Search Results

Creator:

Rowe, Basil Lee  Search this

Names:

Pan American World Airways, Inc.  Search this

West Indian Aerial Express  Search this

Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974  Search this

Rowe, Basil Lee  Search this

Extent:

5.35 Cubic feet (5 document boxes, 4 flat boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Logs (records)

Scrapbooks

Publications

Date:

1917-1973

bulk 1930-1968

Summary:

Basil Lee Rowe (1896-1973) enjoyed a long and successful career in aviation, initially as a military exhibition pilot, barnstormer, air racer, charter operator, flight instructor, aircraft salesman, and rumrunner, before moving to the West Indies to start an airline, the short-lived West Indian Aerial Express, bought out by Pan American Airways in 1928. Rowe became a pioneering senior pilot for Pan Am, flying with them for 28 years before his retirement in 1956. This collection includes scrapbooks, photo albums, memorabilia, and first day covers, in addition to the draft manuscript for Rowe's 1956 autobiography, Under My Wings.

Scope and Contents:

The collection consists of Rowe's pilot's log books covering his career from 1927 to 1956, assorted periodicals, cartoons featuring Rowe, scrapbooks and photo albums assembled by Rowe (featuring newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera), several draft manuscripts of Rowe's 1956 autobiography Under My Wings, and first day air mail postal covers collected by Rowe.

Arrangement:

Materials in this collection are grouped into series by format. See individual series Scope and Content notes for details on arrangement within that series. Note that with the exception of the chronologically arranged flight log books, Rowe did not appear to organize his materials in any particular order.

Biographical / Historical:

Basil Lee Rowe, born February 10, 1896, grew up in the small town of Shandaken, New York, in the Catskill Mountains. He began his flying career in 1914 as an apprentice to aviator Turk Adams after seeing Adams fly at a local county fair. Impatient to become a military pilot, Rowe arranged to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, but was sidelined by a ruptured appendix before he could get to Canada. By the time Rowe had recovered, the United States had entered World War I and Rowe was able to join the Aviation Section of the U. S. Army Signal Corps; he was sent to Texas. During the Third Liberty Loan drive, Rowe was assigned to a group of fliers who were to give exhibition flights; after his discharge, he used his savings to buy a used Avro biplane and barnstormed around the East Central United States, using Hadley Field (New Brunswick, New Jersey) as his home field. Rowe soon bought a second aircraft, hired pilot William S. "Bill" Wade, and moved his base of operations to the Aeromarine Base at Keyport, near Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Rowe prospered through the early 1920s, and his troupe the "Rowe Fliers" (including at various times wingwalkers Bill Stacy and Marguerite L. "Peggy" Roome) toured the eastern US giving exhibition flights and passenger rides. In the winter, Rowe moved his operation to Florida, and, with a rebuilt Curtiss Seagull, ferried passengers eager to escape Prohibition from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas--with a bit of rumrunning on the side. Back in New Jersey, Rowe formed the Chamberlin-Rowe Aircraft Corporation with fellow aviator Clarence Chamberlin to buy and resell Army surplus aircraft; the short-lived business went bust in 1924 when the government finished selling off its aircraft. Rowe, a talented racing pilot, kept busy from 1924 through 1926 on the racing circuit, winning numerous prizes.

By the end of 1926, at the age of thirty, Rowe felt that he had reached a turning point in his life. Dismayed by the increase in US government regulation of aviation, Rowe moved his operations to the West Indies, settling in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. With Bill Wade, Rowe rapidly established a business flying charters around the country, with flights to neighboring Haiti and Puerto Rico. In June 1927, with financial backing provided by sugar industry businessmen and the government of the Dominican Republic, Rowe founded West Indian Aerial Express (abbreviated variously as WIAE or WIAX) to provide airline service between Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, hoping to be well positioned to bid on future US foreign air mail routes. With this in mind, Rowe returned to the Unites States and purchased a Fairchild FC-2W floatplane (christened "La Niña") and a larger Keystone K-47 Pathfinder trimotor (the former "American Legion," r/n NX179, rebuilt by the Keystone factory following a crash in April 1927 and rechristened as "Santa Maria"). To his dismay, Rowe was forced to acquired a US transport pilot license in order to be allowed to fly the "Santa Maria" back to Santo Domingo; he hired Canadian pilot Cy Caldwell to ferry "La Niña." On the way south in mid October 1927, Rowe found himself and his two aircraft in Florida just as Pan American Airways (PAA), which had been successful in obtaining a temporary contract to deliver mail from the US to Cuba, found itself without any aircraft able to fly out of their Key West, Florida, field to fulfill the contract before it expired. PAA struck a deal with Rowe to lease "La Niña" (piloted by Caldwell) to fly the first Pan American Airways flight on October 19, 1927.

