National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
Dryden, Hugh L. (Hugh Latimer), Dr., 1898-1965 Search this
Extent:
.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1964
Summary:
This collection consists of two items relating to the X-15 Flight Test Program: a 24-page booklet, X-15 Flight Record with Thiokol Liquid Rocket Engines, prepared by the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Reaction Motors Division, from flight data compiled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Third Printing, January 1964); and an event program for the X-15 Flight Test Program Awards Ceremony held at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on February 24, 1964.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of two items, a 7 x 5 inch booklet and an 8 x 5 inch event program. The 24-page booklet, X-15 Flight Record with Thiokol Liquid Rocket Engines, "prepared by the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Reaction Motors Division, from flight data compiled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration" (Third Printing, January 1964, publication number PL 1-64) is designed as a souvenir of the X-15 flight test program. The illustrated booklet contains a brief history of the X-15 program and the three X-15 vehicles built by North American Aviation, Inc. using Thiokol reusable liquid rocket engines; a list of X-15 test pilots; brief information about the Thiokol XLR11 and YLR99 engines; and a chronological list of flight record entries beginning with the first flight on June 8, 1959. Each flight record entry (designed to appear handwritten) lists the date, pilot, speed and altitude reached, and remarks. Flights 1 through 98 (January 8, 1964) are pre-printed, with blank spaces provided "to help you log future successes" (space is provided to record information on 148 flights total). The program is for the X-15 Flight Test Program Awards Ceremony held at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on February 24, 1964. This event included the presentation of a NASA Group Achievement Award to the X-15 Flight Test Program team as well as the presentation of individual awards. Featured speakers included Hugh L. Dryden (Deputy Administrator, NASA), Paul F. Bikle (Director, NASA Flight Research Center), and Brigadier General Irving L. Branch (US Air Force, Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center).
Arrangement:
Items are arranged in chronological order.
Biographical / Historical:
First flown in 1959, the North American X-15 hypersonic research aircraft bridged the gap between human flight in the atmosphere and spaceflight. Three airframes were built by North American Aviation, Inc. for the X-15 program (serial numbers 56-6670, 56-6671, and 56-6672) each using liquid rocket engines built by the Reaction Motors Division of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation. Based at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Flight Research Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, the X-15 was the first winged aircraft to fly Mach 4, 5, and 6 and to operate at altitudes above 30,500 m (100,000 ft). Eight of the twelve test pilots received astronaut wings for X-15 high-altitude flights.
Provenance:
Unknown, found in collection, 1992, NASM.1992.0020.0076.
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 over nine cubic feet of material documenting Scott Crossfield's aviation career, with emphasis on his involvement with the North American X-15. The following types of material are included: correspondence; reel to reel tapes; papers, manuscripts; newspaper and magazine clippings; aviation manuals; photographs; film; and Crossfield's notes and reports.
Scope and Content note:
This collection encompasses the entirety of Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr.'s career as an engineer, test pilot, airline executive, and speaker and advocate for aerospace education. Records in the collection date from Crossfield's time at college in the 1940s through his death in 2006. Crossfield's papers were donated to the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Archives by the Crossfield family in 2006 and a second batch of material was received in 2008. The collection was received without any apparent organizational scheme, but some items were received in labeled folders and these folder titles were retained when the collection was processed. One group of material was loaned by the family for copying and these items were photocopied and placed within the appropriate folder in the case of documents, or were scanned and entered into the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Archives image database in the case of photographs.
After his retirement from North American Aviation, Inc., Crossfield gave his papers to a former secretary, Marion Brown, so that she could organize them for his use in future writing projects. In February 1973, a U.S. Navy Vought A-7E Corsair II crashed into the apartment building where Brown lived and all of Crossfield's papers in her possession were destroyed. Due to this incident, the collection has more material from Crossfield's time with Eastern Air Lines and onwards, although the prior years are still well represented through records that were either retained in Crossfield's possession or copies that were gathered after the fact. There is correspondence from Crossfield relating to the crash in Box 11 of the collection.
