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Creator:

Neufeld, Michael J., 1951-  Search this

Names:

Peenemunde Research and Development Station  Search this

Dahm, Werner  Search this

Danneberg, Konrad  Search this

Haeussermann, Walter  Search this

Heimberg, Karl  Search this

Hoelzer, Helmut  Search this

Mueller, Fritz  Search this

Neufeld, Michael J., 1951-  Search this

Oberth, Hermann, 1894-1989  Search this

Rees, Eberhard  Search this

Reisig, Gerhard  Search this

Rudolph, Arthur  Search this

Tessman, Bernhard  Search this

Wiesman, Walter  Search this

von Tiesenhausen, Georg  Search this

Extent:

2.51 Cubic feet (4 records center boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Transcripts

Oral history

Date:

1985-1990

Summary:

This collection consists of the oral history recordings and transcripts for the Peenemünde Interviews Project, which examined the development of the German Peenemünde complex from the early 1930s through World War II.

Scope and Contents:

The collection consists of 39 hours of interviews with 13 individuals (in both audio cassette and transcript formats).

Arrangement:

The Peenemünde Interviews Project is arranged alphabetically by interviewee. Boxes 1, 2 and 3 contain the interviews on cassette tapes; box 4 contains the edited transcripts of the audio.

Historical note:

The collection consists of the oral history recordings and transcripts for the Peenemünde Interviews Project, which examined the development of the German Peenemünde complex from the early 1930s through World War II. This project constitutes one of several oral history projects conducted within the Department of Space History, NASM. The principal investigator for this project was Michael Neufeld and the following individuals were interviewed: Werner Dahm; Konrad Danneberg; Walter Haeussermann; Karl Heimberg; Helmut Hoelzer; Fritz Mueller; Herman Oberth; Eberhard Rees (with Mrs. Rees); Gerhard Reisig; Arthur Rudolph; Bernhard Tessman (with Karl Heimburg); Georg von Tiesenhausen; and Walter Wiesman.

Provenance:

Space History, NASM, Transfer, 1999, 1999-0038, Varies

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:

V-1 rocket  Search this

V-2 rocket  Search this

Rocketry  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Airplanes -- Germany  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Airplanes -- Rocket engines  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Rockets (Aeronautics)  Search this

Genre/Form:

Transcripts

Oral history

Citation:

Peenemünde Interviews Project, Acc. 1999.0038, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1999.0038

See more items in:

Peenemünde Interviews Project

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2e745d50c-2bbe-41ce-bd04-3b836de37818

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1999-0038

Names:

Coffyn, Frank, 1878-1960  Search this

Ford, Henry, 1863-1947  Search this

Jones, Ernest La Rue, 1883-1955  Search this

Peterkin, C. R.  Search this

See, James Waring, 1850-1920.  Search this

Upson, Ralph Hazlett, 1888-1968  Search this

Wright, Orville, 1871-1948  Search this

Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912  Search this

Extent:

0.25 Cubic feet (1 slim legal document box)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Sketches

Date:

1909-1945

Summary:

This collection consists mostly of correspondence between the Wright brothers and the following people: J.W. See; Ralph H. Upson; Henry Ford; Ernest Jones; Frank Coffyn; O.G. Simmons; C.R. Peterkin; Otto Mallery; Maynard; and Lester Gardner. Also included are sketches, an NAA letter signed by witnesses: Etheridge, Dough and Moore attesting to the 1903 flight, and the Wright Brothers' original bid for the military contract.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists mostly of correspondence between the Wright brothers and the following people: J.W. See; Ralph H. Upson; Henry Ford; Ernest Jones; Frank Coffyn; O.G. Simmons; C.R. Peterkin; Otto Mallery; Maynard; and Lester Gardner. Also included are sketches, an NAA letter signed by witnesses: Etheridge, Dough and Moore attesting to the 1903 flight, and the Wright Brothers' original bid for the military contract.

Arrangement:

Correspondence is arranged by recipient, other materials are arranged by topic.

Biographical / Historical:

Wilbur Wright was born April 16, 1867, his brother Orville Wright on August 19, 1871. They, along with sister Katharine and brothers Reuchlin and Lorin, were raised near Millville, Indiana and in Dayton, Ohio by their mother, Susan Wright, and father, Milton Wright, bishop of the United Brethren Church. As young men, Wilbur and Orville launched a printing business and a bicycle shop. An interest in aeronautics, spurred by the accounts of the experiments of Otto Lilienthal, prompted Wilbur to request information on the subject from the Smithsonian Institution in 1899. In August of 1900, Wilbur built his first glider and that year and the next the brothers tested gliders at Kitty Hawk. The Wrights constructed a wind tunnel to gather accurate aeronautical data and, benefiting from this new information, another glider was built in 1902. In 1903, the brothers were ready to began construction of a powered craft. With the assistance of mechanic Charles Taylor, they added a 4-cylinder, 12-horsepower engine and propellers to the 1903 Flyer and it was sent to Kitty Hawk for testing. At 10:35 am, December 17, on Kill Devil Hill, Orville achieved a flight of 12 seconds--traveling a distance of 120 feet. By 1908 the Wrights were demonstrating their machines in Europe. The U.S. Army Signal Corps advertised for bids for a two-seat observation aircraft and in 1908 and 1909, the Wrights flew at official Army trials at Fort Myer, Virginia. (It was here that powered flight's first fatality occurred: the tragic death of Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge.) The Army was to purchase the Military Flyer (Signal Corps No. 1) for $30,000 in 1909. In that same year, The Wright Company was established to manufacture Wright aircraft. Wilbur died in Dayton, Ohio on May 30,1912. Orville Wright would live until January 30, 1948.

Provenance:

Various Donors, Gift, unknown, NASM.XXXX.0376

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

Airplanes  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics -- 1903-1916  Search this

Airplanes -- Design and construction  Search this

Genre/Form:

Correspondence

Sketches

Citation:

Wright Brothers Collection, NASM.XXXX.0376, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.0376

See more items in:

Wright Brothers Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2c0a7914f-b10c-4c13-b972-2070242c1331

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0376

Creator:

Davis, Benjamin O., Jr., 1912-  Search this

Names:

Air University (U.S.). Air War College  Search this

United States Military Academy  Search this

United States. Army Air Forces. 332nd Fighter Group  Search this

United States. Army Air Forces. 477th Bombardment Group  Search this

United States. Army Air Forces. 99th Fighter Squadron  Search this

Davis, Benjamin O., Jr., 1912-  Search this

Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994  Search this

Extent:

75.03 Cubic feet (168 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Publications

Correspondence

Programs

Place:

Tuskegee Army Air Field (Ala.)

Date:

1928-1990

Summary:

This collection consists of 72 linear feet of the papers of Benjamin O. Davis. Included are the following types of material: programs, invitations, certificates, correspondence, published material, and photographs.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of material gathered by General and Mrs. Davis over the course of their lives to 1993. The bulk of this collection consists of correspondence, newsclippings, and photographs relating to or received by the Davises, especially after General Davis retired from the Air Force. The collection is particularly rich in materials from the black press of the 1940s, documenting the response of the black community to the activities of the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332d Fighter Group during and after World War II, and contains a small amount of material related to the controversy surrounding the units' combat performance and the morale issues raised by the segregated society of the 1940s. Most of the remainder of the material from Davis' military career centers on his own activities. Davis' tenure as the Director of Public Safety in Cleveland coincides with the activities of the Black Panther movement and the term of Mayor Carl Stokes, Cleveland's first mayor of African descent; the newclippings and correspondence from this period highlight police activities and public reaction in this racially-polarized atmosphere. Much of the material from Davis' early tenure at the Department of Transportation deals with civil aviation security, initially to counter the hijacking wave of the early 1970s and later to reduce cargo theft. The material from his later years, particularly during his years as a consultant, deals primarily with attempts to reduce gasoline consumption, especially his work promoting the 55mph National Maximum Speed Limit. The largest blocks of material from Davis' private life relate to his tenure on the President's Commission on Campus Unrest (1970) and the President's Commission on Military Compensation (1977-1978); these contain, respectively, materials on student protests, including the shootings at Kent State, and on issues surrounding military pay and retirement. There is also a significant body of material relating to his association with Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and his speaking tours to increase public knowledge of the role of black servicemen during World War II.