With its two new aircraft, West Indian Aerial Express started regularly scheduled twice-weekly flights on December 1, 1927, between Cuba, Haiti, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico, later extending the routes to St. Thomas and St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. On June 30, 1928, WIAX filed a bid with the US government for air mail service on the route from Key West to Puerto Rico, but was outmanuevered by the more politically-savvy Pan American Airways which won the contract. A final crippling blow was dealt to WIAX in September 1928 when a severe hurricane hit their base in San Juan, Puerto Rico, destroying "La Niña" and two older Waco biplanes. Rowe made his last flight in the "Santa Maria" on September 20, 1928, before turning the aircraft over to Pan American. On October 16, 1928, PAA purchased WIAX, with Rowe becoming PAA's senior pilot.

During his first ten years with Pan Am, Rowe flew a record number of hours and surveyed most of the new air routes through the Caribbean to Central and South America, several times flying with Charles Lindbergh. When the US entered World War II, Rowe was assigned to Pan Am's Africa and Orient Division to serve with the US Army Air Forces Air Transport Command on their supply route across the South Atlantic and Africa to India and China (the "Cannonball Run"). His wife, Florence May Sharp, whom Rowe had married in 1930, served as an aircraft spotter during the war. During the Korean Conflict, Rowe was once again pressed into service, and was transferred to Pan Am's Pacific Division to fly transpacific supply routes and medical evacuation flights. May's early death in 1943 left Rowe a widower at his retirement from Pan Am in 1956. At their Coral Gables, Florida, home he wrote his autobiography, Under My Wings (The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., New York, 1956) and remained active as a tennis instructor until his death on October 28, 1973.

Related Materials:

See related collection Basil Lee Rowe First Day Air Mail Covers, NASM.XXXX.0487.

Basil Lee Rowe air racing medals in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum collection:

Medal, 1926 National Air Races [Winner, Relay Race], A19690242000.

Medal, 1926 National Air Races [Winner, Relay Race], A19690243000.

Medal, Aviation [Dayton Air Race], A19690244000.

Medal, Third Annual Dayton Air Race Winner, A19690245000.

Medal, 1926 National Air Races [2nd Place, Free-For-All Race, 510 cu. in. Class], A19690246000.

Medal, 1926 National Air Races [Winner, First Elimination, 500 cu. in. Class], A19690247000.

Basil Lee Rowe air racing trophies in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum collection:

Trophy, Allen W. Hinkle, Basil L. Rowe, A19690238000 [Allen W. Hinkle Trophy for Two, Three, and Four Place Airplanes, 1924]

Trophy, Glenn H. Curtiss, Basil L. Rowe, A19690239000 [The Glenn H. Curtiss Trophy for Two Seater Low Horsepower Airplane, National Air Races, Mitchel Field L. I., 1925]

Plaque, B.B.T. Corporation, National Air Races 1926, A19690240000 [B.B.T. Corporation of America Relay Race for Commercial Planes won by Basil L. Rowe, Charles S. Jones, A. H. Kreider]

Plaque, 1926 National Air Races, Benjamin Franklin Trophy, A19690241000 [Benjamin Franklin Trophy donated by Joseph A. Steinmetz, Relay Race for Commercial Planes won by Basil L. Rowe, Charles S. Jones, A. H. Kreider]

Provenance:

Basil Lee Rowe, gift, 1969; United States Air Force Museum, transfer, 1973; NASM.XXXX.0019

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:

Aeronautics  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics -- Exhibitions  Search this

Aeronautics -- Competitions  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

World War, 1914-1918  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Works of art  Search this

Periodicals  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Logs (records)

Scrapbooks

Publications

Citation:

Basil Lee Rowe Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0019, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.0019

See more items in:

Basil Lee Rowe Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2c0b71733-3bcc-46b0-97a0-8e876ec77ef4

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0019

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.P, File P2-880000-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: General Aviation

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: General Aviation / Series P: General Aviation / Uses of Aircraft in General Aviation

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg213f15633-b51b-47d8-aa00-cb98f5d6b734

