Interviews of Oscar (with Summaries) - Oscar Theis Historical Archive

Interviews of Oscar including a summary for each clip.

Oscar reminisces about his gunnery training in Norfolk, Virginia. He recalls double-dating with Navy nurses, attempting (unsuccessfully) to board a moored Navy ship for breakfast after a night of drinking, and flying target-shooting training missions over the Atlantic where he successfully navigated rough weather and earned a sharpshooter qualification.

Oscar details his combat experiences, including staying behind after a squadron leader was killed to schedule and guide new pilots, before opting to return to flying active combat missions. He discusses transitioning from Flight Officer to Second Lieutenant, identifying aircraft like the B-26, and recalling dangerous tactical moments—such as an asymmetrical bomb release with a 1,000-pounder stuck on one wing and the hazards of landing with unstable hung cluster bombs.

Oscar details his winter operations during the Battle of the Bulge. After building insulated barracks and an officers’ club out of captured German prefab materials, he flew close air support for the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne and protected General Patton’s southern flank across France. He also describes the technical mechanics of dive-bombing and turbocharging in the P-47 Thunderbolt, the dangers of bomber escort missions, low-altitude bombing tactics using delayed fuses against railroad embankments, and a long-range escort mission to Berlin late in the war.

Oscar notes that after the war ended, his unit was stationed at Kitzingen, Germany, before making a final move to Regensburg deeper in the country. He explains that he didn’t fly any missions out of Regensburg and eventually left the unit from there rather than traveling to Berlin.

Oscar reflects on WWII souvenirs and memory retention:
Loot & Relics: Teammates abandoned a loot-filled three-wheeled car at a pontoon bridge because its center wheel lacked plank support. Oscar brought home a blue Luftwaffe helmet, an anti-aircraft optical sight used for viewing sunspots, a camera with a Zeiss lens from a German fighter, a P-38 pistol, a Czech Mauser with a bayonet, and a German saber.
Memory & Aging: Intense wartime details remain vivid, but short-term memory has always been weak—he noted having to write down grid coordinates in flight rather than memorizing them.

Oscar recalls his close friend and fellow WWII veteran, Walt Cuning, who served as a personal equipment officer during the war. Walt and his wife, Ruth, had no biological children but adopted six or seven boys while living in Colorado Springs, where Walt later served as city manager. Oscar reads through Walt’s obituary and a letter sent by Ruth following Walt’s passing, warmly remembering how supportive and caring Walt was toward him.

Combat & Jets: Encountered fast Arado Ar 234 jet bombers over Rhine bridges; contemplated the difficulty of flying an Me 262.
Gunnery Training: Served as a target tow pilot and range officer in Las Vegas; ran experimental head-on mock fighter passes in a T-6 against B-17s to train gunners.
Flight Incidents: Flew an unfamiliar P-51 Mustang for the first time during a base move; landed a fuel-starved P-47 through heavy fog directly in front of a C-47 transport.
Christchurch Crashes: Detailed a fatal airfield disaster where a pilot crashed into houses on two consecutive takeoff attempts, culminating in a 500-lb bomb detonation.
Early Maintenance: Recalls working as a crew mechanic on Martin B-10s and Douglas B-18s, earning a reputation for installing hard-to-reach carburetor bolts.