This collection consists of approximately 1.46 cubic feet of historical maps and photographs collected by Dieter Gröschel.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of approximately 1.46 cubic feet of historical maps and photographs collected by Dieter Gröschel. The maps, which are various sizes, date from approximately 1884 to 1941 and were produced in Germany, France, and England. They show parts of Russia; Germany; France; Belgium; Holland; Bavaria; and Africa; and many have hand-drawn notations including battle lines, locations of troops, etc. Some of the maps are linen-backed and designed for use in an aircraft. The collection also contains numerous black and white historical photographs including aerial photographs of Germany and France taken in 1917 and 1918; photographs of personnel, facilities, and operations relating to Feldflieger-Abteilung Nr. 5 which date from 1915 to 1918; aerial photographs taken in 1918 of Flanders and Zeebrugge by Karl Keppler and Max Greiner of Fliegerabteilung 291 (A); a French set of 32 black and white aerial photographs on ten pages, with interpretation, used for training observers in World War I; an unbound German World War I album containing black and white photographs and post cards; and a photo album belonging to a paymaster of the Jagdstaffelschule I during World War I. The album, which measures approximately 14 x 10 inches, is linen-covered and contains photographs of the front-lines in France and Italy; personnel, including members of the Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 144; aircraft, including crashes; and personal family photographs relating to the album's creator. Aircraft depicted in these photographs include an Albatros D Series Fighter and a captured Nieuport fighter. There is also a 3.5 x 5.5 inch color post card dating to 1915 with an illustration of French pre-World War I era infantry looking up at an Etrich Taube (Dove) type aircraft included in the collection. Finally, this collection contains a selection of manuals which includes the following titles: Instructions Concerning Battle Maps, US Army War College, 1917 (Translated from French edition of 1916); List of Conventional Signs and Abbreviations in Use on French and German Maps, compiled by Second Section, General Staff (Topography), American Expeditionary Forces, 1918; Catalogue of Maps, General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, 1918; List of Places in Argonne-Verdun District with their Locations, Supplement A, General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, November 7, 1918;
Notes on Map Reading for Use in Army Schools, His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1918; Basic Field Manual, Vol. 1, Chapter 5 - Map and Aerial Photograph Reading, US War Department, 1938; Basic Field Manual, Conventional Signs, Military Symbols, and Abbreviations, US War Department, 1939; Basic Field Manual, Military Intelligence, Military Maps, US War Department, January 6, 1941; Basic Field Manual, Elementary Map and Aerial Photograph Reading, US War Department, April 12, 1941; and Basic Field Manual, Advanced Map and Aerial Photograph Reading, US War Department, September 17, 1941.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged by type of material. Some of the large maps are arranged by size.
Provenance:
Dieter H. M. Gröschel., Gift, 2015, NASM.2015.0046
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
This accession is a collection of military records, including orders, travel papers, memos, equipment lists, and other correspondence concerning Don Swann while he was stationed in Paris in 1918.
Scope and Contents:
This accession is a collection of military records, including orders, travel papers, memos, equipment lists, and other correspondence concerning Don Swann while he was stationed in Paris in 1918. Also included are: a souvenir program from the International Jacques Schneider Cup Races, dated October 24, 1925, and annotated by Swann with notes about the pilots of the day; an American Expeditionary Forces Headquarters Tentative Equipment Manual for Supply Squadron; April 20, 1918 propaganda leaflets in German regarding President Wilson's speech; and miscellaneous notes by Swann written about early aviation in Baltimore, MD, his hometown.
Arrangement:
Materials in this collection are grouped into two series by type: Documents (Series 1) and Photographs (Series 2).
In 1998, the six photographs in this collection were reproduced 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 7B06404 to NASM 7B06409, videodisc frame capture numbers VD-7B06404 to VD-7B06404) and the images are stored in videodisc number order.
