Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Kenneth Stepherson Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 443rd Troop Carrier Group, 10th Air Force
- Location of Service: China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater; Tokyo, Japan; Manila, Philippines; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/54774
Though he initially trained as a pilot, Kenneth Stepherson ended up serving in the Army Air Forces as a radioman, where he drew on his experience as a lifelong ham radio operator. Departing for the China-Burma-India Theater in 1945, he and his crew served as part of a troop carrier squadron, ferrying troops and supplies from India to China. This route meant navigating the Himalayas, infamously known as "the Hump," which featured notoriously bad weather. As Stepherson discusses, visibility was so poor during most of his flights through the Hump that he and his crew "flew blind," depending solely on their instruments to navigate. In his oral history interview, Stepherson offers vivid and detailed descriptions of flying the Hump, and also of his service in China following the end of the war.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
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PlayLengthy journey to India; receiving assignments. 00:13:51.0 - 00:17:44.0
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PlayResponsibilities as part of a troop carrier squadron; tactical importance of their mission and the Hump route. 00:17:48.0 - 00:20:34.0
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PlayDangers of flying through the Hump; limits of visibility; risks presented by bad weather. 00:20:37.0 - 00:23:15.0
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PlayArriving home from overseas duty; readjustment to civilian life. 00:41:42.0 - 00:43:59.0
About this Item
Title
- Kenneth Stepherson Collection
Names
- Witt, Gary
- Lausanne Collegiate School
- Stepherson, Kenneth
- Ross, John
Home State
- Tennessee
Headings
- - Stepherson, Kenneth
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
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: 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 443rd Troop Carrier Group, 10th Air Force
- Location of Service: China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater; Tokyo, Japan; Manila, Philippines; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1946
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-11-05; 2003-12-31)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2004-07-04)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/54774
Cite as
- Kenneth Stepherson Collection (AFC/2001/001/54774), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video