The Swoose: Odyssey of a B-17 Collection consists of materials collected during research by Herbert Brownstein, the author.
Scope and Content:
This collection consists of materials collected by author Herbert Brownstein during his research for the book The Swoose: Odyssey of a B-17. Fifty-four of the images collected were used in the book. These images feature the aircraft, its crew, its insignia, air fields where it was stationed and maps of the flights of The Swoose. Mr. Brownstein collected approximately six hundred additional photographs from former crew members and other sources which were not used in the book. Included among these are images of air bases including Milne Bay, New Guinea; Marreba, Australia; Clark Field, Philippine Islands; Port Moresby, New Guinea; Del Monte, Philippine Islands; Randolph, Texas; Wheeler, Hawaii; Brooks, Texas; and Kelly, Texas. Aircraft featured include the Bell P-39, Douglas C-47, Boeing B-17B, Boeing B-17G, North American B-25B, Curtiss P-40, North American N4J Pensacola Trainer, and Boeing B-17 Suzy-Q. Aviation field maps include those for Northeast Australia, Malaya, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Philippine Islands. Individuals represented include Henry Godman, Weldon S. Smith, Lyndon B. Johnson, Frank Kurtz, Sir Charles Burnett, Brigadier General George Acheson and several group shots of crew. There are also histories of the 14th and 19th Bombardment Groups, operations, battle honor lists, damage reports, debriefing reports, and crew lists as well as periodical articles about the aircraft and its crew.
Arrangement:
The collection has been organized into three series:
SERIES 1: Photographs Used in The Swoose: Odyssey of a B-17
SERIES 2: Photographs Collected but not Used in The Swoose: Odyssey of a B-17
SERIES 3: Official Government Documents, Periodical Articles, Miscellaneous Material
Biographical/Historical note:
The Swoose was the name given to Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress serial number 40-3097 by Weldon H. Smith, one of its crew members. The aircraft flew four historic trans-Pacific flights: California to Hawaii, May 13-14, 1941; Sydney, Australia to Hawaii and back, May 17-30, 1942; and Brisbane to Washington, DC, August 4-12, 1942. It was stationed in the Pacific theater during the first two years of World War II (1941-1943) and was assigned to both the 14th and 19th Bombardment Groups. In the Pacific, The Swoose carried out bombing and transport operations in the Philippines, Java, and Australia. In 1943, the aircraft was stationed in Panama. The aircraft remained in service until 1953, when it was transferred to the National Air and Space Museum. In 2008, The Swoose was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Provenance:
Herb Brownstein, gift, 1994, 1996, 2000, 1994-0024
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
Collection Citation:
William Mitchell Trial Scrapbooks, Acc. 1992.0013, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Collection Citation:
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Collection, Acc. 1992.0023, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Collection Citation:
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Collection, Acc. 1992.0023, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Collection Citation:
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Collection, Acc. 1992.0023, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Freedmen's Bureau Digital Collection, 1865–1872, is a product of and owned by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Copyright for digital images is retained by the donor, FamilySearch International; permission for commercial use of the digital images may be requested from FamilySearch International, Intellectual Property Office, at: cor-intellectualproperty@ldschurch.org.
Collection Citation:
Courtesy of the U. S. National Archives and Records Administration, FamilySearch International, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
This collection consists of the wartime log Sewell kept while a prisoner at Stalag Luft IV. The log includes poems, sketches, photographs, and food labels from the Red Cross Parcels. The collection also contains V-Mail and prisoner mail postcards, copies of newspaper articles about Sewell and Stalag Luft IV; photographs of Sewell; and copies of The Oversea Kid newspaper 1944. There are also newspaper articles on POW Edward Sanders, and cassette narratives of the following three POWs who were imprisoned with Sewell: Casper Vecchione; William Chamberlain; and Frank Ray.
Biographical / Historical:
Charles B. Sewell (1918-1991) enlisted in the Army in 1942. Technical Segeant Sewell was a top turrent gunner in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortess, 350th Bomb Squadron, 100 Bomb Group. He was on his 14th mission when he was shot down over Germany. Sewell was held as a POW from May 1944 until April of 1945, with most of his time spent in Stalag Luft IV. Sewell was discharged from the Army in October 1945.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Mae Y. Sewell, Gift, 1993, 1993-0014, NASM
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
This collection consists of approximately 0.73 cubic feet of material relating to Max Trager's service with the 462nd Bombardment Group, 768th Bombardment Squadron in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater during World War II including photographic material, maps, and military records. The photographs show various aircraft, including a large amount of nose art; photographs of Max Trager as well as other personnel from his unit; scenes of life on base; and scenes from the various countries where they were stationed. The photographs are largely black and white and are of various sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. There is also one folder of color prints and one folder of color slides (some of which are metal mounted). There are also a small amount of negatives in the collection. Aircraft shown in the photographs include the Boeing B-29 Superfortress; North American B-25C Mitchell; Consolidated B-24 Liberator; North American P-51C Mustang; Republic P-47D (F-47D) Thunderbolt; Lockheed P-38L Lightning; and the Curtiss P-40N Warhawk. Named aircraft shown in the photographs include Boeing B-29 Superfortresses Mis-Chief-Mak-Er; Flak Magnet; Thunder Bird; Globe Girdle Myrtle; War Admiral; Hoodlum-House II; Celestial Princess; Musn' Touch It; The Shrike; Phony Express; Memphis Maid; Slave Girl; Global Glamour; Sweet Thing; Celestial Queen; Lady Marge; Fire Belle; Patience Reward; Snuffy; Raidin Maiden II; Sleepy Time Gal; High and Mighty; Mysterious Mistress; Ready Betty; Haulinas; Hellon Wings; Airborn; The Cajun Queen; Draggin' Lady; Lucky Lady; Our Gal; Dream Girl; Winnie II; Nightmare; King Size; Trouble-maker; and Jack's Hack; as well as a Curtiss P-40N Warhawk painted with the skull nose art of the 80th Fighter Group, known as the "Burma Banshees." Numerous unit insignia are also visible. The collection also contains a "Serviceman's Map of the United States" published by Fred Harvey which includes a key to insignia in various branches of service; some of Trager's military records (some are photocopies); a "Taj Mahal Atlas" which Trager marked with routes and notes on various missions; and a "462nd Bombardment Group Hellbird Handbook" featuring information on the various squadrons and some photos from the War. There are also two oversized maps in the collection. One is a U.S. Army Air Forces, Army Map Service Aeronautical Chart showing the Hooghly River region of India with some handwritten notes on it. This map measures approximately 28.75 by 22 inches and dates to circa 1943. The second is a world map, published by the "Geographia" Map Company and measuring approximately 41 by 27 inches, on which Max Trager has marked his travels during his military service.
Biographical / Historical:
Max Trager (1921-2004) was an airplane and engine mechanic who served with the 462nd Bombardment Group, 768th Bombardment Squadron in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater during World War II. Trager entered active service in September 1942. Trager was initially assigned to the aviation repair depot at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas where he worked on Curtiss-Wright engines. Trager then went to Piardoba Airfield, India by way of North Africa. Trager later served as crew chief for Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft flying out of Kiunglai Airfield, China. Trager's final duty station was at West Field, Tinian, Marianas Island before he separated from the military as a sergeant in November 1945.
Provenance:
Stephen M. Trager, 2015, gift
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
768th Bombardment Squadron China-Burma-India Theater Photographs and Maps [Trager], Accession 2015-0029, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Courage before every danger, honor before all men : the history of the 31st Bombardment Squadron (H) in World War II ... in their own words / by Joanne Pfannenstiel Emerick
