Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Jim Ralph Beigh Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Memphis (CL 13); USS Wright (AV 1); USS Breckinridge (DD 148); USS Estes (AGC 12); ZP-12 (Airship Patrol Squadron)
- Location of Service: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pensacola, Florida; Maine; San Francisco; Philippines; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Chief Aerial Photographer
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/32480
On December 7th, Jim Beigh was aboard the USS Wright, steaming back to Pearl Harbor after delivering cargo and Marines to Wake Island. In the days that followed, he would confront not only the carnage of the attack, but a huge new set of responsibilities: after his entire division was transferred to Ford Island, he was left aboard ship to train a crew to man the anti-aircraft guns. Later on in the war, he was sent to photography school to learn how to shoot cameras instead of guns, eventually becoming a Chief Aerial Photographer.
Interview / Recording
Share
-
PlayHeaded back to Pearl Harbor from Midway on day of attack; heard the news; went to general quarters and manned guns; altered course slightly; arriving in Pearl Harbor and seeing carnage; attempting to rescue survivors. 00:08:52.0 - 00:11:06.0
-
PlayThe day after the attack, he was told that the rest of his division had been transferred off the ship to Ford Island; put in charge of two guns and the crew to run them 00:11:07.5 - 00:13:36.7
-
PlayExperiences at photo school in Pensacola, Florida; had previously been taught to mix chemicals; at photo school, was taught how to operate movie cameras, still cameras, and aerial cameras. 00:31:25.0 - 00:33:26.6
-
PlayTaking pictures of Japanese submarines that had gone aground; taking pictures of the plane crashes that happened when pilots would fly along railroad tracks upside down; photographing swamps filled with alligators. 00:40:06.8 - 00:42:27.3
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Jim Ralph Beigh Collection
Names
- Beigh, Jim Ralph
- Eytinge, Margo
- Fund, Edna J.
- Timberland Regional Library
Home State
- Washington (State)
Headings
- - Beigh, Jim Ralph
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Memphis (CL 13); USS Wright (AV 1); USS Breckinridge (DD 148); USS Estes (AGC 12); ZP-12 (Airship Patrol Squadron)
- Location of Service: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pensacola, Florida; Maine; San Francisco; Philippines; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Chief Aerial Photographer
- Dates of Service: 1939-1945
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-07-22; 2005-04-08)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [3 items] -- Handwritten document (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/32480
Cite as
- Jim Ralph Beigh Collection (AFC/2001/001/32480), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
- USS Breckinridge (Dd 148)
- USS Estes (Agc 12)
- USS Memphis (CL 13)
- USS Wright (Av 1)
- Zp-12 (Airship Patrol Squadron)