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
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
That perfect feeling in the air the life of Victor Herbert Strahm : World War I Flying Ace, Military Aviation Pioneer, World War II General & Air Strategist by Gilbert T. Calhoun, Mary M. Lucas, Jonathan D. Jeffrey
Captain Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker was a self-taught automotive engineer, an American fighter ace in World War I, and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver, a government military consultant during World War II, and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines. This accession consists of two letters from Rickenbacker to C. G. [Chris] Sinsabaugh, then editor of Automotive News, written during Rickenbacker's service in World War I.
Scope and Contents:
This accession consists of two letters from Edward Vernon "Eddie" Rickenbacker to C. G. [Chris] Sinsabaugh, then editor of Automotive News. In the first letter, dated November 10, 1917, Rickenbacker tells his friend "Sincy" of his life as a new soldier, of his interest in aviation, and of becoming a pilot. The envelope is included with this letter. The second letter, undated, is written on a German post card form that Rickenbacker notes he picked up on the battle field at Marne. In this correspondence, Rickenbacker comments on his hospital confinement and on those race car drivers who have not enlisted.
Arrangement:
Collection is in chronological order.
Biographical / Historical:
Edward Vernon "Eddie" Rickenbacker (1890--1973) had only a sixth grade education but became a leading aviation figure in both military and civilian circles. He was a a self-taught automotive engineer and race car driver who became a fighter ace during World War I, where as a member of the 94th Aero Squadron he shot down 22 German aircraft and 4 observation balloons. He became a colonel in the Army Air Reserves and during World War II helped form the Military Air Transport Services. In October of 1942, during an inspection tour of the Pacific theater, Rickenbacker's Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress went off course and was ditched over water. The surviving seven members of the crew were rescued 24 days later, suffering from exposure, starvation, and dehydration. In the civilian sector, Rickenbacker worked at several airlines, including Fokker Aircraft Corporation and American Airways, before going to work at Eastern Air Lines in 1934. In 1939 Rickenbacker became Eastern's president and chairman, positions he held until 1963.
Provenance:
Eleanor Whalen, Gift, 1987, NASM.1988.0003
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 materials relating to the Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette including a portfolio entitled, "The Lafayette Flying Corps Project for a burial garden and memorial." The collection also contains a booklet about the Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette which includes a history of the Lafayette Escadrille as well as details on the memorial and how it was built and funded.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of materials relating to the Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette including a portfolio, measuring approximately 10 by 13 inches, entitled, "The Lafayette Flying Corps Project for a burial garden and memorial." There is a drawing of the Lafayette Escadrille insignia on the cover and inside there is a black and white plan, in aerial view, for the memorial as well as a full-color, ground-level artist's rendering of the memorial and the surrounding grounds. Both drawings are signed by Alexandre Marcel. These drawings appear to be an early version of the proposed monument because the design is substantially different from the eventual finished memorial and features an obelisk type structure rather than an arch. The collection also contains a booklet about the Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette which includes a history of the Lafayette Escadrille as well as details on the memorial and how it was built and funded. The booklet, which measures approximately 7.5 by 10.75 inches, includes text in French and English along with numerous photographs. The booklet's cover features a drawing of an airplane with the Lafayette Escadrille's insignia on its tail shooting down an airplane with the German iron cross symbol on its wing along with a border featuring the names of various battlefields and a rendering of the Lafayette Escadrille's insignia at each corner.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette, in the Parc de Villeneuve-l'Etang near Paris, France, was dedicated on July 4, 1928. The memorial was designed by Alexandre Marcel, then the Chief Architect of the Government and Curator of the Historic Monuments of France. The decorative sculpture throughout the memorial was created by Marcel Renard and Ernest Dubois. Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette features an Arch of Triumph that is inscribed with the names of all members of the Lafayette Escadrille as well as the names of battlefields on which they fought. The Arch and its flanking colonnades also include various insignia of French and American squadrons as well as eagles, sculpted French and American flags, and medallions with portraits of the Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington. The Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette also features a crypt where the remains of 67 Lafayette Escadrille members are interred.
Provenance:
Donor unknown, material found in collection, NASM.XXXX.0936
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.
Mémorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette (Lafayette Escadrille Memorial) Information, NASM.XXXX.0936, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
This collection consists of one photo album assembled by Neil Burnett MacTaggart documenting his service with the US Army Air Service, 57th Photographic Section, during World War I. The album measures approximately 12 by 10.5 inches and contains photographs taken in and around Fort Sill, Oklahoma as well as photographs taken in France.