Materials of a personal nature, particularly correspondence between General and Mrs. Davis, were retained by the Davises and therefore do not figure in this collection. Most official documents relating to Davis' activities in the military or civil service are held by the United States National Archives and Records Administration in Record Groups 18 (Records of the Army Air Forces), 341 (Records of Headquarters United States Air Force (Air Staff)), 342 (Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations), and 398 (General Records of the Department of Transportation). Official materials remaining in the collection are primarily contemporary copies given to Mrs. Davis relating to General Davis' travel or public appearances.

Some of the early material (through approximately 1948) was organized by Mrs. Davis into a series of scrapbooks, each of which contains photographs, correspondence, and newsclippings. The rest of the items in the collection were organized into envelopes by the Davises before donation, with the material generally arranged by posting (duty station) and chronology. The items in any given envelope were generally not organized and neither were the envelopes themselves grouped in any particular manner. Additionally, some military records gathered by General Davis as reference material while writing his autobiography were identified by the period of his posting, although the material itself was generally created after that period. Items relating primarily to Mrs. Davis were not separated by the Davises in any manner; during processing such material was treated in a like manner, remaining interfiled with material relating primarily to General Davis, except as noted below.

The collection as a whole has been organized into four chronological groups: Civilian and Family Life (predating Davis' admission to the US Military Academy at West Point, NY), Military Service, Private Life (post-dating Davis' retirement from the USAF), and Autobiography. The second of these (Military Service) has been organized chronologically by posting, then alphabetically by subject; the remaining groups have been organized alphabetically by broad subject areas, then chronologically.

A number of broad subject areas recur in both the civilian and military sections of this collection. In cases where such broad areas can be applied individually to Davis, Mrs. Davis, or Davis Sr., they have been grouped in that order. The subject areas are as follows:

Awards and Honors -- materials relating to medals, citations, or other awards or honors given to Davis (or other members of his family)

Newclippings -- clippings from newspapers or magazines, or complete newspapers or magazines, except when such clippings were enclosures which had remained with their associated cover letter

Official Duties -- materials relating to Davis' activities connected to his official duties (used in Series II only)

Social -- materials relating to the Davises' activities which are not obviously connected to his official duties

Travel -- materials relating to trips by the Davises which do not appear to be duty-related trips

Other subject areas are generally self-explanatory.

The collection contained two videotapes, one relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen and the other to the 1992 Clinton Campaign, both of which have been transferred to the NASM Film Archives. Cross references to these tapes have been placed in the finding aid in the series or subseries into which they would have fallen had they been documents. A large number of three-dimensional items, particularly plaques, have been transferred to curatorial control. For access to these items, please contact the NASM Aeronautics Department. Oversized items remaining in the collection have been placed in appropriate-sized containers at the end of the document collection; reference to such items occurs in the file lists as "see oversized..." or "see also oversized..." as appropriate.

Researchers should also consult Davis' autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American: An Autobiography (Washington, DC: Smithsonian, 1991).

Arrangement:

Series 1: Education and Civilian Life, to June 1932

Series 2: Military Career, June 1932 to January 1970

Series 3: Civilian Life, February 1970 to 1993

Series 4: Autobiography

Biographical / Historical:

Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. was born in Washington, DC on December 18, 1912, the second of three children born to Benjamin Oliver (Sr.) and Elnora Dickerson Davis. At that time Davis Sr.(1) was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, having worked his way up from an enlisted cavalry trooper. Elnora Davis died from complications after giving birth to their third child (Elnora) in 1916 and three years later Davis Sr. married Sadie Overton, an English professor at Wilberforce University. Davis and his sisters lived with relatives in Washington while Davis Sr. completed his tour of duty in the Philippines with his new bride. The family was reunited in Tuskegee, AL when Davis Sr. taught military science and tactics at the Tuskegee Institute between 1920 and 1924. In 1924 Davis Sr. was assigned as an instructor to a federalized Ohio National Guard unit and the family moved to Cleveland, OH.

Davis finished his schooling in Cleveland, graduating from Central High School in 1929. He then attended Western Reserve University (1929-1930) and the University of Chicago (1930-1932) before gaining admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He graduated in the Class of 1936 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.(2) Upon graduation, he married Ms. Agatha Scott, whom he had met and dated while at the Academy.

After serving in the infantry for several years Davis was posted to the newly-established Tuskegee Army Air Field, AL for pilot training in 1942. He graduated in the first class from the new flying school and was officially transferred to the Army Air Corps. In August 1942 he assumed command of the 99th Fighter Squadron, leading it in combat in North Africa and Sicily. The 99th Fighter Squadron was the first unit of "Tuskegee Airmen," as black(3) units in the segregated Army Air Forces (AAF) have come to be called. Two units of Tuskegee Airmen saw combat during World War II: the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332d Fighter Group (composed of the 100th, 301st, and 302d Fighter Squadrons). Davis, promoted to Colonel in 1944, commanded both of these units in turn, leading the 99th and 332d in combat in Europe and earning the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, and Silver Star for his own actions and a Distinguished Unit Citation for the 332d Fighter Group.

Davis returned to the United States in June 1945 to assume command of the 477th Bombardment Group (composed of the 616th, 617th, 618th, and 619th Bombardment Squadrons; later redesignated the 477th Composite Group), another segregated black unit, at Godman Field, KY. Davis was expected to prepare the unit for deployment to the Pacific Theater, although the unit's training was badly behind schedule due to racial tensions between the white staff and black operating personnel of the unit. Davis quickly brought the unit up to deployment requirements, but the war ended before the 477th left the United States. Returning elements of the 332d and 99th were merged into the 477th, which was redesignated the 332d Fighter Wing in 1947. As the only remaining black unit in the newly-established, but still segregated, United States Air Force (USAF), the 332d suffered from a surplus of qualified personnel while remaining USAF units were often under manned. The performance of the units under Davis' command had laid to rest questions regarding the abilities of the "negro race" and in 1948 the Air Force determined that the efficient use of its manpower required the integration of its units. As a result the Air Force rapidly complied with President Truman's order for the integration of the United States military. Davis acted as an advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force in relation to the integration of the armed forces. The integration procedure, however, resulted in the deactivation of Davis' command as its personnel were dispersed among the rest of the Air Force; Davis himself was assigned to attend classes at the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, AL.

After completing the course of study at the Air War College (1949-1950), Davis was posted to a variety of command and staff positions both within the United States and abroad. He served in a number of staff positions in Headquarters, USAF, at the Pentagon.(4) He held both command and staff positions abroad in Korea (5), Japan (6), Taiwan (7), Germany (8), and the Philippines.(9) His final assignment was as Deputy Commander in Chief of United States Strike Command at MacDill AFB, FL.

Davis was promoted to Brigadier General in October 1954 (10), after ten years as a Colonel. He was promoted to Major General in June 1959 and to Lieutenant General in April 1965. Despite persistent rumors of his impending promotion to full General (four stars), no such promotion was pending by the time of his retirement on January 31, 1970.

Throughout his military career Davis took great pains to insure good living conditions and fair treatment for the men under his command. He strove to create good relations between the US military forces and local military and civil authorities. In particular, he negotiated several Status of Forces Agreements and defused several antagonistic situations between US forces and local authorities while commanding units in Asia. In addition, he and Agatha established many personal relationships, which they maintained after their return to the United States.

After his retirement from the military, he served briefly as the Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, OH (February-July 1970), leading the Cleveland Police and Fire Departments in the racially-polarized atmosphere in that city after the riots of the late 1960s. Following his resignation from Cleveland, he took a position as the Director of Civil Aviation Security for the United States Department of Transportation (November 1970-June 1971), where he was responsible for implementing measures to counter the first wave of aerial hijackings of the 1970s. In July 1971 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs (July 1971-September 1975), serving both the Nixon and Ford Administrations in that position.

Following his retirement from the civil service, he worked as a consultant to the Department of Transportation in the Ford and Carter Administrations on a number of issues, but was particularly linked to the promotion of the 55mph National Maximum Speed Limit. He served on a number of boards and commissions, including the President's Commission on Campus Unrest, the American Battle Monuments Commission, The President's Commission on Military Compensation, and the Board of Directors of the Manhattan Life Insurance Co. He was also active in a number of clubs and organizations, particularly the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., which awarded him a lifetime membership in 1991.

In the late 1980s he began work on his autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American: An Autobiography (Washington, DC: Smithsonian, 1991). Following its publication, Davis pursued an active speaking career, crossing the country to talk to schools, clubs, and general audiences about his experiences. His book and

es, his contributions to the Black Wings exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum (opened 1983), and the work of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. did much to lift the veil that had fallen over the activities of black Americans during World War II, both in the air and on the ground. For his contributions, both during and after World War II, he received many awards, including the Order of the Sword (presented by the Non-Commissioned Officers of USAF Tactical Air Command, awarded 1978), designation as an Elder Statesman of Aviation (National Aeronautic Association, awarded 1991), and the Langley Medal (Smithsonian Institution, awarded 1992), as well as numerous lifetime and distinguished achievement awards.

