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Home Oral history interview with Jesse M. Harrison on 2005 Dec. 2

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Oral history interview with Jesse M. Harrison on 2005 Dec. 2

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Title	Oral history interview with Jesse M. Harrison on 2005 Dec. 2
Description	Interview conducted by Laura May Lachance and Benjamin Setelle. Jesse M. Harrison volunteered for the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He passed the required tests and attended flight school at Randolph Field, in San Antonio, TX. He aspired to be a fighter pilot, and after his graduation from flight school in March of 1943, he received his commission as 2nd lieutenant and his assignment as a pilot in the 77th Troop Carrier Squadron. The Squadron flew overseas with a destination of Nottingham, England, however when they were due to land, a heavy fog prevented them from landing at the correct airport. The crew had mistakenly landed in Ireland at a military airfield. Because Ireland was a neutral territory they were taken into custody, and the men did not continue on to England until they escaped from the base in the middle of the night a week later. Due to the landing in a neutral country, the crew was then placed under house arrest by U.S. MP's for 30 days when they did make it to England. After the imprisonment, Harrison's crew returned to base, and flew paratroopers into the Invasion of Normandy. Of the squadron of 12 planes from his unit in the invasion, Harrison witnessed two planes of theirs get shot down by enemy fire. Although there was intense danger, Harrison completed his mission, for which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. In another act of bravery, Harrison was shot down in Holland while towing a glider. He would not abandon the plane because the glider with men on it was still attached. He waited until they could disengage themselves from the plane before parachuting out himself. When he did finally jump, it was only a few hundred feet from the ground. Harrison suffered intense burns on his hands, and although he was in and out of consciousness for weeks after the accident, he remembers that he was saved by two Dutch priests that were in the woods near where he had gone down. Harrison received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his actions in Holland. During the interview Harrison also discusses his plane, a C-47 named the Urgin Virgin, daily life, some humorous events, and the good friends he made while in the Air Force.
Coverage	1942-1946
Date Original	12/02/2005
Digital Format	video/x-ms-wmv
Duration	01:06:56
Contributors	Lachance, Laura May Setelle Benjamin
Software	Windows Media Player required for viewing
Access Restrictions and Permissions	No access restrictions. For permission to reproduce contact Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research at (860) 832-2976
Image Identifier	VHP2005/22
Creator/Owner	Harrison, Jesse M.
War or Conflict	World War, 1939-1945
Branch of Service	United States. Air Force
Unit of Service	United States. Air Force. 77th Troop Carrier Squadron.
Rank	1st Lieutenant
Status	Veteran
Subject	World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy Airplanes -- American Purple Heart Distinguished Flying Cross (Medal) Silver Star
Geographic Location	Sheppard Field (Tex.) Randolph Field (Tex.) Ireland England France Holland (Netherlands : Province)
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University. Center for Public Policy and Social Research
Language	eng
Relation	Veterans History Project (U.S.)
Type of Resource	Moving image
Citation	Jesse M. Harrison Papers. VHP2005/22. Veterans History Project; Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research.
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