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-p-ref628

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.P, File P2-880000-80

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: General Aviation

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: General Aviation / Series P: General Aviation / Uses of Aircraft in General Aviation

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2d73b3688-430f-4914-bd9f-c424d2aba00b

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-p-ref631

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-404800-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, Goodyear, General (See also: Balloons, USA, Goodyear)

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2d44595f6-e7d1-4762-97a2-302e309de36d

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref64874

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2266e9961-ed53-4317-b714-5cb9ea66aaa5

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65005

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-472800-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, International Zeppelin Transport Corp

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2e39331d2-f4c3-45f0-8257-4f4e06b45e9f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65006

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-520400-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, Lightspeed USA

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b264fd2b-8271-4d9c-a950-95742c906b92

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65052

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg27b6ed0c2-0844-422f-85b4-b25738c3a16b

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65904

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-761000-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, North American Aerial Transportation Co

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg241247c31-1863-47d9-9595-dcc797adb856

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65905

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg21c98be79-16ef-4f80-9b8e-630f6ce4a771

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65908

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-890000-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, Pacific-Zeppelin Transport Co Ltd

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg25cebfc3a-fba3-49b0-8865-08bd069609b7

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65909

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-890000-02

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, Pacific-Zeppelin Transport Co Ltd

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2a28ea166-b4e3-4a05-8007-f5176aeb78c9

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref65912

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2bedfaf88-cc33-4b4c-a74b-952318578495

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref64559

Collection Creator:

National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1183.A, File A3U-303450-01

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft

National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Aircraft / Series A3: Lighter than Air (LTA), Airships / USA, Construction-Transportation Corp (Acc 2001-0020-0051)

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg22cb4bee7-d736-4377-8e65-f42eaab36be7

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-a-ref64560

Creator:

Crossfield, A. Scott (Albert Scott), 1921-  Search this

Names:

Eastern Air Lines  Search this

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)  Search this

North American Aviation, Inc.  Search this

Extent:

20.23 Cubic feet (42 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Audiotapes

Correspondence

Manuscripts

Date:

1940 - 2004

Summary:

This collection consists of over nine cubic feet of material documenting Scott Crossfield's aviation career, with emphasis on his involvement with the North American X-15. The following types of material are included: correspondence; reel to reel tapes; papers, manuscripts; newspaper and magazine clippings; aviation manuals; photographs; film; and Crossfield's notes and reports.

Scope and Content note:

This collection encompasses the entirety of Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr.'s career as an engineer, test pilot, airline executive, and speaker and advocate for aerospace education. Records in the collection date from Crossfield's time at college in the 1940s through his death in 2006. Crossfield's papers were donated to the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Archives by the Crossfield family in 2006 and a second batch of material was received in 2008. The collection was received without any apparent organizational scheme, but some items were received in labeled folders and these folder titles were retained when the collection was processed. One group of material was loaned by the family for copying and these items were photocopied and placed within the appropriate folder in the case of documents, or were scanned and entered into the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Archives image database in the case of photographs.

After his retirement from North American Aviation, Inc., Crossfield gave his papers to a former secretary, Marion Brown, so that she could organize them for his use in future writing projects. In February 1973, a U.S. Navy Vought A-7E Corsair II crashed into the apartment building where Brown lived and all of Crossfield's papers in her possession were destroyed. Due to this incident, the collection has more material from Crossfield's time with Eastern Air Lines and onwards, although the prior years are still well represented through records that were either retained in Crossfield's possession or copies that were gathered after the fact. There is correspondence from Crossfield relating to the crash in Box 11 of the collection.

The archival materials in this collection are organized into four series. The first series is composed of personal materials and includes school records, correspondence, personal photographs, records relating to various organizations in which Crossfield was active, information relating to the publication of Crossfield's autobiography, Always Another Dawn, other writings by Crossfield, financial records, subject files assembled by Crossfield, philatelic materials (Crossfield was an active collector and was a founding member and officer of The Aviation Historical Foundation, a philatelic organization), and news clippings. The material in this series is largely organized chronologically. Personal photographs and subject files are organized by topic first and chronologically within each folder and organizations are arranged alphabetically by name first and also chronologically within the individual folders.