On December 9, 1998, Davis was promoted to General on the Retired List, receiving his fourth star from President William Clinton in a ceremony held in the Presidential Hall of the Old Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. The promotion came only after the Tuskegee Airmen approached Senator John McCain of Airzona, who agreed that the promotion was warranted by Davis' service. McCain added the necessary language to a defense-related bill, which was passed by Congress in September 1998.

Agatha died early in 2002 and General Davis, suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, followed shortly after, passing away on July 4, 2002 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

Endnotes 1. For the sake of brevity, "Davis" refers to Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. "Davis Sr." refers to his father, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr.

2. Davis had requested a commission in the Army Air Corps, but was refused due to his race. Davis was the fourth black American to graduate from West Point and the first in the twentieth century. In keeping with his sentiments, his ethnicity will only be mentioned when it has a direct bearing upon his career. See Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American: An Autobiography (Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1991).

3. At the request of General and Mrs. Davis the term "black" or "black American" is used in preference to "African-American". Patricia Williams, Memorandum for the Record, August 21, 1992, NASM Accession File 1992 0023.

4. Staff Planning Officer, Operations and Planning Division/Commands Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (DCS/O; July 1950-January 1951); Chief, Air Defense Branch/Fighter Branch, DCS/O (January 1951-July 1953); Director of Manpower and Organizations, DCS/Programs and Requirements (August 1961-February 1965); Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Requirements (February-May 1965).

5. Commander, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing (November 1953-July 1954); Chief of Staff, United Nations Command/US Forces Korea (May 1965-August 1967)

6. Director of Operations and Training, Headquarters, Far East Air Force, Tokyo (July 1954-April 1957)

7. Commanding Officer, Air Task Force 13 (Provisional) and Vice Commander, Thirteenth Air Force (June 1955-April 1957)

8. Chief of Staff, Twelfth Air Force (May-December 1957); Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, USAF Europe (December 1957-July 1961)

9. Commander, Thirteenth Air Force (August 1967-July 1968)

10. Davis was the first black American to achieve flag rank in the United States Air Force. He was the second in the armed forces, the first being his father, who was promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army in 1940.

1912 December 18 -- Davis born in Washington, DC to First Lieutenant Benjamin O. Davis (Sr.) and Elnora Dickerson Davis

1914 September 1 -- World War I begins

1915 February -- Davis Sr. begins duties as instructor at Wilberforce University, OH

1916 February 9 -- Elnora Dickerson Davis dies

1917 April 6 -- United States declares war on Germany; direct U.S. involvement in World War I begins

1917 (Summer) -- Davis Sr. assigned to 9th Cavalry Regiment, Camp Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands

1918 November 11 -- World War I armistice signed; end of combat operations in Europe

1919 -- Davis Sr. marries Sadie Overton

1920 July -- Family moves to Tuskegee, AL (Davis Sr. instructs at Tuskegee Institute)

1924 July -- Family moves to Cleveland, OH (Davis Sr. instructs 372d Infantry Regiment, OH National Guard)

1929 -- Davis graduates from Central High School, Cleveland, OH

1929 --1930 -- Davis attends Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

1930 --1932 -- Davis attends University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1931 March -- Davis appointed to United States Military Academy, West Point, NY (fails entrance exam)

1932 March -- Davis passes USMA entrance exam

1932 July 1 -- Davis reports to USMA, West Point, NY (attends July 1, 1932-June 12, 1936)

1936 June 12 -- Davis graduates from USMA, commissioned Second Lieutenant of Infantry

1936 June 20 -- Davis marries Agatha Josephine Scott

1936 September 12 -- Davis reports to Company F, 24th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, GA (Company Officer, September 12, 1936-August 27, 1937)

1937 July 7 -- Japanese forces invades China; World War II begins in Asia

1937 August 27 -- Davis reports to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA (attends normal course, August 27, 1937-June 18, 1938)

1938 June 18 -- Davis reports to Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, AL as Professor of Military Science (instructs June 18, 1938-February 14, 1941)

1939 June 12 -- Davis promoted to First Lieutenant

1939 September 1 -- German forces invade Poland; World War II begins in Europe

1940 October 9 -- Davis promoted to Captain (temporary promotion)

1940 October 25 -- Davis Sr. promoted to Brigadier General and placed in command of the 4th Cavalry Brigade at Fort Riley, KS

1941 February -- Davis assigned as Aide de Camp to Davis Sr. (serves February-May 1941)

1941 May 20 -- Davis reports to Flying School at Tuskegee Army Air Field, AL (student, May 20, 1941-March 7, 1942)

1941 December 7 -- Japanese aircraft attack Pearl Harbor, HI; direct U.S. involvement in World War II begins

1942 March 7 -- Davis is appointed Administrative Officer, Tuskegee AAF, AL (serves March 7-August 27, 1942)

1942 May -- Davis transferred from Infantry to Army Air Corps

1942 May 11 -- Davis promoted to Major (temporary promotion)

1942 May 21 -- Davis promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (temporary promotion)

1942 August 27 -- Davis assumes command of 99th Fighter Squadron, Tuskegee AAF, AL (Squadron Commander, August 27, 1942-October 4, 1943)

1943 April 24 -- 99th Fighter Squadron transferred to Casablanca, French Morocco

1943 April 29 -- 99th Fighter Squadron transferred to Oued N'ja, French Morocco

1943 June 7 -- 99th Fighter Squadron transferred to Fardjouna, Tunisia

1943 July 28 -- 99th Fighter Squadron transferred to Licata, Sicily

1943 September 4 -- 99th Fighter Squadron transferred to Termini, Sicily

1943 September 17 -- 99th Fighter Squadron transferred to Barcellona, Sicily

1943 September -- Davis returns to Continental United States

1943 October 8 -- Davis assumes command of 332d Fighter Group, Selfridge Field, MI (Group Commander, October 8, 1943-June 7, 1945)

1944 February 3 -- 332d Fighter Group transferred to Montecorvino, Italy

1944 April 15 -- 332d Fighter Group transferred to Capodichino, Italy

1944 May 28 -- 332d Fighter Group transferred to Ramitelli Airfield, Italy

1944 May 29 -- Davis promoted to Colonel (temporary promotion)

1945 May 4 -- 332d Fighter Group transferred to Cattolica, Italy

1945 May 7 -- Germany surrenders; World War II ends in Europe

1945 June 10 -- Davis returns to Continental United States

1945 June 21 -- Davis assumes command of 477th Composite Group (Group Commander, June 21-30, 1945)

1945 July 1 -- Davis assumes command of Godman Field, KY, and all tenant units, including 477th Composite Group (Base Commander, July 1, 1945-March 4, 1946)

1945 September 2 -- Japan surrenders; World War II ends in the Pacific

1946 March 4 -- Davis assumes command of Lockbourne AAB and all tenant units, including 477th Composite Group (Base Commander, March 4, 1946-September 15, 1947) All units at Godman Field transferred to Lockbourne Army Air Base, OH

1947 July 1 -- 477th Composite Group redesignated 332d Fighter Wing

1947 July-August -- Davis travels to Liberia with Davis Sr. as a special representative of the United States Government for the establishment of Liberian independence

1947 September 16 -- Davis assumes direct command of 332d Fighter Wing (Wing Commander, September 16, 1947-June 30, 1949)

1947 October 1 -- United States Air Force created as an independent service.

1948 July 2 -- Davis' promotion to Lieutenant Colonel made permanent.

1948 July 26 -- President Truman signs Executive Order 9981 ordering the full integration of the United States armed forces.

1949 May 11 -- USAF issues Air Force Letter 35-3 stating that Air Force policy is equal treatment and opportunity for all persons in the Air Force regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.