This collection is in English.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of one photo album assembled by Neil Burnett MacTaggart documenting his service with the US Army Air Service, 57th Photographic Section, during World War I. The album measures approximately 12 by 10.5 inches and contains photographs taken in and around Fort Sill, Oklahoma as well as photographs taken in France. Images in the album include aerial views taken in Oklahoma; aerial views taken in France, including images that show damage from bombing as well as views of trenches; views of various landmarks in both locations; views of facilities at Fort Sill and Henry Post Army Airfield; aircraft, including air to air views and views of crashes; tanks; heavy mortar and other artillery; horse-drawn caissons; naval vessels; German soldiers; a view of an observation balloon on fire at Fort Sill; and numerous views of Native Americans of all ages taken in Oklahoma. Aircraft shown in the album include the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny; Fokker D.VII; Albatros D.III; SPAD XVI (S.16); and a Breguet-Michelin BM.4. The collection also includes MacTaggart's discharge certificate and a loose photograph of MacTaggart wearing flight clothing.
Note: Blank pages in the album have not been digitally reproduced in the slideshow. Any gaps in numbering are due to their omission.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Neil Burnett MacTaggart served with the US Army Air Service, 57th Photographic Section, during World War I. MacTaggart enlisted in August 1918 and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and it appears from photographs in his scrapbook that he later served in France. MacTaggart was honorably discharged in March 1919.
Provenance:
Heather Bryden, Gift, 2019, NASM.2019.0019
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.
"The Foggiani" is the term used to refer to American military aviators who were trained in Foggia, Italy during World War I at the Eighth Aviation Instruction Center. In 1969, some of the Foggiani returned to Italy for a reunion trip organized by the Italian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Air Force. This collection consists of scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and news clippings related to The Foggiani, both in terms of training and service in World War I and of the 1969 return trip to Italy made by some of the pilots.
This collection contains materials in English and materials in Italian.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and news clippings related to The Foggiani, both in terms of training and service in World War I and of the 1969 return trip to Italy made by some of the pilots. The first scrapbook, which measures approximately 13 by 9 inches and is made of paper pages bound with string, contains images taken during World War I of various Foggiani pilots as well as images of various sites in Italy (including some aerial). Images of the Caproni Ca.33 (Military Ca.3, Ca.450) can also be seen in this album. The second scrapbook, which measures approximately 10 by 12 inches and is cloth-bound with adhesive coated "magic" pages, contains photographs and mementos from the 1969 trip including an official program containing the itinerary (in Italian and English); a detailed, typewritten account of the trip written by Arthur Douglas Farquhar (one of the Foggiani pilots); a list of attendees; and some additional World War I era photographs. The third scrapbook, leather-bound and measuring approximately 14 by 11 inches, is an official photo album of the 1969 trip compiled by the Italian Ministry of Defense. There is also a letter to Mr. Norman Sweetser accompanying this album. All three of the scrapbooks contain extensive caption information. This collection also contains twelve loose photographs of various sizes, mostly black and white, that appear to have been taken at a National Air and Space Museum event which included Foggiani pilots as well as members of the Caproni family. Also in the collection are a letter from Dr. Giovanni Caproni; a news clipping about the 1969 trip, in Italian; and a folio of Italian news clippings and photographs related to the 1969 trip (labeled N. Sweetser) which also includes a photocopy of a letter from the Mayor of Foggia to the Foggiani pilots.
Arrangement:
In the 1980s, many items in this collection were reproduced on 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 00147423 to NASM 00147907 and NASM 00176964 to 00176996, videodisc frame capture numbers VD-2A47423 to VD-2A47907 and VD-2B26964 to VD-2B26996) and the collection is stored in videodisc number order. Scrapbooks/albums are in original order. Some textual material in scrapbooks/albums has not been reproduced.
Biographical / Historical:
"The Foggiani" is the term used to refer to American military aviators who were trained in Foggia, Italy during World War I at the Eighth Aviation Instruction Center. Due to a lack of facilities in the United States, approximately 500 Americans were sent to Foggia for flight training with American and Italian instructors. Upon completion of their training, the pilots were commissioned in the US Army Air Service. In 1969, some of the Foggiani returned to Italy for a reunion trip organized by the Italian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Air Force which included visits to various historic and cultural sites in Italy as well as audiences with various Italian dignitaries, Pope Paul VI, and members of the Caproni family.
Provenance:
Unknown, Found in collection, NASM.XXXX.0895
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 nine copy prints of Fred Morgan and the 69th Balloon Company, American Expeditionary Forces, circa fall 1918.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of nine copy prints of Fred Morgan and the 69th Balloon Company, American Expeditionary Forces, circa fall 1918. The images include shots of balloons as well as members of the 69th Balloon Company, including Lieutenant Everett M. Dirksen.