Biographical / Historical:
Samuel Donovan "Don" Swann (1899–1954) was a World War I aviator and an American artist. Fascinated by aviation from the time he was 17, Swann attended St. John's College in Annapolis as a cadet. In November 1917, Swann was sent to Kelly Field, Texas, to attend Ground Officer's Training School, where he graduated as a first lieutenant. During World War I Swann was an officer in the Signal Reserves Corps, Aviation Section, until January 1918, at which point he was assigned to the 62nd Squadron with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. During his service overseas, Swann was placed in charge of supplying Air Service material for all aviation training schools in France. As he was interested in flying, he petitioned to be switched over to piloting and by the beginning of October 1918, he was received dispensation to be allowed to make flights. After his discharge at the end of the war, Swann was employed as the superintendent of the American Propeller Manufacturing Company of Baltimore which was a primary source of aeronautical propeller supplies. He later also worked at the Monumental Aircraft Company at College Park, Maryland, which consisted entirely of aeronautical supplies. As an artist, Swan studied in Germany and Italy, and was known for historic Americana; his art was exhibited in many United States cities and is part of many permanent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.
Provenance:
Mr. S. Donovan Swann, Jr., Gift, 1987, NASM.1987.0062
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.
George Miller Dyott (1883--1972) was an early aviator; veteran of the Royal Naval Air Service; aircraft designer; and explorer. This collection contains approximately 1 cubic foot of material pertaining to Dyott's aviation career including correspondence; photographs; financial records; technical drawings; military records; news clippings; a World War I field diary; calling cards; and an annotated manuscript entitled, "Flying," written by Dyott.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains approximately 1 cubic foot of material pertaining to George Miller Dyott's aviation career including correspondence; photographs; financial records; technical drawings; military records; news clippings; a World War I field diary; calling cards; and an annotated manuscript entitled, "Flying," written by Dyott. Photographic formats include black and white prints of various sizes (some of which are mounted on cardstock or matted) and 5 by 7 inch glass plates. Many of the photographs, including one entire album, are devoted to Dyott's service with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. Aircraft pictured in the photographs include the Dyott Monoplane; Dyott Bomber; Walden IV 1910 Monoplane (identfied here as the Walden-Dyott Monoplane); an unidentfied model of Deperdussin; Nieuport 17; Vickers (UK) E.F.B.5 Gunbus; a Sopwith Baby fitted with Le Prieur Rockets; Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2; Handley Page O/400; Morane-Saulnier Type L (Mo.S.3); Blériot XI; Farman (Henry) H.F.20 (Type Militaire Biplane); and a later photo of a Bellanca Pacemaker CH-300. There are also photographs of a Royal Navy non-rigid airship and the wreck of the Zeppelin LZ 76 (Navy L 33), as well as early equipment such as searchlights; anti-aircraft guns; an anti-aircraft armored vehicle; and various types of bombs. In addition to Dyott, other well-known people in the photographs include Henry W. Walden; Patrick Hamilton; Francisco Madero (33rd President of Mexico); Arthur W. Bigsworth; and Reginald A. J. Warneford. The collection also contains one photograph of Harriet Quimby. There are also four technical drawings dating to 1914 in the collection ranging in size from approximately 24.25 by 15.5 inches up to 41 x 14 inches. Three of the drawings are on coated cloth and one is on waxed paper. Two are for a small promotional aircraft made from an ale bottle and powered by an 80-hp Gnome engine, one is marked "Worthington Ales" and the other is marked "Little Peter." The third drawing is a three-view of a "Hydro-Aeroplane for Tropical Rivers" powered by two 100-hp Mercedes engines, and the fourth is a side drawing of an unspecified type of biplane (undated). In addition to the drawings, there is a graph on waxed paper (14.5 by 13.25 inches) tracking altitude, time, and speed for an unknown aircraft (undated). The collection also includes records relating to the design and production of the Dyott Monoplane and Dyott Bomber.
Arrangement:
Some of the material in this collection arrived grouped together in folders or envelopes. This material was housed accordingly and original folder titles were kept where applicable. The rest of the collection is organized by type of material. Folder titles created by archivist, or additional information added to original folder titles by archivist, are in brackets. Within folders, material is arranged chronologically.