1949 June 30 -- 332d Fighter Wing deactivated

1949 July 1 -- Davis assumes command of Lockbourne AFB, OH (Base Commander, July 1-August 16, 1949)

1949 August 16 -- Lockbourne AFB, OH transferred to Ohio Air National Guard

1949 August 17 -- Davis reports to Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL (attends course, August 17, 1949-July 4, 1950)

1950 June 25 -- North Korean forces invade South Korea; Korean War begins

1950 July 19 -- Davis reports to Pentagon to serve as Staff Planning Officer, Operations and Planning Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (DCS/O), Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, DC (serves July 19, 1950-January 4, 1951)

1950 July 27 -- Davis' promotion to Colonel made permanent

1950 August 8 -- Davis awarded Croix de Guerre by the French government for his actions during World War II

1950 September 12 -- Operations and Planning Division redesignated Commands Division of DCS/O

1951 January 5 -- Davis begins duty as Branch Chief, Air Defense Branch, Commands Division, DCS/O. (serves January 5, 1951-July 15, 1953)

1951 April 16 -- Air Defense Branch redesignated Fighter Branch, Control Division, DCS/O

1953 February 5 -- Davis reports to Craig AFB, AL for Jet Indoctrination Course (February 5-March 2, 1953); returns to Fighter Branch on completion of course

1953 July 16 -- Davis reports to Nellis AFB, NV for Advanced Jet Fighter Gunnery School (July 16-November 16, 1953)

1953 July 27 -- Korean War armistice signed; end of combat operations in Korea

1953 November 25 -- Davis assumes command of 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Suwon, Korea (Wing Commander, November 25, 1953-July 6, 1954)

1954 July 7 -- Davis reports to Headquarters, Far East Air Force, Tokyo, Japan to serve a Director of Operations and Training (serves July 7, 1954-April 1957)

1954 October 27 -- Davis is promoted to Brigadier General (temporary promotion)

1955 June -- Davis reports to Taipei, Taiwan to establish Air Task Force 13 (Provisional) (Commander, June 1955-April 1957), with simultaneous duties as Vice Commander, Thirteenth Air Force and Director of Operations and Training, FEAF

1957 March -- Davis awarded Command Pilot Rating

1957 May -- Davis assigned to Twelfth Air Force

1957 June -- Davises travel from Taiwan to Europe via United States

1957 July -- Davis reports to Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force at Ramstein, Germany (Chief of Staff, May-December 1957)

1957 December -- Davis begins duties as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (ADVON) at Headquarters, USAF Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany (serves December 1957-July 1961)

1959 June 30 -- Davis is promoted to Major General (temporary rank)

1960 May 16 -- Davis' promotion to Brigadier General made permanent

1961 -- US military personnel sent to South Vietnam as advisors

1961 August -- Davis reports to Pentagon to serve as Director of Manpower and Organizations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Requirements, Headquarters, USAF (serves August 1961-February 1965)

1962 January 30 -- Davis' promotion to Major General is made permanent

1965 February -- Davis begins duty as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Requirements, Headquarters, USAF (serves February-May 1965)

1965 April 30 -- Davis promoted to Lieutenant General

1965 March 2 -- USAF begins "Rolling Thunder" bombing campaign over North Vietnam

1965 May 13 -- Davis reports to Seoul, Korea to begin duties as Chief of Staff to the United Nations Command and United States Forces Korea (serves May 13, 1965-August 1, 1967)

1966 October 25 -- Sadie Overton Davis dies

1967 August -- Davis assumes command of Thirteenth Air Force, Clark Air Base, Philippines (Commanding Officer, August 1967-July 1968)

1968 August 1 -- Davis reports to MacDill AFB, FL to begin duties as Deputy Commander in Chief of United States Strike Command (serves August 1, 1968-January 31, 1970)

1968 January -- Tet Offensive begins in Vietnam

1968 October 31 -- "Rolling Thunder" ends on orders from President Johnson

1969 January 20 -- Richard M. Nixon inaugurated President of the United States

1970 -- USAF begins withdrawing units from South Vietnam

1970 January 31 -- Davis retires from United States Air Force

1970 February 1 -- Davis begins work as Director of Public Safety for the Cleveland, OH (works February 1, 1970-July 27, 1970)

1970 June 13 -- Davis joins President's Commission on Campus Unrest (report issued September 27, 1971)

1970 July 27 -- Davis resigns from Cleveland position, citing lack of support from Mayor Stokes

1970 September 20 -- Davis begins work as a consultant to the United States Secretary of Transportation on air transportation security (works September 20, 1970-November 4, 1970)

1970 November 4 -- Davis begins work a Director of Civil Aviation Security for the United States Department of Transportation (works November 4, 1970-July 1, 1971)

1970 November 26 -- Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. dies

1971 July 1 -- Davis becomes Acting Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs (serves July 1, 1971-August 3, 1971)

1971 July 8 -- Nixon Administration nominates Davis to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs

1971 July 29 -- Senate confirms Davis in Assistant Secretary position

1971 August 3 -- Davis sworn in a Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs (serves August 3, 1970-September 20, 1975)

1973 March 28 -- Last US Military personnel leave South Vietnam

1974 August 9 -- Nixon resigns as President of the United States. Vice President Gerald R. Ford becomes President

1975 September 20 -- Davis retires from Civil Service

1976 April -- Davis begins work as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation for the National Maximum Speed Limit

1977 January 20 -- James E. Carter inaugurated President of the United States

1977 June -- Davis joins President's Commission on Military Compensation (report issued March 1978)

1981 January 20 -- Ronald W. Reagan inaugurated President of the United States Davis leaves position as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation

1989 January 20 -- George H. W. Bush inaugurated President of the United States

1991 -- Davis' autobiography – Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American: An Autobiography – is published by Smithsonian Press

1991 June 30 -- Davis awarded a Lifetime Membership by Tuskegee Airmen Inc

1993 January 20 -- William J. Clinton inaugurated President of the United States

1998 December 9 -- Davis promoted to General (Retired) in a ceremony at the Old Executive Office Building

2001 January 20 -- George W. Bush inaugurated President of the United States

2002 July 4 -- Davis dies at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

2002 July 17 -- Davis buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

Provenance:

Benjamin O. Davis and Agatha S. Davis, Gift, various, 1992-0023

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:

Fighter pilots  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Blacks  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Blacks -- United States  Search this

African American air pilots  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Aeronautics and state  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Publications

Correspondence

Programs

Citation:

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Collection, Acc. 1992.0023, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1992.0023

See more items in:

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2478d6822-702d-43c9-af06-8cc8d8b9fca3

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1992-0023

Creator:

United States. Air Force  Search this

Names:

Arnold, Henry Harley, 1886-1950  Search this

Extent:

0.1 Cubic feet ((1 folder))

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Certificates

Date:

bulk 1949

Scope and Contents:

This is the twenty by fourteen inch illuminated certificate that was presented to General Arnold at his award ceremony when he became the first and only five star general of the Air Force on May 7, 1949.

Biographical / Historical:

In December of 1944, the new five star officer rank was created, allowing generals and admirals to place a total of five stars on their uniforms and flags. In all, four Army generals, four Navy admirals and one Air Force general have held this rank. General Henry "Hap" Arnold was actually awarded this rank twice. In 1944, he received his fifth star while the air force was still part of the Army, known as the US Army Air Corps. After the Air Force separated from the Army, Arnold became the new service's only five star general on May 7, 1949.

Provenance:

NASM Aeronautics Division, Transfer, 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:

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Genre/Form:

Certificates

Citation:

Henry "Hap" Arnold Five Star General Illuminated Certificate, Accession number 2006-0032, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.2006.0032

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg27913c7fc-bfe3-4792-8cf1-59d0dcb8b595

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-2006-0032

Creator:

Serotkin, Robert, 1911-1986  Search this

Names:

United States. Army Air Forces. 1st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron  Search this

Serotkin, Robert, 1911-1986  Search this

Extent:

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder, 32 photographs)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Date:

1942-1945

Summary:

This collection consists of 32 black and white photographs relating to artist and photographer Robert Isadore Serotkin (1911-1986) and includes examples of the aircraft nose art which he painted while serving with the US Army Air Forces during World War II.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of 32 black and white photographs relating to Robert Serotkin and examples of the aircraft nose art which he painted during World War II. Seven images were copied by the museum from original negatives loaned by the Serotkin family; the remaining 25 images are original print photographs. The collection includes informal portrait photographs of Serotkin including one with his wife, Rose Shirley (Hymowitz) Serotkin; snapshots of Serotkin and fellow servicemen; and detail views of aircraft nose art. Aircraft pictured include the Boeing B-29 Superfortresses "Lady in Waiting" (s/n 44-84068), "R. S. M. Dragon" (s/n 44-83966), and "Slave Girl" (s/n 44-27307); Boeing F-9 "Margie's Mad Greek II" (s/n 42-30253) and Boeing F-9B Flying Fortress "Golden Hind" (s/n 42-6187); Boeing F-13A (R-13A, RB-29A) reconnaissance aircraft "Margie's Mad Greek III" (s/n 44-61843) and "Over Exposed" (s/n 44-61813); Consolidated B-24 Liberators "Lucky Strike" (believed to be s/n 44-41976), "Luvablass", and "Over Loaded"; and Douglas C-47 Skytrain "Cheri." Also included are three views of the wreck of the Martin (Glenn L.) PBM-5 Mariner "Cloud Hopper" on a beach in Okinawa in late 1945.