Arrangement:
No arrangment.
Biographical / Historical:
Lieutenant Fred Morgan was a captive balloon observer with the 69th Balloon Company, 4th Army Corps, American Expeditionary Forces, on the Western Front during World War I. On October 30, 1918 Morgan was observing artillery fire on a German trench mortar when his balloon was shot down by a Fokker aircraft. Morgan jumped to safety in a parachute, landing in the Nonsard Woods, France. While jumping from the basket, Morgan sustained injuries for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.
Provenance:
Fred M. Morgan, Gift, 1974, NASM.XXXX.1208
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.
Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker (1890--1973) was a self-taught automotive engineer, an American fighter ace in World War I, and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver, a government military consultant during World War II, and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines. This collection consists of a souvenir program for a celebration and reception held from June 21--23, 1919 in Los Angeles, California in honor of Rickenbacker's homecoming after two years of overseas service in World War I.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a souvenir program for a celebration and reception held from June 21--23, 1919 in Los Angeles, California in honor of Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker's homecoming after two years of overseas service in World War I. The event included a parade, barbecue, and formal program at Shrine Auditorium. The program is signed by Rickenbacker with the inscription "To My Little Friend." The program is also signed by film actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. The program is in a folder which has a small black and white photograph of pilot Parker Wagner seated in an aircraft cockpit adhered to it.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (1890--1973) had only a sixth grade education but became a leading aviation figure in both military and civilian circles. Rickenbacker was a fighter ace during World War I, where as a member of the 94th Aero Squadron he shot down 22 German aircraft and 4 observation balloons. He became a colonel in the Army Air Reserves and during World War II helped form the Military Air Transport Services. In October of 1942, during an inspection tour of the Pacific theater, Rickenbacker's Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress went off course and was ditched over water. The surviving seven members of the crew were rescued 24 days later, suffering from exposure, starvation, and dehydration. In the civilian sector, Rickenbacker worked at several airlines, including Fokker Aircraft Corporation and American Airways, before going to work at Eastern Air Lines in 1934. In 1939 Rickenbacker became Eastern's president and chairman, positions he held until 1963.
Provenance:
Mrs. Harold James, Gift, 1973, NASM.XXXX.0877
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.
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.
Marlin-Rockwell Corporation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania produced various aerial bombs and aircraft machine guns under contract for the US Army Air Service during World War I. This collection contains a photograph album documenting the Aerial Bomb Divison of the company including exterior views of the building and images of men and women at work.
This collection is in English.
Scope and Contents:
This photograph album contains twenty-one 8 by 10 inch black and white photographs of the Aerial Bomb Division of Marlin-Rockwell Corporation taken in 1918. The photographs show the following: exterior views of the buildings; interior views showing both men and women working and shipping the bombs; and close-up views of the different aerial bombs and parts produced by the company. The last photograph in the album shows employees at a Liberty Bonds assembly.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Marlin-Rockwell Corporation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was awarded a contract by the US Army Air Service, American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in June 1917 to produce 5,000 Barlow-type aerial bombs. The order was increased to 28,000 by April 1918 before being canceled in June 1918 after 9,000 were produced due to production delays because of modifications needed with the firing mechanism. The company was also awarded a contract to produce Mark II type demolition bombs in December 1917 and produced more than 36,000 by November 1918. The company also produced a large number of aircraft machine guns under various contracts for the US Army Air Service during World War I.
Provenance:
National Museum of American History, Transfer, 1991, NASM.1991.0090
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 contains three scrapbooks and four certificates relating to Edwin C. Parsons' aviation career.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains three scrapbooks and four certificates relating to Edwin C. Parsons' aviation career. The three scrapbooks include photos, news clippings, and mementos from Edwin C. Parsons' expatriate years, 1914-1924. Included in the albums are photos of Parsons' service in France with the Lafayette Escadrille and Les Cigognes squadron, his repatriation certificate, French military citations, and his memoir Fighting Men of the Sky, published in 40 installments weekly beginning 24 March 1918. Also included are news clippings of Parsons' exploits during his varied career.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged by type of material; the scrapbooks are in original order and the loose items are housed at the end of the collection.