The second series contains items relating to Crossfield's professional life, organized chronologically by place of employment. This series includes materials relating to Crossfield's work at Boeing, the U.S. Navy, the Kirsten Wind Tunnel at the University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), North American Aviation, Inc., Eastern Air Lines, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Crossfield's work as an Independent Technical Advisor, Crossfield's application for the position of Director of the National Air and Space Museum, Crossfield's time as a member of the United States Organizing Committee, and his work with organizations such as the Scott Crossfield Foundation and The Wright Experience. During the later part of his life, Crossfield toured the country extensively giving speeches, presenting awards, etc. and there is a large amount of material relating to these appearances in this part of the collection. These materials arrived already organized chronologically by individual trip and this organizational scheme was retained. Specifically, the professional life series includes flight reports, manuals, drawings, business correspondence, administrative records, presentations and papers, travel itineraries, notebooks, calendars, speeches delivered by Crossfield, and career related photographs (which are broken out as their own subseries). The professional life series also includes a section of miscellaneous professional items including job seeking correspondence, information on the patent for a power wheel braking or driving unit designed by Crossfield, and a folder of Crossfield's résumés.

The third series consists of audiotapes and is organized first by tape format and then chronologically within each category. Subjects of the audiotapes include speeches, a large number of North American X-15 cockpit recordings and radio communications, tape produced for a television program, and autobiographical notes. A number of the audiotapes include no description. With a total of 65 examples in this series, the most common audiotape format in the collection is, by far, 7 inch reel to reel tapes. Other formats in this series include 5 inch reel to reel tapes, 3.125 by 3.5 inch metal audiotape cartridges, and Dictaphone recording belts. Please note that these audio recordings are unavailable to the researcher at the time of processing due to the format and fragility of the tapes.

The fourth series of this collection is comprised of oversized materials and additional materials including galley proofs, news clippings, drawings, charts, professional records, and photographs. The organization of this series mirrors the folder titles found in the rest of the collection.

The researcher should note that the collection also contains several motion picture films relating to the life and career of Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr. These films are not included in the container list but a NASM Archives staff person can assist you regarding access.

Arrangement:

The A. Scott Crossfield Papers are organized into the following series and subseries:

Series I: Personal Materials

1.1 School Records

1.2 Correspondence

1.3 Personal Photographs

1.4 Organizations

1.5 Information Related to the Publication of Always Another Dawn

1.6 Other Writings by Crossfield

1.7 Financial Records

1.8 Subject Files

1.9 Philatelic Materials

1.10 News Clippings

1.11 Miscellaneous Personal Records

Series II: Professional Life

2.1 Boeing

2.2 U.S. Navy

2.3 Kirsten Wind Tunnel, University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory

2.4 National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)

2.5 North American Aviation, Inc.

2.6 Eastern Air Lines

2.7 Hawker Siddeley Aviation

2.8 Independent Technical Advisor

2.9 Application for NASM Director Position

2.10 United States Organizing Committee

2.11 Scott Crossfield Foundation

2.12 The Wright Experience

2.13 Speaking Engagements and Professional Appearances

2.14 Career Related Photographs

2.14 Miscellaneous Professional Records

Series III: Audiotapes

Series IV: Oversized Materials

Biographical/Historical note:

Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr. was born on October 2, 1921, in California. As a young boy, Crossfield was often confined indoors due to health problems related to pneumonia and rheumatic fever. During this time, he dreamed of becoming a pilot and designed and constructed model airplanes. Crossfield took his first airplane ride in 1927, at six years old, in an Alexander Eaglerock A-1 piloted by family friend Charles "Carl" Lienesch. Lienesch also encouraged Crossfield to become an engineer as well as a pilot. Unbeknownst to Crossfield's parents, he began taking flying lessons at the age of 12 at Wilmington Airport under the tutelage of pilot Vaughn McNulty. The family later moved to Washington State and it was there, at the Chehalis Airport, that Crossfield made his first solo flight in a Curtiss Robin. It was not until the summer of 1941, however, that Crossfield officially soloed and earned his pilot's license under the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA), Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP).

