Archibald "Archie" T. Higgins was born in New Orleans in January 1924. He is a lifelong resident of the New Orleans area except for the time he spent in the service. He graduated from high school and attended two years of college. His college education was interrupted by his service in the Army Air Corps. He completed college after he was discharged. He signed up for the Army Air Corps cadet training program after the Pearl Harbor attack and was called up in March 1943. He went through preflight training at the San Antonio Cadet Training Center in San Antonio. His aptitude led to him being classified as a pilot. He took his primary training in a PT-19 Fairchild [Annotator's Note: Fairchild PT-19 primary trainer aircraft] at Vernon, Texas. The next stage was basic training in a BT-13 Vultee [Annotator's Note: Vultee BT-13 Valiant basic trainer aircraft, nicknamed the "Vultee Vibrator"] single engine aircraft at Garden City, Kansas. After graduation, he was shipped to Pampa Army Air Field to fly a twin engine aircraft. He graduated on his 20th birthday as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps. Next stop was training in the B-24 [Annotator's Note: Consolidate B-24 Liberator heavy bomber] at Tucson, Arizona. Halfway through that training, he was shipped to Salt Lake City to join a B-24 crew as a copilot in the last heavy bombardment group formed during World War 2 [Annotator's Note: 494th Bombardment Group, 7th Air Force]. After weeks of simulated bombing runs and practice at flying in formation, the group was deployed to Kauai, Hawaii. Months were spent adjusting the firing capability of the tail gun on the B-24s. With that finalized, they flew to Angaur Island, across from Peleliu.

Archibald Higgins was in the Palau Islands with the mission of keeping those islands neutralized and flying missions to support General MacArthur's [Annotator's Note: US Army General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area] return to the Philippines. By May 1945, Higgins commanded his own airplane. He flew as squadron leader to keep the Japanese under control in the islands. His first encounter with death was when his squadron mate was shot down. Higgins flew 34 missions after that. Those missions included bombing airfields and supporting impending amphibious assaults in the Philippines. That was the occasion for his award of the DFC [Annotator's Note: Distinguished Flying Cross]. Weather conditions were bad and altitude was adjusted much lower. Flak [Annotator's Note: antiaircraft artillery fire] was heavy. The bombers dropped "daisy cutters" on the beach prior to the Higgins boats [Annotator's Note: Landing Craft Vehicle, Personnel or LCVP] arriving. Shrapnel exploded all along the beach prior to friendly troops landing. Following the missions in the Philippines, the group [Annotator's Note: 494th Bombardment Group, 7th Air Force] was shipped to Okinawa. The war was progressing as they flew off Yontan Airfield. The main islands of Japan were being hit in preparation for the anticipated American and Allied invasions. Not only did they bomb airdromes, but the group also went after a beached battleship, the Haruna. There was no knowledge of the atomic bomb at that time. Missions were almost milk runs but aircraft were still lost. Higgins had flown 40 missions by the time war neared its end but his point level was not sufficient to be sent home. The atomic bombs were dropped and the war ended. The activity at the airfield in the Philippines had been so intense that a bomber took off every two minutes. At times, they nearly hit each other. There were bulldozers that pushed damaged aircraft into Leyte Gulf to make sure the runways stayed clear. Higgins served during the war for about two years. The bombardment group received a group citation. The B-24 [Annotator's Note: Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber] was a mass produced airplane. There were many innovations on the airplane. In many respects, it was more effective and efficient than the B-17s [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber]. The industry at home was important to defeat the Axis. The support his family provided to him was important to Higgins. He also had his religious faith boosted by their example.

For Archibald Higgins, being away from family and friends was not easy during his service. It took a tough toll on his mother in particular. Higgins and his fellow airmen knew they had a job to do and were committed to completing it. They followed orders and knew not to complain. Being in the service was a great character builder. He was taught positive mannerisms that benefited him throughout his lifetime. The trainers were excellent. His experiences were very educational. He continues his travels to expand his knowledge and share his experiences. One such trip will take him back to Okinawa where he flew as a bomber pilot. He will go to Ie Shima island near Okinawa. That was the location were Ernie Pyle, the G.I. Joe reporter, was killed. Higgins remembers Naha where the Okinawan and enemy bodies decomposed before being placed in the ground. He was on Okinawa when the war ended and a tremendous celebration occurred. The fleet had a magnificent fireworks display firing tracers in a "V" shape. Some people in Higgins' outfit [Annotator's Note: 494th Bombardment Group, 7th Air Force] were hit by falling ordnance. Prior to the end of the war, as he flew flights edging up on the 40-mission threshold to return home, each one became more stressful.

Archibald Higgins was 17 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. He did not know where the location was, but he was ready to fly in defense of his country. He enlisted in November 1942 and was called into service in March 1943. He sometimes wished he had picked the Navy because they ate so much better. Higgins was not above bribing Navy cooks with liquor in order to get better chow. During one period of harsh weather, Higgins landed on Eniwetok. The Officers' Club was better than any other he experienced in the war. He recalls flying when feeling very fatigued. The automatic pilot flew the aircraft to Saipan for him. His flight trainer, Jack Fuller, was excellent. He taught Higgins to solo. They became good friends. Higgins learned to fly by upgrading to more and more complex aircraft under more strenuous conditions under the tutelage of different instructors. N.L. Webster was his best instructor. He was Higgins' advanced flight trainer. They enjoyed flying together and became friends. Flight training on the B-24 [Annotator's Note: Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber] was expedited because of the need for new pilots. Flying in Salt Lake City was tough when the weather was cold. The civilians were nice in every location where he trained.

