Oral history of William Austin

Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives

Go to Item

See Video Record

TitleOral history of William Austin

CreatorAustin, William, II; Mack, Daniel

CollectionsClemson Oral Histories Collection

Dates

Date Created2012-10-14

Descriptive Information

LanguageEnglish

A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Daniel Mack with Colonel William Austin, II on October 14, 2012, in Clemson, SC. Born on December 18, 1937, Austin served in the United States Air Force, flying combat missions in Vietnam. In this interview, he describes his extensive training in navigation, electronic warfare, and pilot school, leading to his assignment as an Electronic Warfare Officer. Colonel Austin recounts his training to become an Electronic Warfare Officer and his first assignment at Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas during the Cold War. He discusses his transition to flying F-4 fighter jets in Vietnam, his role in the Wild Weasel program, and his experiences flying combat missions over North Vietnam, including encounters with enemy MiGs and surface-to-air missiles. He vividly describes the high-stakes nature of aerial combat and his role as a mission planner and backseat flight leader. He details his experience of being shot down, captured by enemy forces, and held as a prisoner of war. He shares the physical and psychological toll of captivity and the brutal conditions he endured.

LocationsClemson, Pickens, South Carolina, United States(34.68344,-82.83737)

TopicsVeterans
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Surface-to-air missiles
Air warfare
Electronics in military engineering
Prisoners of war
Aeronautics, Military
United States. Air Force
Laughlin Air Force Base (Tex.)
Nhà tù Hỏa Lò (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Kissinger, Henry, 1923-2023
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Clemson University.Air Force ROTC

Physical Descriptions

ExtentDigital video file; video length 02:03:42

MediumOral histories

TypeMoving image

Formatvideo/mp4

Contributing Institutions

Held By Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives

Hosted By Clemson University Libraries

Identifiers

Digital Identifiercuvohp_2012oh0001

Permanent Linkhttp://purl.clemson.edu/5116CBBDD783B865EF7EE675482D625D

Batch ID20260408130145

RightsIn Copyright. For more information contact Special Collections and Archives. Learn More

< Go Back