Biographical / Historical:
George Miller Dyott (1883--1972) was an early aviator; veteran of the Royal Naval Air Service; aircraft designer; and explorer. Dyott was born in New York in 1883 to an American mother and a British father. Dyott was educated in the United Kingdom before returning to the United States where he learned to fly at Curtiss Field in New York. Dyott was awarded Royal Aero Club aviator's certificate 114 in August of 1911. Around this time, Dyott partnered with Henry W. Walden designing monoplanes. In the autumn of 1911, Dyott and Patrick Hamilton began making a tour of exhibition flights with two Deperdussin monoplanes (one single and one double seater) which started in New York and included stops in the Bahamas and Mexico, where they carried then-President Francisco Madero as a passenger. Dyott then returned to the United Kingdom where he designed the Dyott Monoplane, manufactured by Hewlett & Blondeau, which he brought to the United States to fly a six month demonstration tour beginning in April 1913. Dyott entered military service in 1914 and served as a squadron commander for the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I. Around this time, Dyott designed a large twin-engine biplane for use in exploring. The Royal Naval Air Service saw a potential in this design for military use so Dyott made some modifications and two prototypes were ordered from Hewlett & Blondeau in 1916. The two Dyott Bomber prototypes were built and flight tested with various engines and armament, with the second being service tested in France, but the model never entered production. After World War I, Dyott became an explorer and joined the Royal Geographical Society. In 1927, Dyott was hired to lead an expedition retracing the steps of the Roosevelt–Rondon Scientific Expedition which confirmed Theodore Roosevelt's claims about the group's discovery and exploration of the Rio Roosevelt ("River of Doubt"). In 1928, Dyott led an expedition into Brazil searching for missing explorer Percy Fawcett. Dyott also founded Dyott & Company, Ltd. in Lima, Peru taking aerial photographs and other scenic views that were sold as post cards. Dyott wrote several books about his adventures (one of which was adapted into a feature film, Manhunt in the Jungle, in 1958), and also starred as himself in two documentary films (Hunting Tigers in India in 1929 and Savage Gold, which he also co-wrote, in 1933). In the mid-1930s, Dyott retired to Ecuador where he lived largely in isolation. He conducted two expeditions searching for Inca treasure in the late 1940s before returning to Ecuador where he stayed until returning to New York to reunite with his wife and children shortly before his death.
Provenance:
Michael Dyott, Gift, 2016, NASM.2016.0019.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting all aspects of an Austro-Hungarian officer's experience on the Eastern and South Tyrol Fronts of World War I. It includes photographs as well as maps.
Scope and Contents:
This scrapbook includes images of all aspects of an Austro-Hungarian officer's experience on the Eastern and South Tyrol Fronts of World War I. Photographs include images of such cities as Trieste and Venice, of informal celebrations, life in the field, artillery, a lighter than air hangar used for the assembly of heavier than air craft, aircraft wrecks, war dead and executions of soldiers, as well as air to air images of World War I aircraft and several of a laboratory with wind tunnel. Aircraft featured in the scrapbook include the Albatros B.I, Aviatik B.II, Aviatik B.III, Aviatik triplane fighter, Brandenburg C.I (U), Brandenburg D.I (Ph), Brandenburg G.I, Brandenburg KD, Fokker A.III, Knoller B.I (Th), Lloyd triplane bomber (Type LK 1), Lohner B.I, Oeffag C.I, Phonix C.I, Rumpler B.I and Von Mises bomber (Type Gr.I). Also included are maps of the Eastern front and of towns including Kovel, Trojanowka, Loboml and Mielnica.
Arrangement:
This collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Paul Ernst flew as an observer for the the Austro-Hungarian Army in World War I. His unit, Fliegerkompagnie 27, served on the Russian Front from June 1916 to December 1917. From March to October of 1918, Flik 27 flew on the South Tyrol front. Dr. Paul Ernst later taught at the Department of Applied Physics at the University at Glasgow, Scotland and in 1946 came to the United States, where he began work at Aberdeen Proving Ground
Provenance:
Estate of Gertrud Ernst, Gift, 2004, NASM.2004.0030
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
The Theodore E. Boyd World War I collection consists of material documenting Theodore E. Boyd's World War I career. The bulk of the collection covers the World War I era, 1917 to 1919, but materials before and after those dates are also present. Materials include: correspondence, written both during the war to family and friends; photographs; military orders, mostly in English, a few in French; flight logs; identity card; Honorable Discharge and Distinguished Service Cross certificates; memoirs of his war experiences, both written for publication and to his family; and post war veterans rosters.
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists of material documenting Theodore E. Boyd's World War I career: correspondence, written both during the war to family and friends; photographs; military orders, mostly in English, a few in French; flight logs; identity card; Honorable Discharge and Distinguished Service Cross certificates; memoirs of his war experiences, both written for publication and to his family; and post war veterans rosters.
Arrangement:
The collection has been arranged into three series: Series 1, World War I; Series 2, Memoirs; and Series 3, Post War Rosters.