Arrangement:

The photographs are grouped by subject.

Biographical / Historical:

Robert Isadore Serotkin was born May 23, 1911, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the Pennsylvania School of Industrial Art in Philadelphia from 1937-1938, and by 1941 was self-employed as a commercial photographer. Serotkin entered service with the US Army on February 12, 1942, and after basic training in Biloxi, Mississippi, was sent to the Army Air Forces (AAF) Technical School at Lowry Field, Colorado, from July-September 1942 for training as an aerial photographer. At the conclusion of his training, Serotkin was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned to the newly-redesignated 1st Photographic Mapping Squadron. Aerial mapping duties took Serotkin to posts in Africa at Accra (British Gold Coast), Morocco, and Egypt before being sent back to the United States for additional training in Boeing F-13A aircraft (the reconnaissance version of the B-29 Superfortress) at Smoky Hill Army Air Field in Salinas, Kansas. In September 1945, the squadron, now redesignated as 1st Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Heavy), was posted to Okinawa. Throughout his military career, Serotkin put his skills as a commercial artist to good use by painting nose art (aircraft personal art) on various aircraft when the weather was too bad to fly mapping missions. Serotkin was discharged from the USAAF on January 20, 1946; he died in Boca Raton, Florida, on December 26, 1986.

Provenance:

Rita Serotkin, gift, 2000, NASM.2000.0046

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

Occupation:

Commercial artists -- United States  Search this

Topic:

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Airplanes, Military -- Decoration  Search this

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family  Search this

Boeing B-29 Superfortress  Search this

Consolidated B-24 Liberator Family  Search this

Martin (Glenn L.) PBM Mariner Family  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Citation:

Nose Art Photography Collection [Serotkin], Acc. NASM.2000.0046, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.2000.0046

See more items in:

Nose Art Photography Collection [Serotkin]

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b10879e6-00d2-4332-b9b4-30d3d38df756

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-2000-0046

Creator:

Nash, Herbert J.  Search this

Names:

Bell Aircraft Corporation  Search this

Boeing Airplane Company  Search this

Northwest Airlines, Inc.  Search this

Pan American World Airways, Inc.  Search this

United Air Lines, Inc.  Search this

United States. Air Force  Search this

United States. Army Air Forces  Search this

Extent:

0.77 Cubic feet (2 legal document boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Date:

1949-1969

Summary:

Herbert J. Nash appears to have been an amateur photographer, aviation enthusiast, and airplane photograph collector and based in the New York City area. This collection consists of just over a thousand images collected from a variety of sources and reflects Nash's specific interests: Aero Spacelines Guppies, single-engine Bell fighters and racing conversions, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Family (Model 464), the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter Family (Model 367), the Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser Family, and aircraft produced by the Naval Aircraft Factory. Photographs are predominantly small-format black and white prints taken in the United States between 1949 and 1969.

Scope and Contents:

The collection consists primarily of 2.75 x 4.5 inch black and white print photographs, but also includes some color photographs, a few color postcards, and a few three-view drawings. Approximately 95 percent of the images in this collection are less than 4 x 5 inches in size. Most photographs were taken in the United States, with a few likely taken in England (UK). Some photographs appear to have been taken in storage or salvage yards. Topics depicted reflect Nash's specific interests: Aero Spacelines (Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy, Aero Spacelines Pregnant Guppy, and Aero Spacelines Super Guppy); single-engine Bell fighters and racing conversions (Bell P-39 Airacobra Family, Bell P-59 Airacomet Family, Bell P-63 Kingcobra Family, Bell FM-1 Airacuda Family); the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Family (Model 464); the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter Family (Model 367); the Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser Family; and various Naval Aircraft Factory models including the Naval Aircraft Factory N3N Family (XN3N-1, N3N-1, XN3N-2, XN3N-3, N3N-3), Naval Aircraft Factory PBN-1 Nomad, Naval Aircraft Factory SBN-1 (Naval Aircraft Factory version of the Brewster XSBA-1), Naval Aircraft Factory SON-1 Seagull (Naval Aircraft Factory version of the Curtiss SOC-3), Naval Aircraft Factory TS-1, Naval Aircraft Factory XP4N-1 (XP2N-1), Naval Aircraft Factory XP4N-2 (P2N-1), Naval Aircraft Factory XT2N-1, and Naval Aircraft Factory XTN-1. The Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser section includes airliners in service with several airlines, including Pan American Airways (PAA), British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), Transocean (TAL), Northwest / Northwest Orient Airlines, United Air Lines, and Rutas Aéreas Nacionales, S.A. (RANSA).

Arrangement:

The photographs are arranged in six subject groups: Aero Spacelines, Bell, Boeing B-52, Boeing C-97, Boeing 377, and Naval Aircraft Factory. Similar aircraft tend to be clumped together within a group, but that is not always the case. In 1984, all items in this collection were reproduced on the first side (Side A) of National Air and Space Museum Archival Videodisc 2, a LaserDisc CAV format 12-inch (30 cm) optical disc published by the Smithsonian Institution. Print numbers applied during videodisc production are used as item-level image numbers (print numbers NASM 00129025 to NASM 00130094, videodisc frame capture numbers VD-2A29025 to VD-2A30094) and the images are stored in videodisc number order.

Biographical / Historical:

Herbert J. Nash appears to have been an amateur photographer, aviation enthusiast, and airplane photograph collector and based in the New York City area. This collection consists of just over a thousand images collected from a variety of sources; most are from private sources (generally other aviation enthusiasts such as himself) but also from aerospace manufacturers, the United States Air Force (USAF), airlines, and the mail-order aviation photography provider Aeroplane Photo Supply. Many of the photographs—particularly those in the Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser section—were likely taken by Nash himself.

Provenance:

Herbert J. Nash and Peggy Nash Tondu, Gift, 1982, NASM.XXXX.0616

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:

Aero Spacelines Guppy Family  Search this

Bell P-39 Airacobra Family  Search this

Bell P-59 Airacomet Series  Search this

Bell P-63 Kingcobra Family  Search this

Bell YFM-1 Airacuda  Search this

Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter Family (Model 367)  Search this

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Family (Model 464)  Search this

Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser Family  Search this

Naval Aircraft Factory Aircraft Family  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Airlines  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Citation:

Herbert J. Nash Aircraft Photograph Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0616, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.0616

See more items in:

Herbert J. Nash Aircraft Photograph Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg246a1ddb3-e81d-4ebe-bb0a-c6b826cf3c45

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0616

Extent:

0.15 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Date:

Circa 1944-1954

Summary:

This collection consists of 63 black-and-white photographs and eight 35 mm color slides (transparencies) documenting the training of an unidentified United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) pilot in the late World War II period, followed by his service with the United States Air Force (USAF) Alaskan Air Command in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Aircraft featured include the North American P-51H Mustang and the Lockheed F-94 Starfire.

Scope and Contents:

The photographs in this collection fall roughly into three groups; many of the images include an unidentified man who is assumed to be a relative of the donor. The first group consists of 8 x 10 inch black and white print photographs of U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) pilot training aircraft and activities at various unidentified locations in the continental United States. Aircraft pictured include a Porterfield Model 50 Collegiate biplane (possibly part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program), Fairchild PT-19 Cornell, Boeing PT-27 Kaydet, Vultee BT-13, North American AT-6 Texan, and Cessna AT-8 Bobcat. The second group of 8 x 10 inch black and white print photographs depicts a U.S. Air Force (USAF) North American P-51H (F-51H) Mustang unit at Ladd Air Force Base—and possibly at Mile 26 Satellite Field (later known as Eielson Air Force Base); this is believed to be the 65th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, who were based in the Fairbanks, Alaska, area and flying P-51s circa 1946-1947. Additional aircraft seen in this group include a Boeing PT-27 Kaydet primary trainer fitted with an enclosed cockpit for cold climate training, Douglas C-47 and C-54 cargo aircraft, Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, and a group of three Sikorsky R-5 helicopters. The third group of eight 35mm color slides (transparencies) depict Lockheed F-94 Starfire fighter jets (and one view of a North American F-82 Twin Mustang); these are believed to be aircraft assigned to either the 65th or 449th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons, and are seen in low-level flight near Ladd Air Force Base circa 1952-1953. Both squadrons were assigned to the USAF's Alaskan Air Command.