Crossfield enrolled in the University of Washington in 1940 and worked at the Boeing plant in Seattle, beginning in the fall of 1941, while still pursuing his studies. Crossfield's first assignment at Boeing was as an assembly page clerk. He was later promoted to the position of production expediter and shop salvage engineer. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Crossfield enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and continued to work at Boeing while he waited for an opening in a cadet class. In February 1942, tired of waiting on the Air Corps and eager to get into combat, Crossfield enlisted in the U.S. Navy instead where he joined the cadet class of May 7, 1942. Crossfield first trained in Seattle, Washington, and later was sent to the Naval Air Training Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he earned his Naval Aviator's wings in 1942. During his time in the Navy, Crossfield never fulfilled his ambition to see combat because he was selected instead to remain at Corpus Christi as a flight and gunnery instructor. Crossfield eventually was sent to Hawaii to prepare and train for an invasion of Japan but the war ended before this became necessary. During his time in the U.S. Navy, Crossfield flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat, Vought F4U Corsair, and the North American SNJ Texan, among other aircraft. After he separated from active duty with the Service, Crossfield remained active in the Naval Reserves and was part of an aerobatic team at Sand Point Naval Air Station that flew Goodyear FG-1D Corsairs.

Crossfield returned to his studies at the University of Washington in 1946 and was employed doing tests at the Kirsten Wind Tunnel at the University's Aeronautical Laboratory. Crossfield earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1949 and his master's degree in aeronautical science in 1950. After obtaining his degrees, Crossfield joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) as a research pilot. During his time with NACA, Crossfield flew many aircraft including the Convair XF-92A, Bell X-1, Northrop X-4 Bantam, Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Bell X-5, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, North American F-86 Sabre, and the North American F-100A Super Sabre. Crossfield made history in the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket on November 20, 1953, as the first pilot to exceed Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).

In 1955, Crossfield left NACA and joined North American Aviation, Inc. to work on the X-15 program where he would not only serve as the X-15 Project Pilot but also as a Design Specialist, a role in which he was an integral part of the design of both the aircraft and the pressure suit developed by the David Clark Company for the X-15 program. The suit served as a prototype for the spacesuits later worn by astronauts. Crossfield helped to develop the X-15's cockpit, control, and engine systems; structural design; propulsion system; engineered its escape system; and contributed to its handling quality requirements. He also developed the ground control test methodology that would later become standard on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Crossfield piloted the North American X-15 on its first captive flight in March 1959, first glide flight in June 1959, and the first powered flight in September 1959, as well as numerous other test flights, before the X-15 was delivered to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in February 1960. Crossfield also served as Chief Engineering Test Pilot at North American from 1955-1961 before moving to the Space and Information Systems Division first as the Director of Systems Test (1961) then as the Division Director of Test and Quality Assurance (1961-1966) where he was responsible for quality control in all North American projects including the Hounddog Missile (AGM-28, GAM-77), Paragliders for the Gemini program, Apollo Command and Service Module, and the Saturn V launch vehicles, second stage. Crossfield's final position with North American was as the Technical Director, Research, Engineering and Test from 1966-1967.

Crossfield joined Eastern Air Lines in Miami, Florida, as Division Vice President, Flight, Research, and Development, Flight Operations in 1967, a position he held until 1971 when he moved to Washington, DC, to serve as Staff Vice President, Transportation Systems Development (1971-1973). From 1974 to 1975, Crossfield served as Senior Vice President at Hawker Siddeley Aviation's U.S. subsidiary branch, an office he helped to establish. After leaving Hawker Siddeley, Crossfield served for many years as an independent technical advisor to the U.S. Congress. Crossfield also served on the United States Organizing Committee to plan the Air and Space Bicentennial. In the later part of his life, Crossfield traveled extensively to give talks, attend events, and make various professional appearances and it was on a return flight home from one such trip in 2006 that Crossfield was killed when the plane he was piloting was caught in a thunderstorm.

Crossfield was active in various organizations including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), a group in which he was a founding member. Crossfield also created the Scott Crossfield Foundation to support aerospace education. Crossfield was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Sperry (Lawrence B.) Memorial Award (1954) and Chanute (Octave) Award (AIAA, 1958), Kincheloe Award (SETP, 1960), Harmon Trophy (1960), Collier (Robert J.) Trophy (1961), NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1993), and the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Trophy for Lifetime Achievement (2000).

Crossfield published his autobiography, Always Another Dawn, in 1960 with Clay Blair, Jr. and is the author of numerous other publications, articles, and technical papers.

