About
The focus of this web site is World War II in the Pacific; World War II because I lived on the island of Saipan in the Marianas, where for five years I researched and wrote my first book, "Saipan: Oral Histories of the Pacific War" followed by three others also on the subject of the Pacific War. All four books are the product of both archival research and oral history interviews.
Since January 2004, we have lived in New Plymouth, New Zealand, where I continue to write.
Read more »Books
Voices from the Pacific War: Blue Jackets Remember
Petty's valuable oral history contains 23 accounts from enlistee veterans of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Many had joined the navy before Pearl Harbor because of the Depression, and a fair number stayed in the navy after the war. One and all were proud to have served.
Read all books »Oral Histories
Bill Littlejohn: ABOARD THE USS ST. LOUIS, CL-49
Bill Littlejohn was born 1922 in Mitchell, Nebraska. He was the youngest of nine children, and worked in the grocery store of an older brother after graduation from high school until he entered the United States Navy in October 1940.
Read more »Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific War
Pacific War - Over Sexed, Over Paid & Over Here Low
by Bruce M. Petty aboard Sun Princess, May 2017
Luganville Pacific War Remembered LBurrafato
Espiritu Santo--supply & support base in WWII. Narrated by Bruce M. Petty. Filmed by Leanardo Burrafato.
Pacific War Missing in Action
by Bruce M. Petty aboard Dawn Princess, May 2012
Latest articles
My article is featured in Naval History - "Jump-Starting Japanese Naval Aviation"
Click here to read the article
My article is featured in October 2019 WWII History - "Kiwi, Moa, and the Sinking of I-1" where a pair of minesweepers teamed up to sink a Japanese submarine off Guadalcanal
Click here to read the article
My article is featured in WWII History - "NROTC Success" where Naval ROTC graduate William C. Myers served in World War II and went on to remain a career naval officer
Click here to read the article (PDF)
Read all articles »