Oral History Spotlight: Jack Puryear
Hurricane season is here and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, up to 25 named storms are estimated to develop this year. The same weather phenomenon, called typhoons, occur in the Pacific and during 1945 there were 26 named storms. What do you think it was like to be in a W.W. II aircraft during one of these storms? To find out please listen to a recording made by Jak Puryear in 2009 for the NMPW oral history program. In 1945, Mr. Puryear was an aerial photographer with Fleet Air Photographic Squadron One (VD-1). His aircraft and crew were located on Okinawa when the third storm of that season, Typhoon Connie (also known as Typhoon Viper), headed toward the island. Hang on to your hat and listen to Mr. Puryear as he tells us what happened next while airborne.
