This collection consists of the following items relating to the World War I aviation career of Wallace McCrane: two oversized rolled photographs of the 153rd and 224th Aero Squadrons; photographs; postcards; military orders; book, entitled 'Collected Materials for the Study of War'; reunion materials; and letters / postcards from a WWI Belgian Soldier to Edna Pick (the future Mrs. McCrane.)
Biographical / Historical:
Wallace Downs McCrane (1896-1975) enlisted on 14 December 1917, and arrived at Kelly Field on 26 December 1917. After his training at Kelly Field was completed, McCrane was sent to England and assigned to the 153rd Aero Squadron. In September of 1918 he was then transferred to France, where he became a member of the 224th Aero Squadron. In both squadrons, McCrane both flew as an observer and was a Signal Electrician. He returned to the United States in 1919, and after his discharge began his career at Exide Batteries as a metallurgist. McCrane also joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary during World War II and patrolled the Philadelphia Port / Delaware River.
General:
This accession came with a number of artifacts which were transferred to the National Air and Space Museum Division of Aeronautics.
NASMrev
Provenance:
Edna McCrane and Marion Wolanek, gift, 1998, 1999-0007, unknown
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations Search this