Arrangement:

In 1990, the black-and-white print photographs in this collection were reproduced in negative number order on the second side (Side B) of National Air and Space Museum Archival Videodisc 7, a LaserDisc CAV format 12-inch (30 cm) optical disc published by the Smithsonian Institution. Print numbers applied during videodisc production are used as item-level image numbers (print numbers NASM 7B03406 to NASM 7B03476, videodisc frame capture numbers VD-7B03406 to VD-7B03476) and the black-and-white prints are stored in videodisc number order. Color copies of the 35 mm slides were produced by the Smithsonian Office of Printing and Photographic Services (OPPS) and are stored in negative number order.

Biographical / Historical:

Throughout World War II, military air bases in Alaska provided a vital link in the route ferrying aircraft, troops, and materials from the continental United States to the Pacific Theatre of operations. At the end of World War II, as one of the northernmost military air posts in the country, Ladd Army Air Field, located outside the town of Fairbanks, Alaska, was strategically positioned to play an important role in the Cold War, being mere minutes away by jet from the Siberian coast of the Soviet Union. Renamed Ladd Air Force Base in 1947 when the United States Air Force was formed as a separate service, the field became the Northern Sector headquarters for the newly formed Alaskan Air Command, whose mission included air defense of Alaska, regional support for Strategic Air Command (SAC) and North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) operations, strategic reconnaissance, and arctic research.

Provenance:

Jeff Karpiak, gift, 1989, NASM.1989.0082

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, Military  Search this

Lockheed F-94 Starfire Family  Search this

North American P-51 Mustang Family  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Korean War, 1950-1953  Search this

Cold War -- 1950-1970  Search this

Citation:

Jeff Karpiak Photograph Collection, Acc. NASM.1989.0082, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1989.0082

See more items in:

Jeff Karpiak Photograph Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg22cf58512-a0ea-47c7-8d9e-fe766a998ee2

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1989-0082

Creator:

Freeman, Orville Burch, 1893-1966  Search this

Names:

Kelly Field, Texas  Search this

Bettis, Cyrus  Search this

Extent:

0.08 Cubic feet (1 flat box)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photograph albums

Date:

1910s to 1920s

Summary:

Orville Burch Freeman (1893-1966) served with the US Army Air Service as an aviator, and later as a flight instructor, at Kelly Field, Texas during World War I and in the interwar period.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of one photo album created by Orville Burch Freeman documenting his career with the US Army Air Service. The album measures approximately 11.5 x 7 inches and contains more than 130 photographs. Photographs in the album, many of which were taken at Kelly Field, Texas, show other pilots and aircraft including air to air views of various aircraft in flight and aircraft accidents. Cyrus K. "Cy" Bettis (1893-1926) is shown in several photographs, including one with an erroneous label that states he died in 1924. Aircraft shown in the album include various models of Curtiss JN-4 including the Curtiss JN-4H Hisso Jenny and the Curtiss JN-4HB Hisso Jenny, as well as the Dayton Wright DH-4. There also aerial photographs of various locations in Texas. The album contains captions written by Freeman.

Arrangement:

Collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical:

Orville Burch Freeman (1893-1966) served with the US Army Air Service as an aviator, and later as a flight instructor, at Kelly Field, Texas during World War I and in the interwar period. This collection consists of one photo album created by Freeman documenting his military career.

Provenance:

Glenn Farris, Gift, 2020, NASM.2020.0021

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, Military  Search this

Airplanes  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

Dayton Wright DH-4  Search this

Curtiss JN-4 Jenny Family  Search this

Aircraft accidents  Search this

World War, 1914-1918  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photograph albums

Citation:

Kelly Field Photo Album, NASM.2020.0021, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.2020.0021

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2176cd71a-8524-43e1-a87a-247456303f4c

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-2020-0021

Names:

Eaker, Ira Clarence (General)  Search this

Parton, James, 1912-  Search this

Extent:

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder, 31 photographs)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Date:

1936-1986

bulk 1942-1944

Summary:

This collection consists of 31 black and white photographs documenting American editor and writer James Parton's involvement with the Allied Air Forces during World War II, and touching on his pre- and post-war editorial career.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of 31 black and white photographs documenting Parton's involvement with the Allied Air Forces and touching on his pre- and post-WWII editorial career.

Arrangement:

Photographs are in original order.

In 1986, the photographs were copied and assigned Smithsonian Institution negative numbers SI 86-5660 to 86-5690. In 1990, all items in this collection were reproduced in the same order on the second side (Side B) of National Air and Space Museum Archival Videodisc 7, a LaserDisc CAV format 12-inch (30 cm) optical disc published by the Smithsonian Institution. Print numbers applied during videodisc production are used as item-level image numbers (print numbers NASM 7B05427 to 7B05458, videodisc frame capture numbers VD-7B05427 to VD-7B05458) and the images are stored in videodisc number order.

Biographical / Historical:

James Parton was born December 10, 1912, in Newburyport, Massachusetts; he attended Harvard University. From 1935 to 1942, Parton held various editorial and management positions with Time magazine, including aviation editor. During World War II, Parton served in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) as Aide-de-Camp to General Ira C. Eaker of the VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Air Force, and as Chief Air Historian of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). After the war, Parton resumed his journalism career as as promotional and editorial director of Time-Life International (1945-1947), editor and publisher of the Los Angeles Independent (1948-1949) and promotional director of the New York Herald Tribune (1950-1953). Parton was also a founder and president of the American Heritage Publishing Company (1954-1970), and president of the Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation (1970-1972). Parton authored a number of publications on the history of the U.S. Air Force, particularly during World War II, and in 1986 wrote a well-received biography of General Eaker, Air Force Spoken Here. Parton died April 20, 2001, in White River Junction, Vermont, at the age of 88.

Provenance:

James Parton, gift, 1986, NASM.1986.0041

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, Military  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Citation:

James Parton Photographs, Acc. NASM.1986.0041, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1986.0041

See more items in:

James Parton Photographs

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2dca0e38c-41e4-4ef4-a5f7-2e3b288ada61

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1986-0041

Creator:

Staley, George E.  Search this

Names:

Bendix Aviation Corp  Search this

Tinian Island Airbase  Search this

United States. Army Air Forces. 509th Composite Group  Search this

Staley, George E.  Search this

Tibbets, Paul  Search this

Extent:

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Color slides

Date:

1945

Summary:

During World War II, George E. Staley worked for Bendix as a technical representative for their fuel injection system which was used in Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. In 1945 Staley was sent to Tinian for seven months, during which time the Enola Gay made her historic flight. This collection consists of the 22 color slides taken by Staley during his stay in Tinian. The images are of Tinian and units stationed there, including aircraft of the 509th Composite Group, the 6th Bomb Group, and the 504th Bomb Group.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of the 22 color slides taken by Staley during his stay in Tinian. The images are of Tinian and units stationed there, including aircraft of the 509th Composite Group, the 6th Bomb Group, and the 504th Bomb Group. A few slides show 'Enola Gay' and her crew (with Colonel Paul Tibbets), and scenes of men celebrating the 'Enola Gay's' successful flight. Several slides show B-29 nose art and nicknames: Full House, The B.A. Bird, Doc's Deadly Dose, Cox's Army, The Ernie Pyle, The Herd of Bald Goats, The Spirit of Sammy, Snugglebunny, Earthquake McGoon, and Flak Alley.

Arrangement:

Collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical:

During World War II, George E. Staley worked for Bendix as a technical representative for their fuel injection system which was used in Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. In 1945 Staley was sent to Tinian for seven months, during which time the Enola Gay made her historic flight.

Provenance:

George E. Staley, Gift, 1996, NASM.1996.0014

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:

Airplanes, Military -- Decoration  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Airplanes -- Motors  Search this

Airplanes  Search this

Boeing B-29 Superfortress  Search this

Genre/Form:

Color slides

Citation:

Tinian Color Slides, NASM.1996.0014, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1996.0014

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg295ca51f6-dab2-4851-b70d-76b65f1d48e6

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1996-0014

Creator:

Page, Phillips Ward, 1885-1917  Search this

Names:

Burgess Co and Curtis  Search this

Page, Phillips Ward, 1885-1917  Search this

Extent:

0.23 Cubic feet (1 flat box)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Clippings

Photographs

Scrapbooks

Date:

1911-1912

Summary:

Phillips Ward Page (1885--1917) was an active early pilot who assisted in the testing and development of some of the early Burgess aircraft, and taught many renowned civilian and military aviators to fly. This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting the aviation career of Phillips Ward Page during the time period from 1911 to 1912.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting the aviation career of Phillips Ward Page during the time period from 1911 to 1912. The scrapbook contains photographs and news clippings.