The archival materials in this collection are organized into four series. The first series is composed of personal materials and includes school records, correspondence, personal photographs, records relating to various organizations in which Crossfield was active, information relating to the publication of Crossfield's autobiography, Always Another Dawn, other writings by Crossfield, financial records, subject files assembled by Crossfield, philatelic materials (Crossfield was an active collector and was a founding member and officer of The Aviation Historical Foundation, a philatelic organization), and news clippings. The material in this series is largely organized chronologically. Personal photographs and subject files are organized by topic first and chronologically within each folder and organizations are arranged alphabetically by name first and also chronologically within the individual folders.
The third series consists of audiotapes and is organized first by tape format and then chronologically within each category. Subjects of the audiotapes include speeches, a large number of North American X-15 cockpit recordings and radio communications, tape produced for a television program, and autobiographical notes. A number of the audiotapes include no description. With a total of 65 examples in this series, the most common audiotape format in the collection is, by far, 7 inch reel to reel tapes. Other formats in this series include 5 inch reel to reel tapes, 3.125 by 3.5 inch metal audiotape cartridges, and Dictaphone recording belts. Please note that these audio recordings are unavailable to the researcher at the time of processing due to the format and fragility of the tapes.
The fourth series of this collection is comprised of oversized materials and additional materials including galley proofs, news clippings, drawings, charts, professional records, and photographs. The organization of this series mirrors the folder titles found in the rest of the collection.
The researcher should note that the collection also contains several motion picture films relating to the life and career of Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr. These films are not included in the container list but a NASM Archives staff person can assist you regarding access.
Arrangement:
The A. Scott Crossfield Papers are organized into the following series and subseries:
Series I: Personal Materials
1.1 School Records
1.2 Correspondence
1.3 Personal Photographs
1.4 Organizations
1.5 Information Related to the Publication of Always Another Dawn
1.6 Other Writings by Crossfield
1.7 Financial Records
1.8 Subject Files
1.9 Philatelic Materials
1.10 News Clippings
1.11 Miscellaneous Personal Records
Series II: Professional Life
2.1 Boeing
2.2 U.S. Navy
2.3 Kirsten Wind Tunnel, University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory
2.4 National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)
2.5 North American Aviation, Inc.
2.6 Eastern Air Lines
2.7 Hawker Siddeley Aviation
2.8 Independent Technical Advisor
2.9 Application for NASM Director Position
2.10 United States Organizing Committee
2.11 Scott Crossfield Foundation
2.12 The Wright Experience
2.13 Speaking Engagements and Professional Appearances
2.14 Career Related Photographs
2.14 Miscellaneous Professional Records
Series III: Audiotapes
Series IV: Oversized Materials
Biographical/Historical note:
Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr. was born on October 2, 1921, in California. As a young boy, Crossfield was often confined indoors due to health problems related to pneumonia and rheumatic fever. During this time, he dreamed of becoming a pilot and designed and constructed model airplanes. Crossfield took his first airplane ride in 1927, at six years old, in an Alexander Eaglerock A-1 piloted by family friend Charles "Carl" Lienesch. Lienesch also encouraged Crossfield to become an engineer as well as a pilot. Unbeknownst to Crossfield's parents, he began taking flying lessons at the age of 12 at Wilmington Airport under the tutelage of pilot Vaughn McNulty. The family later moved to Washington State and it was there, at the Chehalis Airport, that Crossfield made his first solo flight in a Curtiss Robin. It was not until the summer of 1941, however, that Crossfield officially soloed and earned his pilot's license under the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA), Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP).
Crossfield enrolled in the University of Washington in 1940 and worked at the Boeing plant in Seattle, beginning in the fall of 1941, while still pursuing his studies. Crossfield's first assignment at Boeing was as an assembly page clerk. He was later promoted to the position of production expediter and shop salvage engineer. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Crossfield enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and continued to work at Boeing while he waited for an opening in a cadet class. In February 1942, tired of waiting on the Air Corps and eager to get into combat, Crossfield enlisted in the U.S. Navy instead where he joined the cadet class of May 7, 1942. Crossfield first trained in Seattle, Washington, and later was sent to the Naval Air Training Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he earned his Naval Aviator's wings in 1942. During his time in the Navy, Crossfield never fulfilled his ambition to see combat because he was selected instead to remain at Corpus Christi as a flight and gunnery instructor. Crossfield eventually was sent to Hawaii to prepare and train for an invasion of Japan but the war ended before this became necessary. During his time in the U.S. Navy, Crossfield flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat, Vought F4U Corsair, and the North American SNJ Texan, among other aircraft. After he separated from active duty with the Service, Crossfield remained active in the Naval Reserves and was part of an aerobatic team at Sand Point Naval Air Station that flew Goodyear FG-1D Corsairs.