The collection did not have any particular order when received by the NASM Archives. Archivists have organized the documents by topic then by date.
Biographical Note:
During World War I, Theodore E. Boyd served with the 88th Aero Squadron (Attached), 7th Field Artillery, Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). Second Lieutenant Boyd was an observer and served in France until he was injured on September 14, 1918, when during a flight near Conflans, France, he was wounded in both legs, his left foot, and right elbow by explosive bullets. For his bravery during this flight, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Due to his injures, his service ended and he was honorably discharged. After the war, Boyd went to medical school and taught physiology for 24 years at Loyola University in Chicago. In 1947, Boyd joined the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis where for twenty years he served as Assistant Director, and then Director, of the Research Department.
Timeline
Theodore E. Boyd Timeline
1893 December 14 -- Theodore Elliott Boyd born in Ashland City, Tennessee.
1910 -- Boyd forced to give up a West Point appointment because of varicose veins and a bad scar.
1917 May -- Reported to Reserve Officers' Training Camp, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
1917 August 15 -- Honorably discharged from Ft. Oglehthorpe to accept commission as Second Lieutenant Field Artillery Section Officers Reserve Corps.
1917 August 22 -- Ordered to report to General Superintendent, Army Transport Services, New York City, for assignment to first available transportation to France. Left Tennessee August 23.
1917 September 9 -- Left New York. Landed at Liverpool on September 23, Le Havre on September 25.
1917 October 1 -- Entered Artillery School at Saumur
1918 January 14 -- Report to Aviation School, Tours
1918 February 19 -- Transferred to First Corps School, Gondrecourt, for advanced instruction.
1918 April 6 -- Dispatched for duty with French 40th Observation Squadron in Champagne.
1918 May 20 -- Ordered from Chalons-sur-Marne to the AEF 88th Squadron in Amanty (Meuse).
1918 June 6 -- Ordered to Cazeux for course in machine gun instruction.
1918 July 1 -- Returned to the 88th Squadron at Ourches (Meuse).
1918 August 9 -- Protected a photographic miessio nbetween the Vesle and Aisne. Cited for gallantry in action and entitled to wear a silver star on the Victory medal.
1918 September 9-12 -- On leave in Paris.
1918 September 14 -- "[Lt. Theodore Boyd was charged with the] protection of an aerial photo mission over the city of Conflans, in which six machines were schedule to fly in combat formation. This officer, three of the escorting plans having failed to join the formation, proceeded on his mission notwithstanding. At a point, roughly 3 km NW fo Conflans, he engaged in combat with five enemy pursuit machines of the Pfalz type. He was wounded in both legs, the left foot, and right elbow by explosive bullets. In spite of his wounds, he succeeded, by a remarkable display of courage and tenacity, in keeping up the fire of his guns until the attacking planes were put to flight. During the return to the Allied lines, Lieut. Boyd, although faint with pain and loss of blood, assisted his pilot, whose machine was disabled and coming down under control, in choosing the shortest route to safety."-Captain Kenneth P. Littauer, recommendation for Distinguished Service Cross
1918 November 11 -- Ordered to proceed from Savenay to the port of Brest for transport to the United States (left Brest November 18).
1918 November 29 -- Landed at Newport News, Virginia.
1918 December 6 -- Arrived at Fort McPherson, Georgia, for convalescense.
1919 May 6 -- Lieutenant Theodore E. Boyd honorably discharged from the United States Army.
Provenance:
Donated by Pat Piper, gift, 2012.
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 is a product of the material gathered for the exhibit, book, brochure and poster. It includes a large amount of additional information gathered for research but not used. The Collection is divided into six series: I. Exhibit Catalog Images; II. Exhibit Only Images; III. Brochure Images; IV. Poster Images; V. Original Photography; VI. Research Collection. Different sized black and white and color photographs, mostly 8 x 10s, are included in most of the series, although captions are not always provided. Other types of materials are corresponding negatives, photocopies, glass plate negatives and color transparencies.
Scope and Contents:
This collection is a product of the material gathered for the exhibit, book, brochure and poster. It includes a large amount of additional information gathered for research but not used. The Collection is divided into six series: I. Exhibit Catalog Images; II. Exhibit Only Images; III. Brochure Images; IV. Poster Images; V. Original Photography; VI. Research Collection. Different sized black and white and color photographs, mostly 8 x 10s, are included in most of the series, although captions are not always provided. Other types of materials are corresponding negatives, photocopies, glass plate negatives and color transparencies.
