William E. Smith Interview, 11 July 2001(a)

JK

There are two historians there. One is the missile crew historian, and the other is the wing historian.

WS

I remember having to provide some documentation for somebody in the wing for some things when I won one of the awards or something of that nature.

JK

Right, now, unfortunately, those histories, they just apparently—I can't find them.

WS

They disappeared.

JK

Most of those histories go to the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell.

WS

And they're probably microfiche, at that time anyway.

JK

Yeah, they're microfilm now, and you can buy them, I mean, they're all unclassified but all of the bomb wing stuff and the strategic missile wing stuff, there's nothing in there about Minot. The bomb wing, all it talks about is Arclight missions in Nam.

WS

Okay.

JK

And there's also the Chaplain's reports, but that's all that exists. In talking to the historian at Minot, he kind of got quiet when I talked to him, and I explained to him carefully what we were doing, and he kind of got quiet and he says, Well, I hate to admit it but the record keeping in those years under the certain individual that was in charge of it was not very good.

WS

(Laughing) Oh, well.

JK

So.

WS

So maybe a blank spot there.

JK

Yeah. And locating Strategic Air Command operational records is no easy deal either. I have been at this Freedom of Information Act stuff for about a decade, and I won't say that I am great at it but I am fairly experienced at it, and man, I am not getting anywhere. I need to ask you one thing.

WS

Sure.

JK

Do you mind if I have a tape on this for my notes?

WS

Not at all.

JK

But I need to turn my cassette over.

(End of side 1)

‹‹ Previous Page — Next Page ››

16