Crossfield returned to his studies at the University of Washington in 1946 and was employed doing tests at the Kirsten Wind Tunnel at the University's Aeronautical Laboratory. Crossfield earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1949 and his master's degree in aeronautical science in 1950. After obtaining his degrees, Crossfield joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) as a research pilot. During his time with NACA, Crossfield flew many aircraft including the Convair XF-92A, Bell X-1, Northrop X-4 Bantam, Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Bell X-5, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, North American F-86 Sabre, and the North American F-100A Super Sabre. Crossfield made history in the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket on November 20, 1953, as the first pilot to exceed Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).
In 1955, Crossfield left NACA and joined North American Aviation, Inc. to work on the X-15 program where he would not only serve as the X-15 Project Pilot but also as a Design Specialist, a role in which he was an integral part of the design of both the aircraft and the pressure suit developed by the David Clark Company for the X-15 program. The suit served as a prototype for the spacesuits later worn by astronauts. Crossfield helped to develop the X-15's cockpit, control, and engine systems; structural design; propulsion system; engineered its escape system; and contributed to its handling quality requirements. He also developed the ground control test methodology that would later become standard on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Crossfield piloted the North American X-15 on its first captive flight in March 1959, first glide flight in June 1959, and the first powered flight in September 1959, as well as numerous other test flights, before the X-15 was delivered to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in February 1960. Crossfield also served as Chief Engineering Test Pilot at North American from 1955-1961 before moving to the Space and Information Systems Division first as the Director of Systems Test (1961) then as the Division Director of Test and Quality Assurance (1961-1966) where he was responsible for quality control in all North American projects including the Hounddog Missile (AGM-28, GAM-77), Paragliders for the Gemini program, Apollo Command and Service Module, and the Saturn V launch vehicles, second stage. Crossfield's final position with North American was as the Technical Director, Research, Engineering and Test from 1966-1967.
Crossfield joined Eastern Air Lines in Miami, Florida, as Division Vice President, Flight, Research, and Development, Flight Operations in 1967, a position he held until 1971 when he moved to Washington, DC, to serve as Staff Vice President, Transportation Systems Development (1971-1973). From 1974 to 1975, Crossfield served as Senior Vice President at Hawker Siddeley Aviation's U.S. subsidiary branch, an office he helped to establish. After leaving Hawker Siddeley, Crossfield served for many years as an independent technical advisor to the U.S. Congress. Crossfield also served on the United States Organizing Committee to plan the Air and Space Bicentennial. In the later part of his life, Crossfield traveled extensively to give talks, attend events, and make various professional appearances and it was on a return flight home from one such trip in 2006 that Crossfield was killed when the plane he was piloting was caught in a thunderstorm.
Crossfield was active in various organizations including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), a group in which he was a founding member. Crossfield also created the Scott Crossfield Foundation to support aerospace education. Crossfield was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Sperry (Lawrence B.) Memorial Award (1954) and Chanute (Octave) Award (AIAA, 1958), Kincheloe Award (SETP, 1960), Harmon Trophy (1960), Collier (Robert J.) Trophy (1961), NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1993), and the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Trophy for Lifetime Achievement (2000).
Crossfield published his autobiography, Always Another Dawn, in 1960 with Clay Blair, Jr. and is the author of numerous other publications, articles, and technical papers.
Provenance:
Alice Crossfield, Gift, 2006
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
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:
North American X-15 Flight Record, Acc. NASM.1992.0020.0076, 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:
North American X-15 Flight Record, Acc. NASM.1992.0020.0076, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Dr. James Webb's Speech to AFL/CIO, the theme is the progress of engineering. Examples include the Wright brothers and airplanes, the six shooter, barbed wire, WWII, NACA, North American X-15, Review of NASA. 11 launch vehicles, emphasizing Saturn. Reel 1 of 2 (Reel 2 of 2 not found).
