- Peterson, Richard H.
Headings
- - Peterson, Richard Henry
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 30th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group
- Location of Service: Fort MacArthur, Los Angeles, Hamilton Field and Fresno Air Base, California; Clark Field (Philippines); Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1941-1945
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [2 items] -- Photograph (collected 1942-1946)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/5829
Cite as
- Richard Henry Peterson Collection (AFC/2001/001/5829), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Clark Field (Philippines)
- Fort Macarthur, Los Angeles, Hamilton Field and Fresno Air Base, California
- Pacific Theater