Archibald Higgins flew the four-engine B-24J [Annotator's Note: Consolidated B-24J Liberator heavy bomber]. It was a good airplane that could take a lot of punishment. The more he flew it, the more he liked it. It was a forgiving airplane. The wing design provided a lot of lift for the aircraft. His plane took a little muscle to fly it. Formation flight became easier with new equipment installed as the war progressed. In 1948, Higgins was in the reserves. He flew the B-29 [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber] and the P-51 Mustang [Annotator's Note: North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft]. Higgins did not like the former but the latter was like flying a race car. The defensive armament was excellent on the B-24. Higgins' gunners had credits for five Zero [Annotator's Note: Japanese Mitsubishi A6M fighter aircraft, also referred to as the Zeke or Zero] kills for their bomber. Formation flight provided even better massed gunnery protection against incoming fighters. Higgins returned to base despite being shot up or losing engines. The B-29 felt like it was stalling to him. Higgins loved the P-51. When he flew his Liberator, there were few escort fighters. Richard Bong [Annotator's Note: US Army Air Forces Major Richard I. Bong] did flying a P-38 [Annotator's Note: Lockheed P-38 Lightening fighter aircraft] with him once. They could see the 40 kills on the side of Bong's fuselage. When Bong did a barrel roll, it made the bomber pilots envious. They wished they could do the same. Near the end of the war, the Japanese air defense was decimated. That was particularly true after Midway and the Marianas Turkey Shoot [Annotator's Note: nickname for the air battle portion of the Battle of the Philippine Sea]. Most of the men Higgins flew with are now gone.

Although Archibald Higgins thought he would fly home. That did not happen. He sailed on a ship from Manila. The voyage was on the Admiral E.W. Eberle [Annotator’s Note: USS Admiral E.W. Eberle (AP-123)]. The trip took three weeks to reach Tacoma, Washington. Higgins was in charge of some of the men on the ship. Seasickness was a real problem. It was a long and arduous trip. When they reached Puget Sound, everyone went to the side of the ship where they could see land. Higgins feared the boat would capsize but it didn't. The next thing of interest was the color he observed on the girls greeting the ship. He was used to olive drab, but the abundance of color was something new. Higgins disembarked and had to hustle to make his train trip overseeing his group of men. He was quickly taken off the train to be flown home because his father had a heart attack. Higgins managed to arrive home in time to visit with his father for just one day before he passed. His father was only 51 years old. All the plans Higgins' father had written him about were pursued. Higgins missed his father, but his life was made better because of their plans they wrote each other about. Higgins only saw one Japanese prisoner. That captive had everyone near him laughing when he commented on the number of planes on Okinawa being more than the entire Japanese air force possessed. [Annotator's Note: Higgins laughs.] Higgins' son-in-law sells Lexus automobiles and has met Joe Toyota. When Toyota asks if he had been to Japan, the son-in-law said he had not, but his father-in-law had visited Japan many times, but he never landed. It took Toyota a few minutes, but he finally understood. [Annotator's Note: Higgins laughs.] The Japanese have become very Americanized. During the war, there were many missions to Kure. One of Higgins' friends was shot down on one of those missions. They defended that location with a lot of vigor. When Higgins' friend was captured, he was taken to Hiroshima. [Annotator's Note: Higgins seems to indicate that his friend was lost when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.]

Archibald Higgins would do all that he did in the war once again if it was necessary. He thought about staying in the service because he loved to fly. He rented airplanes for a livelihood after the war. When things got to be multiple type problems, he ceased flying. After the war, he went into the insurance business. His father was a Louisiana Supreme Court Justice and Higgins considered becoming an attorney. After the death of his father, Higgins opted to go into the insurance business. He started his own company in 1949. He also ran a towboat company. Both are doing well. Higgins' wife helped him along the way. His first wife passed in 1972. He remarried in 1984. Higgins has a son and a daughter and several grandchildren who live remotely. They see each other frequently. Higgins would leave a message to future generations that "freedom is not free." It takes eternal vigilance. Evil will not just go away. Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler] and Tojo [Annotator's Note: Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo] were neutralized. Some people today assume an attitude which will get rid of this country. They should be careful what they wish for. The country needs to fight back when threatened. [Annotator's Note: The interview has an interlude with Higgins explaining the defensive armament on a Consolidated B-24J Liberator heavy bomber using a scale model of the aircraft then the interview continues.] Higgins was not pleased with a group of people who protested in Santa Fe with anti-country and anti-President Bush signs. He called a lady protester over to let her know he, Higgins, fought a war in order for her to have the freedom to express her position. If she would have been a man, he might have had a different reaction.