John E. Bennett Oral History Interview

June 5, 1991
Oral History #OH0138
Creator(s)
Bennett, John E. (Interviewee); Williams, Gene (Interviewer); Lennon, Donald R. (Interviewer)
Physical description
0.015 Cubic Feet, 3 audiotapes, 4 hours, 74 pages
Preferred Citation
John E. Bennett Oral History Interview (#OH0138), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions


Scope and arrangement

Captain Bennett recounts his early background in Ohio, his experiences at the U.S. Naval Academy, and his service during World War II. Of particular importance is his description of duty on the USS SAN FRANCISCO during the naval battle of Guadalcanal, action for which he was awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart. He also relates the details of five war patrols in the USS QUEENFISH, rescue of Australian and British prisoners-of-war from the South China Sea, and the deep sea evasion of depth charges. Captain Bennett details postwar duties as commander of a submarine division and a flotilla and his involvement with the Navy's deep submergence programs and the bathyscaph TRIESTE. The interviews conclude with a synopsis of Captain Bennett's postnaval career in oceanography.


Administrative information
Source of acquisition

Gift of John E. Bennett

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

General note

1918-1960s

General note

1918-1960s


Key terms
Personal Names
Bennett, John E.
Corporate Names
San Francisco (Cruiser)
United States Naval Academy--History
United States. Navy--Officers--Interviews
United States. Navy--Submarine forces
Topical
Guadalcanal, Battle of, Solomon Islands, 1942-1943
Oceanographers--California
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Solomon Islands--Guadalcanal