As a collector and preservationist of OTR (Old-Time Radio) recordings, and as the child of an American WWII Veteran, I have noticed something which I think warrants notation and consideration.
There are a wealth of historical audio recordings which have survived from the WWII era. All sorts of compilations are commercially available. And yet, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that there are not nearly as many surviving sound recordings regarding the Pacific Theater of WWII as there are regarding the European Theater. Even more rare are Pacific Theater US Navy sound recordings. Of course, the radio news reports of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, on 7 December 1941, are commonly found in any OTR enthusiast's collection, as is a recording of FDR's speech to Congress on 8 December 1941, in which he requested a formal Declaration of War with Japan. However, it is not so easy to find surviving sound recordings of the many other news reports regarding the US Navy in the Pacific Theater of WWII.
Why is that, I wonder? I do not know the reason, and since I do not know, I will not offer any speculation as an answer. Instead, I would prefer to offer whatever surviving sound recordings I have found and collected of this unique genre to anyone who would like to hear them. And so, this webpage has been created for that purpose.
By clicking on the "WWII SOUND FILES" links below, you may download and hear a variety of historic radio news broadcasts, all of which are related to the US Navy, in the Pacific Theater, during WWII. Although these sounds can not begin to convey all of the drama which occurred, I hope that they will at least serve as a sample to everyone who has an interest. I do not claim any personal rights to these recordings. They are thought to be in the public domain, and they are offered here freely with my sincerest thanks to all of the men and women who have ever served in any branch of the US Military, and particularly to the Veteran US Navy Seabees who served during WWII.
The Pumamouse
(MaryAnne)
June 2004
|
