Interview with David K. Blythe, April 29, 1989

Interview Summary

In this second interview, David K. Blythe discusses his experience in the military during World War Two. He explains that he became a 2nd lieutenant in the army while in the ROTC at UK. He was called for active duty in the summer of 1941 and assigned to a base in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois where he trained new recruits. Blythe was later assigned to the Army Air Corps in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was then promoted to 1st lieutenant and took part in an aircraft maintenance officers training program where he met his future wife, Jeannie. Blythe talks about his assignment to an air depot group at Kelly Field, and although he prepared for going overseas, the war was over before he shipped out. After the war, he was transferred to the Caribbean Air Force Depot in Miami. When he was discharged, he and his wife went to live in Cincinnati where he began working as an engineer and land surveyor.

Blythe then discusses how he received an offer to become an instructor at UK. He states that he found that requirements for professors were changing and he decided to go to Cornell to work on his Master's degree. He recalls corresponding with Bill Drake of the Kentucky Highway Department Research Lab to gather information for his thesis. Blythe describes the early years of his career at the University of Kentucky where the faculty were dealing with an influx of discharged military men. He talks about his work in aerial photography with the Kentucky Department of Transportation and for the Agricultural Stabilization Commission. He explains how he became a Visiting Professor at the University of Tennessee. Blythe also mentions some of his colleagues, namely Professor Robert E. Shaver and former president of the University of Kentucky, Frank Dickey. Blythe served as chairman of the engineering department for twelve years.

Interview LC Subject

Blythe, David K., 1917- Blythe, David K., 1917- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History World War, 1939-1945.

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.