The following was added to this collection on July 28, 2006: photographs, notes, correspondence, photography requests and receipts, and research articles. This material was separated into two series: 7: General research information, including approved scripts, photographs, information gathered in the making of a brochure for this exhibit, and information on World War I aircraft engines; 8: Photographic request correspondence, receipts, and transparencies, separated by specific organizations and individuals.
The ninth series was added in April of 2019: original archival materials that had been displayed in this exhibit, including record albums, manuals and dictionaries/glossaries, C & A Wittemann Aeronautical Supplies catalog, photographs (including Sanke Cards), a 1918 Experimental Scout Plan (SE-5) Model drawing, military correspondence and logbook belonging to Lancelot Bellinger, Royal Marines.
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 World War I Exhibit Collection is arranged in series as organized by the exhibit curators.
Biographical / Historical:
In 1991, the National Air and Space Museum created an exhibit with a correlating text called 'Legend, Memory, and the Great War in the Air'. The Great War, as World War I was originally called, was one of the bloodiest wars known to man, with over 11 million soldiers killed on the battle field and in the air. The collection is mostly dedicated to the war in the air and encompasses the harsh reality as well as the not so realistic images of World War I.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Various, Transfer, 1993, 1993-0063, see Donor Correspondence
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 three oversized certificates presented to William Thaw, 1918 – 1919.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of the following three oversized certificates: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, presented to Lieutenant Colonel William Thaw on April 9, 1919; Distinguished Service Cross, presented to Colonel William Thaw on October 16, 1918; and United States Citation to Colonel William Thaw, on April 19, 1919.
Arrangement:
No order, only three certificates.
Biographical / Historical:
William Thaw II (1893 – 1934) was a World War I ace and is believed to be the first American to engage in aerial combat in the war as one of the original nine members of the Lafayette Escadrille. Born into a prominent Pittsburgh family, Thaw attended Yale University but left to learn to fly at the Curtiss School of Aviation at Hammondsport, New York, in 1913. Soon after he was the first to pilot an aircraft up New York City's East River and fly underneath all four bridges. By the summer of 1914, Thaw was in Paris, along with his personal Curtiss Motel E Hydro, and had received the Aero Club of France F.A.I. Hydro License 2. When war started, Thaw joined the French Foreign Legion and by December he was transferred to the French aviation unit, first as an observer, then as an active pilot. In May of 1916 Thaw was commissioned as first lieutenant and shortly after he was shot in the arm during combat. After his recovery, he resumed active duty and in November he was transferred to the American Air Service and commissioned a major. In January 1918 Thaw was given command of the American Lafayette Escadrille, 103rd Pursuit Squadron and in August he was given command of the 3rd Pursuit Group and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After the war, he returned stateside and from January to June 1919 he was the commanding officer at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California. He was honorably discharged in July of 1919. During his service he received many honors and decorations.
Provenance:
Found in Collecton, Transferred from the NASM Aeronautics Department, 2022, NASM.2023.0009
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 provides extensive documentation on the flying career of Paul R. Stockton from his entry into the New York Air National Guard through his service in France and Germany and eventual discharge in 1919. Included in this collection is documentation of the activies, personnel and equipment of Stockton's squadron, as well as are excellent aerial photographs of airplanes and before and after photographs of target areas. Many of the photographs show Marie, the Belgian police dog Stockton raised during the war. (Marie later appeared in motion pictures with Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino and others). One image is purportedly from one of the aircraft of Baron von Richtofen's "Flying Circus." Also included in this scrapbook are certificates of Stockton's appointments to corporal and to 1st lieutenant, hotel menus, copies of leaflets dropped by US aviators behind the German lines, examples of European currency, train and bus tickets, fabric swatches from aircraft, Stockton's pilot license and other such ephemera.
Biographical / Historical:
Paul R. Stockton (1880-1962) enlisted in the Signal Corps from 1906-1909 and served in Cuba and Puerto Rico. He made his first flight in 1916 as a member of the First Aero Company, New York State National Guard at Mineola, New York. In 1917 Stockton was ordered overseas and served as the Commanding Officer of the 12th Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Forces. Stockton was discharged in 1919, and was later a member of the Early Birds.
Provenance:
No donor information, gift, unknown, XXXX-0283, unknown
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations Search this