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
United States Space Program Oral History Collection [Kapp], Acc. NASM.XXXX.0138, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Producer: NASA HQA-90 and Warner Brothers, Inc. Off-air recording of documentary. Biography of John Glenn. Film stresses American ideals as exemplified in the life of astronaut John Glenn. Colonel Glenn's youth in New Concord, Ohio, heroism as a marine pilot in WWII and Korean conflict, and adventure as the first American to orbit the Earth are dramatically documented. Comments from the citizenry of New Concord, Ohio: Mayor Taylor, Harford Steele (high school principal), Glen Macoaga (Muskingum College president), Ed Sheman (coach at Muskingum), Charles Moorehead (pastor), Henry Evens (pastor), Homer and Margaret Caster (Annie's parents), John Sr. and Clara Glenn (John's parents), Harry Clever (flight instructor). Aircraft seen: Grumman F9F Cougar, Vought F-8 F8U Crusader, North American X-15 , Scout rocket, Atlas production (General Dynamics (Convair) CGM-16 HGM-16), Project Mercury preparation, suiting up, flight, summary, parades, Glenn's speech before the joint session of Congress. Introduced by President John F. Kennedy and narrated by Jack Webb. Very schmaltzy, sentimental, and patriotic.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Paul E. Garber Collection, Acc. NASM.1991.0063, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Other Writings by Crossfield, Article on the North American X-15 for "Flying Safety"
Collection Creator:
Crossfield, A. Scott (Albert Scott), 1921- Search this
Container:
Box 9, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Text
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
A. Scott Crossfield Papers, Accession number 2006-0041, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
A. Scott Crossfield Papers, Acc. 2006-0041, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Crossfield, A. Scott (Albert Scott), 1921- Search this
Extent:
0.02 Cubic feet (1 folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Color slides
Date:
1959
Summary:
Raun Robinson (died 1975) was an engineer with North American Aviation who worked on numerous aircraft, including the North American X-15. This collection consists of sixteen color 3D stereographic slides taken by Raun Robinson of the North American X-15-1 (s/n 56-6670) during one of the aircraft's early test flights.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of sixteen color 3D stereographic slides taken by Raun Robinson of the North American X-15-1 (s/n 56-6670) during one of the aircraft's early test flights. Several of the images show the Boeing B-52A Stratofortress (s/n 52-0003) mothership and several show test pilot Albert Scott "Scotty" Crossfield, Jr.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Raun Robinson (died 1975) was an engineer with North American Aviation who worked on numerous aircraft, including the North American X-15. Robinson worked as a fabricator on North American P-51 Mustang aircraft during World War II, during which time he also earned his associate degree in aerodynamics from Pasadena City College. North American hired him as an engineer in 1946 and he was with the company for more than 25 years during which time he worked on many aircraft including the North American F-86 Sabre, X-15, XB-70A (RS-70) Valkyrie, and the Rockwell B-1 Lancer. Robinson was also an avid amateur stereo view photographer.
Provenance:
Jeffrey Robinson, Gift, 2021, NASM.2022.0007.
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 fifty-three films made by North American Rockwell during Storms' association with the corporation. This collection also consists of a folder of biographical information on Storms and 213 slides, which include the following topics: Apollo projects; Soviet spacecraft at an unknown Soviet museum; and images of the Bell 47G helicopter.
Biographical / Historical:
Harrison A. Storms, Jr., (1915-1992) helped design Apollo spacecraft and many other aerospace vehicles. A former executive of Rockwell International and its predecessor company, North American Aviation, Storms made contributions to over 40 aircraft and space vehicles. Storms received his bachelor and masters degrees in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, and an aeronautical engineering degree from the California Institute of Technology. Storms was then employed as an aeronautical researcher at North American Aviation in 1941 and during World War II contributed to the advancement of jet propulsion technology. After World War II, Storms served as Chief Engineer of the X-15 program, and also helped design the F-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre Jet, F-100 Super Sabre and the XB-70. Storms went on to become the President of North American's Space and Information Systems Division which won contracts for both the Saturn second stage launch vehicle and the Apollo command and service modules for the successful lunar landing program. Storms was the recipient of many honors and awards and a member of several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Phyllis Storms, gift, 1999, 1999-0021, North American Rockwell?
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
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1969
June 10, 1969
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1514]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
