Title: Robert J. Celustka oral history interview, August 27, 1996

Identifier: OH0024-055   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/11287)

Description: Captain Celustka describes his youth as the son of immigrants in Baltimore, Maryland; his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1940; experiences at the Academy; and his being turned back to the Class of 1941 due to a soccer injury. He comments on his assignment to the USS NORTH CAROLINA in April, 1941, as an ordnance officer and his service on the NORTH CAROLINA for thirty eight months. Celustka recounts his experiences in flight training during 1944 and the circumnavigation of the world in 1947-1948 in the USS VALLEY FORGE. Other commentary concerns duty at the Naval Academy as an aviation instructor; a leg injury from a minor aviation accident; instructor duty at Pensacola, Florida; and assignments to the Air War College at Maxwell Air Base, operations officer in the USS MIDWAY, staff duty at COMNAV, and duty at North Island and Treasure Island. Interviewer: Donald R. Lennon.