Note: Blank pages in the scrapbook, including many at the end of the book, are not digitally reproduced in the slideshow. Any gaps in numbering are due to their omission.

Arrangement:

Collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical:

Phillips Ward Page (1885--1917) was an active early pilot who assisted in the testing and development of some of the early Burgess aircraft, and taught many renowned civilian and military aviators to fly. As the Aviation Editor of the Boston Herald, Page was a passenger on several flight around Boston and the vicinity in the Spring of 1911. Page joined the Wright Flying School at Dayton, Ohio in July 1911, and obtained his pilot license on October 25, 1911. In November of that year he started carrying passengers and flying exhibitions on weekends, flying around the New York vicinity. He became a full time instructor for the Burgess Company of Marblehead, Massachusetts on Burgess-Wright planes, and for the winter aviation school at Daytona, Florida. Besides his teaching obligations, Page was a contestant in air meets, made test flights of new military tractors, and took the first motion pictures of Boston from the air. In 1914, Page joined the US Aviation Reserves, and enlisted as a Naval Aviator in April 1917. He was an instructor at Squantum, Massachusetts Naval Base, before being assigned to duty in France. He drowned in the English Channel in a seaplane accident on December 17, 1917.

Provenance:

Dorothy Miller, Gift, 1990, NASM.1990.0037

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:

Burgess Aircraft Family  Search this

Burgess-Wright Aircraft Family  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

Flight training  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States  Search this

Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this

Aeronautics -- Exhibitions  Search this

Aeronautics -- 1903-1916  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Genre/Form:

Clippings

Photographs

Scrapbooks

Citation:

Phillips Ward Page Scrapbook, NASM.1990.0037, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1990.0037

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2e0a0cc9d-f96a-4d56-830d-e70daf536179

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1990-0037

Extent:

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Date:

Circa 1928

Summary:

Nine photographs taken by Abby Weed Grey (1902-1983) of aircraft at France Field, Panama, circa 1928. The collection includes a photograph of Charles Lindbergh and the "Spirit of St. Louis.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of nine photographs of aircraft and of Charles Lindbergh at France Field, Panama.

Arrangement:

...

Biographical / Historical:

Abby Weed Grey (1902-1983) traveled the world as an army wife [Ben Grey] and was a Minnesota teacher, art collector, gallery owner and philanthropist. Between 13 December 1927 and 8 February 1928, Lieutenant Charles A. Lindbergh visited France Field, Panama, as part of a Pan-American "Goodwill Tour."

Provenance:

Minnesota Historical Society, Transfer, 1989, NASM.XXXX.1034

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, Military  Search this

Naval aviation  Search this

Aircraft  Search this

Seaplanes  Search this

Airplanes, Military  Search this

Military bases  Search this

Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis"  Search this

Citation:

France Field, Panama, Photographs [Abby Weed Grey], Acc. XXXX.1034, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1034

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2963a8faf-403e-4ca4-811c-d951d1de8a10

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-1034

Extent:

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder, 3 photographs)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Date:

1945

Summary:

This collection consists of three photographs of his wife and infant daughter carried by Staff Sergeant George Robert "Bob" Caron aboard the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay during the bomber's mission to Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of three photographs carried aboard the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay by Staff Sergeant George Robert "Bob" Caron during the bomber's mission to Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945; Caron carried the photographs tucked inside the clear plastic sleeve of his pressurized oxygen duration chart [Oxygen Placard, Enola Gay, A20200329000]. Two black and white photographs are of Caron's wife, Katherine Marie "Kay" (Younger) Caron (1924-2001). A third hand-colored photograph is of Kay Caron holding their baby daughter, Judy Kay Caron; inscribed on the reverse: "Sept. 5, 1945 / Judy Kay 3 mo. / To Daddy Love Kay & Judy Kay."

Arrangement:

No arrangement.

Biographical / Historical:

Boeing's B-29 Superfortress was the most sophisticated propeller-driven bomber of World War II, and the first bomber to house its crew in pressurized compartments. Although designed to fight in the European theater, the B-29 found its niche on the other side of the globe. In the Pacific, B-29s delivered a variety of aerial weapons: conventional bombs, incendiary bombs, mines, and two nuclear weapons. On August 6, 1945, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan.

US Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant George Robert "Bob" Caron (1919-1995) was the tail gunner aboard the Enola Gay during its mission to Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. His rear-facing position in the aircraft enabled him to take what became the official USAAF photograph of a mushroom cloud rising from the city following the detonation of the atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy.

Provenance:

Randall M. Holder, gift, 2008, NASM.2008.0037

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, Military  Search this

Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Silverplate "Enola Gay"  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Citation:

George Caron Family Photographs, Acc. NASM.2008.0037, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.2008.0037

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2c09588ff-3635-4d8f-859b-715ad40b187f

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-2008-0037

Names:

Ellington Field, Texas  Search this

Guynemer, Georges, 1894-1917  Search this

Extent:

0.46 Cubic feet ((2 flatboxes))

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Date:

1917-1918

Summary:

The Ellington Field Albums Collection consists of scrapbooks of photographs taken in and around Ellington Field, Texas, during World War I. The photographs document troop training, equipment, and facilities at the field. The scrapbooks also include photographs taken at ceremonies commemorating the death of the French ace Georges Guynemer in 1917.

Scope and Contents:

The Ellington Field Albums Collection consists of scrapbooks of photographs taken in and around Ellington Field, Texas, during World War I. The photographs document troop training, equipment, and facilities at the field. The scrapbooks also include photographs taken at ceremonies commemorating the death of the French ace Georges Guynemer in 1917.

Note: The digital images in this finding aid were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping and orientation in addition to color variations resulting from damage to and deterioration of the original objects.

General:

NASMrev

Provenance:

W. H. Frank, Gift, XXXX-0342.

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 -- Aircraft  Search this

World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations  Search this

World War, 1914-1918  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Flight training  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

Genre/Form:

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Citation:

Ellington Field Albums Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0342, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.0342

See more items in:

Ellington Field Albums

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg284a97c4c-511e-4cb9-9b91-b9a95fa3b5ba

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0342

Creator:

Brody, James W.  Search this

Names:

Ellington Field, Texas  Search this

Brody, James W.  Search this

Extent:

0.4 Cubic feet ((1 flatbox))

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Scrapbooks

Date:

1918-1919

Summary:

The James W. Brody Collection contains a 1918 yearbook from Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, and a scrapbook belonging to Brody which contains personal snapshots and photographs of World War I aircraft and pilots.

Scope and Contents:

This collection contains a 1918 yearbook from Ellington Field, Houston, Texas and a scrapbook belonging to Brody which contains personal snapshots and photographs of World War I aircraft and pilots.

Note: The digital images in this finding aid were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping and orientation in addition to color variations resulting from damage to and deterioration of the original objects.

Arrangement:

The James W. Brody Collection is arranged in its original order.

Biographical / Historical:

James W. Brody was a private in the US Army Air Service during World War I. In 1918 he was stationed at Ellington Field, Texas and was discharged from service in 1919.

General:

NASMrev

Provenance:

George W. Charlton, gift, 1988, 1988-0116.

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, Military  Search this

World War, 1914-1918  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

World War, 1914-1918 -- Aircraft  Search this

Genre/Form:

Scrapbooks

Citation:

James W. Brody Collection, Acc. NASM.1988.0116####, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1988.0116

See more items in:

James W. Brody Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2e9dbf7a8-f34f-4e8e-9b82-baeb28eb1068

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1988-0116

Creator:

Wehrle, Howard Franklin, 1890-1964  Search this

Names:

Wehrle, Howard Franklin, 1890-1964  Search this

Extent:

0.28 Cubic feet (1 flatbox)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Clippings

Scrapbooks

Date:

1923-1931

Summary:

The Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook Collection consists of a scrapbook compiled by Wehrle including newspaper articles on aviation, copies of Wehrle's 1929 column, "Flying – America's Path to Greatness," and articles detailing Wehrle's activities in the aviation industry.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of a scrapbook compiled by Howard Franklin Wehrle, containing newspaper articles on aviation, including a Wehrle's 1929 column, "Flying – America's Path to Greatness", and other articles detailing Wehrle's activities in the aviation industry.

