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Bob Bastas - Korean War
Bob Bastas served with the U.S. Air Force as a personnel clerk in Korea from late 1952 through August 1953. Responsible for maintaining sensitive personnel files for the 1993 Airway and Air Communications Squadron at Kimpo Air Base, he shares his observations of U.S. and U.N. operations, American efforts to deliver propaganda over enemy lines, and the life of an enlisted airman during the war.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt-Audio
Judge's Wedding
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life and experiences in Korea
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Married by a criminal judge
Transcript
Photos
Caption
Laura and Thomas Bastas circa 1944 in front of their home in Benton, IL.
Where:
Benton, IL
When:
1944
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Young Bob Bastas, at age 9 with his father, Thomas, circa 1940.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1940
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A sketch made at the Ernie Pyle Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, bvy the artist Sasaki circa August 12, 1953.
Where:
Tokyo, Japan
When:
August 12, 1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
The U.S.N.S. Gen. Nelson M. Walker, the ship that took Bastas from America to Yokohama, Japan.
Where:
Yokohama, Japan
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
A light bomber, loaded with American and U.N. propaganda leaflets, circa November 8, 1952.
Where:
Unknown
When:
November 8, 1952
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Loading an aircraft with leaflet bombs filled with American and U.N. propaganda, circa November 8, 1952.
Where:
Unknown
When:
November 8, 1952
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
American aircraft on the tarmac at Kimpo Air Base.
Where:
Kimpo Air Base, Korea
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Lieutenants in Bastas' squadron, the 1993rd Airway and Air Communications Squadron.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1993
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Korean children playing near Kimpo Air Base.
Where:
Korea
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A view of the rice paddies in the Korean countryside outside of Kimpo AFB. (Narrator's photo)
Where:
outside Kimpo Air Force Base, Korea
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Bastas smiles broadly for the camera in front of the Kimpo AFB tents and the chapel, circa May of 1953.
Where:
Kimbo Air Base
When:
May of 1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Bastas in his class B uniform in front of one of the tents being repaired, circa May 1953.
Where:
Unknown
When:
May 1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
An F-86 fighter jet being serviced at Kimpo AFB.
Where:
Kimpo AFB
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Bastas (on the left) and an Air Force buddy with two friends from the army during an R & R in Tokyo, Japan during the winter of 1952-53.
Where:
Tokyo, Japan
When:
1952-53
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A shot from the control tower at Osan?
Where:
Osan?
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
The Headquarter Squadron quonset huts at Osan AFB, where Bastas worked as a member of the 1993rd.
Where:
Osan AFB
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A flight line of F-86 fighters in August of 1953 at Osan AFB.
Where:
Osan AFB
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
The control tower operators of the 1993rd at Osan AFB.
Where:
Osan AFB
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
The Capitol building in Seoul, Korea, circa May 1953.
Where:
Seoul, Korea
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A countryside scene north of Kimpo AFB in March of 1953.
Where:
Kimpo AFB
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A countryside scene north of Kimpo AFB in March of 1953.
Where:
Kimpo AFB
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A photograph taken by Bastas of his buddies in the countryside north of Kimpo AFB in March of 1953.
Where:
Kimpo AFB
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A photograph taken by Bastas of his buddies in the countryside north of Kimpo AFB in March of 1953.
Where:
countryside north of Kimpo AFB
When:
March of 1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
A shot of a helicopter returning American POW soldiers repatriated from the North Korean/Chinese prison camps.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
The photo is blurry, but the events are momentous. Injured POWs arriving from their prison camps in North Korea in August, 1953.
Where:
North Korea
When:
August, 1953
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (mother with children).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet (red and beige stripes).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (man with mustache and rope).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Family praying.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (man in army green holding up poster).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Thumbs up.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (soldiers at the bottom of a waterfall).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet (blue lettering).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet (text).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (drawing, airplanes and cannons, man with gun).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Propaganda leaflet.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (three images of a man in different poses).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Propaganda leaflet (green text).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (Koreans at work)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Propaganda leaflet (UN symbol on top)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Propaganda leaflet (two panels).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Propaganda leaflet (text).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
American propaganda leaflet that was dropped over Communist lines by American aircraft. Sketch of a mountain dated 1947.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A Safe Conduct Certificate.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Bob Bastas' Income Tax withholding statement from 1952.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1952
Ownership:
Narrator's document