Provenance:

Alice Crossfield, Gift, 2006

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:

North American X-15  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Aeronautics -- Records  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Audiotapes

Correspondence

Manuscripts

Citation:

A. Scott Crossfield Papers, Accession number 2006-0041, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

A. Scott Crossfield Papers, Acc. 2006-0041, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.2006.0041

See more items in:

A. Scott Crossfield Papers

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg28d41031c-4569-4e2e-b114-8a32f81be51e

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-2006-0041

Creator:

Dale, Dianne  Search this

Polk, P. H., 1898-1985  Search this

Names:

Barry, Marion, 1936-2014  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Dale, Dianne  Search this

Dale, John Henry, Jr., 1888-1973  Search this

Dale, Lucille Emma Patterson, 1889-1973  Search this

Dale, Marie Howard, 1914-2011  Search this

Dale, Norman Edward, 1908-1991  Search this

Garner, Araminta Dale, 1913-1987  Search this

Patterson, Frederick D. (Frederick Douglass), 1901-1988  Search this

Patterson, Wilhelmina Bessie, 1888-1962  Search this

Extent:

6 Linear feet (9 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Programs

Clippings

Correspondence

Ephemera

Postcards

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1866 - 1990.

Summary:

The Dale-Patterson family papers, which date from 1866 to 2010 and measure 6 linear feet, document the personal and professional lives of the Dale-Patterson family who came to live in Hillsdale, Anacostia, area of Washington, D.C., in 1892.

Scope and Contents note:

The Dale-Patterson family papers, which date from 1866 to 1990 and measure 6 linear feet, document the personal and professional lives of the Dale-Patterson family who came to live in Hillsdale, Anacostia, area of Washington, D.C., in 1892. The collection is comprised of correspondence, photographs, clippings, and ephemera.

Arrangement note:

The collection is arranged in four series:

Series 1: Dale-Patterson Family papers Series 2: Charles Qualls papers Series 3: Community Organizations Series 4: Subject Files

Biographical/Historical note:

The Dale family came to Washington, DC in 1886 when John Henry Dale, Sr., a gifted self-taught man, obtained a position as clerk in the newly contracted Pension Bureau building at 5th and G Streets, NW. First they lived near 13th Street and Florida Avenue, NW, then moved to Howard Road in Anacostia. Dale built a house at 2619 Nichols Avenue, now Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, drawing the plans and supervising the construction. The Dales and only one other family lived in this solidly built house for 100 years before it was sold to a church group and demolished.

General Note:

Finding Aid Note: This finding aid is associated with a MARC collection-level record.361883

Provenance:

The Dale-Patterson Family collection was donated to the Anacostia Community Museum on April 07, 2013.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.

Rights:

The Dale-Patterson Family collection is the physical property of the Anacostia Community Museum. Literary and copyright belong to the author/creator or their legal heirs and assigns. Rights to work produced during the normal course of Museum business resides with the Anacostia Community Museum. For further information, and to obtain permission to publish or reproduce, contact the Museum Archives.

Topic:

African Americans  Search this

African American families  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Programs

Clippings

Correspondence

Ephemera

Postcards

Citation:

Dale-Patterson Family collection, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Dianne Dale.

Identifier:

ACMA.06-074

See more items in:

Dale-Patterson Family collection

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7c29572e9-2bd6-4b2a-8982-b527693b7885

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-acma-06-074

Measurements:

overall: 3/8 in x 3 5/8 in; .9525 cm x 9.2075 cm

Object Name:

Coaster ceramic

Date made:

October 17, 1986

Credit Line:

Gift of Norman Mineta

ID Number:

1987.3058.15

Nonaccession number:

1987.3058

Catalog number:

1987.3058.15

See more items in:

Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, General

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-08f4-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1313936

Subject of:

Boeing Corporation, American, founded 1916  Search this

Tuskegee Airmen, 1941 - 1946  Search this

Maycie Herrington, American, 1918 - 2016  Search this

Paul Adams, American, 1920 - 2013  Search this

Charles E. McGee, American, 1919 - 2022  Search this

Nancy Leftenant-Colon, American, born 1920  Search this

Wilbur Mason, American, 1924 - 2016  Search this

Samuel Wesley Henderson, American, 1921 - 2016  Search this

Cyril O. Bryon, American, 1920 - 2015  Search this

George M. Boyd, American, 1926 - 2018  Search this

William J. Childs, American, 1923 - 2013  Search this

Alexander Jefferson, American, 1921 - 2022  Search this

Leroy Eley, American, 1927 - 2012  Search this

O. Oliver Goodall, American, 1922 - 2010  Search this

Charles A. Lane, American, 1925 - 2013  Search this

Thurston L. Gaines Jr., American, 1922 - 2016  Search this

Lee A. Archer Jr., American, 1919 - 2010  Search this

Earl Martin, American, 1924 - 2019  Search this

Franklin J. Macon, American, 1923 - 2020  Search this

Rusty Burns, American, 1925 - 2022  Search this

Asa D. Herring Jr., American, 1926 - 2022  Search this

James E. Randall, American, 1926 - 2019  Search this

William H. Holloman III, American, 1924 - 2010  Search this

Robert Holts, American, 1924 - 2021  Search this

Leonard Hall, American, 1926 - 2013  Search this

James Harvey, American, born 1923  Search this

Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, American, 1922 - 2016  Search this