Arrangement:

The collection consists of one scrapbook, the pages of which were dismounted at an unknown date. The scrapbook pages have been left in their original order.

Biographical / Historical:

Howard Franklin Wehrle was born in Charleston, West Virginia on January 20, 1890. In April 1916, Wehrle entered the Curtiss Aviation School. He made his first solo flight on June 16, 1916. Wehrle served overseas as a pilot in World War I, and returned to the United States in December 1918 as a major. He was secretary of the National Aeronautic Association in 1924, and general manager of the Cessna Aircraft Company in 1929. Wehrle also wrote a newspaper column, "Flying – America's Path to Greatness." Howard Franklin Wehrle died on December 14, 1964, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Provenance:

John Ross, Gift, 2000, 2000.-0069.

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, Military  Search this

Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

World War, 1914-1918  Search this

Aircraft industry  Search this

Cessna Aircraft Company  Search this

National Aeronautical Association (U.S.)  Search this

Genre/Form:

Clippings

Scrapbooks

Citation:

Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook, Acc. 2000.0069, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.2000.0069

See more items in:

Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg26d615d4e-7458-4912-a963-c25f0815651b

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-2000-0069

Creator:

Piaggio (Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche Rinaldo Piaggio SpA)  Search this

Extent:

0.15 Cubic feet (3 photo albums)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Date:

1934-1945

Summary:

This collection consists of three Piaggio & Co. (Italy) photo albums containing photographs of Piaggio aircraft from the period of circa 1934 to 1945, including the Piaggio P.16 bomber; the long-distance transport prototypes Piaggio P.23M and P.23R (also known as the P.123); the prototype Piaggio P.32-I bomber; the Piaggio P.50-I and P.50-II bombers; the four-engine Piaggio P.108B, P.108C, and P.108T aircraft; the Piaggio P.111 high-altitude research aircraft; and the prototype Piaggio P.119 fighter. Also included are photographs of aircraft built by Piaggio from designs by two other Italian companies: the Nardi FN.305 and the Nardi FN.315, the Cant (CRDA) Z.501, and the Cant (CRDA) Z.506 family.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of three photo albums produced by Piaggio & Co. circa 1943. The first album, "Piaggio Aircraft Projects, 1st Series," covers a period from circa 1934 to 1938, and includes photographs of the Piaggio P.16 bomber, the long-distance transport prototypes Piaggio P.23M and P.23R (also known as the P.123), the prototype Piaggio P.32-I bomber, and the Piaggio P.50-I and P.50-II bombers. The second album, "Velivoli Costruti In Serie Dalla Piaggio Su Progetti Di Altre Ditte" [Aircraft produced in Series by Piaggio of Other Companies' Designs], covering a period from circa 1934 to 1943, presents photographs of aircraft built by Piaggio from designs by two other Italian companies (Nardi and Cant) which were too small to produce the number of aircraft ordered by the Italian government. Fratelli Nardi models include the Nardi FN.305 and the Nardi FN.315 (an improved version of the FN.305). Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (CRDA, commonly called Cant) models designed by Filippo Zappata include the Cant (CRDA) Z.501, and the Cant (CRDA) Z.506A (civil version), Z.506B (military version), and Z.506S (air-sea rescue version). The third album, "Piaggio Aircraft Projects, 2nd Series," dated October 22, 1945, and includes photographs of the four-engine Piaggio P.108B, P.108C, and P.108T aircraft; the Piaggio P.111 high-altitude research aircraft; and the prototype Piaggio P.119 fighter.

Arrangement:

The three photo albums are presented in original order.

In 1979, all photographs were copied in the original order and assigned Smithsonian Institution (SI) negative numbers (SI 79-7688 through SI 79-7788).

In 1990, all items in this collection were reproduced on the first side (Side A) of National Air and Space Museum Archival Videodisc 7, a LaserDisc CAV format 12-inch (30 cm) optical disc published by the Smithsonian Institution. Print numbers applied during videodisc production (keeping to the original order) are used as item-level image numbers (print numbers NASM 7A36888 to NASM 7A36990, videodisc frame capture numbers VD-7A36888 to VD-7A36990).

Biographical / Historical:

Founded in Genoa, Italy, in 1884, Rinaldo Piaggio SpA manufactured interiors for ocean liners, later branching out into the construction of rolling stock for railroads at the beginning of the twentieth century, and moving their works to a large factory space at Finalmarina (later Finale Ligure), Italy. During the first World War, Piaggio expanded his company to include aircraft design and manufacturing (Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche Rinaldo Piaggio SpA) and rebranded as Piaggio & Co. By the end of the 1920s, Piaggio had brought on more aircraft designers, and established an aeronautical research laboratory at the Finale Ligure works, the Cantieri Aeronautici Piaggio di Finale Ligure Marina. In the Italian Fascist period of the mid 1930s and early 1940s leading up to World War II, Piaggio worked on a number of designs for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) including several prototype aircraft. Piaggio's facilities were heavily bombed during the war, but the company was able to recover and rebuild in the post-war period (having a notable commercial success with their Vespa motor scooter), and continued to produce aircraft into the twenty-first century.

Provenance:

Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences, gift, 1960s, NASM.XXXX.1216

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, Military  Search this

Airplanes -- Italy  Search this

Piaggio P.23R  Search this

Citation:

Piaggio Aircraft Photo Albums, Acc. NASM.XXXX.1216, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.1216

See more items in:

Piaggio Aircraft Photo Albums

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b50fc824-7e34-448e-852b-a9797277dd2a

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-1216

Creator:

Webb, William  Search this

Names:

Mitchell, William, 1879-1936  Search this

Extent:

0.51 Cubic feet (1 flatbox)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Clippings

Date:

1925-1926

Summary:

Colonel William Lendrum "Billy" Mitchell (1879-1936) of the U.S. Army Air Service, a leading proponent of air power, was court-martialed for insubordination in October – December 1925 after publically criticizing the Navy and War Departments. This collection consists of two scrapbooks of material relating to the court-martial by William Webb, a member of Mitchell's defense team.

Scope and Contents:

This collection was created by William Webb, a member of Colonel William L. "Billy" Mitchell's the defense team for his 1925 court-martial. The collection consists of two scrapbooks containingcontain photographs of Mitchell, Mitchell's family, the defense team, and witnesses; newspaper articles on the trial; and courtroom sketches.

Arrangement:

The collection consists of one flatbox containing two scrapbooks; the contents were arranged by the donor.

Biographical / Historical:

An active participant in American military aviation since its beginnings, Colonel William L. "Billy" Mitchell (1879-1936) was closely involved in shaping air policy and air defense strategy in the 1920s. Mitchell publically criticized the Navy and War Departments in the wake of the crash of the U.S. Navy rigid airship "Shenandoah" on September 3, 1925. His actions resulted in a court-martial held from October – December 1925 for insubordination and "Conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the military service." Mitchell was found guilty and was sentenced to "Suspension from rank, command, and duty with forfeiture of all pay and allowances for five years." Mitchell resigned from the Army on February 1, 1926. He remained a public voice for air power until his death on February 19, 1936. In 2003, Congress voted to posthumously commission William L. Mitchell as a major general in the Army.

Provenance:

Mrs. William Webb, Gift, 1991, NASM.1992.0013

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:

Bombing, Aerial  Search this

Courts-martial and courts of inquiry  Search this

Air pilots  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Air defenses -- United States  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Clippings

Citation:

William Mitchell Trial Scrapbooks, Acc. 1992.0013, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.1992.0013

See more items in:

William Mitchell Trial Scrapbooks

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg28c55fc5e-ecb0-42ba-b10e-c7b883fc8ab1

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-1992-0013

Author:

Rolt-Wheeler, Francis 1876-1960  Search this

Physical description:

xii, 347 pages illustrations 21 cm

Type:

Fiction

Publishers' advertisements

War stories

Date:

1917

Topic:

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

World War, 1914-1918  Search this

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_1064269

Author:

Unknown  Search this

Subject:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

United States Army Air Forces Fighter Group, 332nd  Search this

Anacostia Neighborhood Museum  Search this

Physical description:

Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and White; Size: 10.23 w x 8.153 l; Type of Image: Group, Candid; Medium: Photographic print

Type:

Photographic print

Group, candid

Place:

Washington (D.C.)

United States, District of Columbia, Washington

Date:

1967

Topic:

African Americans--History  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Exhibitions  Search this

Standard number:

SIA2016-011465

Restrictions & Rights:

No restrictions

Data Source:

Smithsonian Archives - History Div

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sic_14605