Samuel C. Hunter Jr., American, 1919 - 2013  Search this

Leo R. Gray, American, 1924 - 2016  Search this

Quentin Smith, American, 1918 - 2013  Search this

Oscar C. Gadson Jr., American, 1919 - 2021  Search this

James C. Warren, American, 1923 - 2014  Search this

Robert Ashby, American, 1926 - 2021  Search this

Claude R. Platte Jr., American, 1921 - 2013  Search this

Milton Williams Jr., American, 1922 - 2017  Search this

Used by:

Tuskegee Institute, American, founded 1881  Search this

Medium:

steel, aluminum, copper alloy, wood, polyester, rubber, plastic

Dimensions:

H x W x D (2011.82.1): 114 × 386 × 300 in. (289.6 × 980.4 × 762 cm)

H x W x D (2011.82.2 baggage claim door): 21 1/2 × 30 3/4 × 2 3/4 in. (54.6 × 78.1 × 7 cm)

Type:

training aircraft

Date:

ca. 1944

Topic:

African American  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)  Search this

Military  Search this

Tuskegee Airmen  Search this

World War II  Search this

Credit Line:

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number:

2011.82.1-.2

Restrictions & Rights:

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in:

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification:

Transportation Vehicles

Exhibition:

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View:

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source:

National Museum of African American History and Culture

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e994f4e9-bef9-41b4-86d9-a2b0ce43f9fc

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmaahc_2011.82.1-.2

Issued by:

Delta Air Lines, American, founded 1925  Search this

Worn by:

Eugene Harmond, American, born 1947  Search this

Designed by:

Van Lupu, American  Search this

Manufactured by:

The Greif Companies, American  Search this

Medium:

wool (textile) satin with metal and cotton (fiber)

Dimensions:

L x W: 33 7/16 × 20 7/8 in. (85 × 53 cm)

Chest: 18 1/8 in. (46 cm)

Waist: 20 7/8 in. (53 cm)

Type:

jackets

uniforms

Place used:

United States, North and Central America

Date:

1987

Topic:

African American  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Clothing and dress  Search this

Fashion  Search this

Labor  Search this

Men  Search this

Transportation  Search this

Travel  Search this

Credit Line:

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Casey Grant in honor of Patricia Banks Edmiston, Patricia Grace Murphy and Eugene Harmond

Object number:

2018.50.1.1

Restrictions & Rights:

No known copyright restrictions

See more items in:

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification:

Clothing-Historical

Data Source:

National Museum of African American History and Culture

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a5a243b0-3f99-453a-9c46-bdb0767f3fb4

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmaahc_2018.50.1.1

Issued by:

Delta Air Lines, American, founded 1925  Search this

Worn by:

Eugene Harmond, American, born 1947  Search this

Manufactured by:

The Greif Companies, American  Search this

Designed by:

Van Lupu, American  Search this

Medium:

wool (textile) and cotton (fiber) with metal

Dimensions:

L x W: 23 1/16 × 22 1/16 in. (58.5 × 56 cm)

Chest: 20 1/4 in. (51.5 cm)

Type:

vests (main garments)

uniforms

Place used:

United States, North and Central America

Date:

1983-1991

Topic:

African American  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Clothing and dress  Search this

Fashion  Search this

Labor  Search this

Transportation  Search this

Travel  Search this

Credit Line:

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Casey Grant in honor of Patricia Banks Edmiston, Patricia Grace Murphy and Eugene Harmond

Object number:

2018.50.1.2

Restrictions & Rights:

No known copyright restrictions

See more items in:

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification:

Clothing-Historical

Data Source:

National Museum of African American History and Culture

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55e627f3d-65ec-406a-9b7b-e8b661e4a6b9

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmaahc_2018.50.1.2