Biographical / Historical:
Rear Admiral Edwin C. Parsons (1892-1968) had a varied aviation career, serving in two World Wars. Parsons graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1910 and after attending the University of Pennsylvania, he moved to California where he learned to fly at Dominguez Field. Parsons was commissioned with the Mexican Aviation Corps in 1914 where he trained Pancho Villa's pilots. In 1915, he worked his way to Europe where he joined the Lafayette Escadrille, and was credited with eight kills, making him an ace. From 1920 until 1923, Parsons was a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He then went to Hollywood where he became a script writer and technical advisor, working on such films as Wings, Dawn Patrol, and The Great Adventure. In 1934 he joined the Naval Reserve where he advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral. During World War II Parsons served on an aircraft carrier and took part in amphibious landings in the South Pacific. He retired from the service in 1954.
Provenance:
Adm. Edwin C. Parsons, Gift, unknown, NASM.XXXX.0308
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, a part of the larger A. M. Phillips collection, contains 76 photographs of German World War I pilots. The photographs are of various sizes and on various types of paper. Of these, 73 are black and white and 3 are sepia toned. Most have caption information on the reverse.
Scope and Contents:
This collection, a part of the larger A. M. Phillips collection, contains 76 photographs of German World War I pilots. The photographs are of various sizes and on various types of paper. Of these, 73 are black and white and 3 are sepia toned. Most have caption information on the reverse.
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 German Pilot Photographs Collection is arranged in its original order.
Biographical / Historical:
A collection of approximately 10,000 World War I photographs was assembled from various sources by Mr. A. M. Phillips, who contacted NASM in December 1963 to offer the collection for sale. NASM obtained a gift from the Shell Companies Foundation, Inc. in May, 1964 in the amount of {dollar}5,000 to purchase the collection. NASM received the collection on August 14, 1964.
Provenance:
Shell Companies Foundation, Inc. - A.M. Phillips, Gift, 2008, NASM.XXXX.0848
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
Kaiserlich und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen Search this
Extent:
10.6 Gigabytes
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Digital images
Date:
bulk 1915-1918
Summary:
This collection consists of digital scans of the forty-eight photographs in a souvenir album of Fliegerkompanie 17; "Gewidmet vom Offiziers Korps der Fliegerkomp.17. Südwest Front ("Dedicated by the Officer Corps of Squadron 17. Southwest Front"). The photographs chronicle the daily life of an active World War I squadron, showing squadron personnel in a variety of activities and providing a rare look at a lesser-known theater of the Great War.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of digital scans of the forty-eight photographs in a souvenir album of Fliegerkompanie 17; "Gewidmet vom Offiziers Korps der Fliegerkomp.17. Südwest Front ("Dedicated by the Officer Corps of Squadron 17. Southwest Front"). The photographs chronicle the daily life of an active World War I squadron, showing squadron personnel in a variety of activities: pilots and observers preparing for missions and relaxing off-duty, and enlisted menworking at all the trades required for keeping a squadron running -- repairing aircraft, manning an antiaircraft position, cooking rations, and even mending boots. The album provides a rare look at a lesser-known theater of the Great War.
Arrangement:
The digital image scans are presented in the order the photographs appear in the original photo album.
Biographical / Historical:
The Austro-Hungarian Empire entered World War I with a small air force, the Kaiserlich und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen or K.u.K. Luftfahrtruppen (Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops), consisting of eighty-five pilots, thirty-nine operable aircraft, and ten observation balloons. In the first year of the war, Luftahrtruppen units operated on the Serbian, Russian, and Romanian fronts. The Luftfahrtruppen was confronted by its most formidable opponent when Italy entered the war on the Allied side in May 1915. Fliegerkompanie 17 (FliK 17), a reconnaissance and artillery cooperation squadron, was activated on June 3, 1915 and was assigned to the South Tyrol front in Northern Italy, attached to the Austro-Hungarian 10. Armee Korps (10.AK); first at Gardolo, later at Pergine Valsugana, and once again at Gardolo. The squadron was disbanded at Hall, Austria, in 1918. Its most notable commander was Hauptmann (later Major) Raoul Stojsavljevic (1887-1930), a leading Luftfahrtruppen ace with ten aerial victories.
Provenance:
Steve Jorstad, Gift, 2015, NASM.2015.0022; digital image files created from original photo album loaned by donor for scanning.
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
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Eastern Front Search this
Photo album created by the Sezione Fotografica di Aviazione per la Regia Marina [Photographic Section for Aviation of the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy] unit of the Servizio Aeronautico della Regia Marina [Royal Navy Aeronautical Service] circa 1915-1918; 20 pages plus covers. Contains black-and-white photographs labeled in Italian of Italian Navy facilities, hydroaeroplanes (flying boats), airplanes, airships, captured Austrian hydroaeroplanes, and aerial reconnaissance photo mosaics of several Adriatic port cities then under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Austria-Hungary).
Scope and Contents:
The first part of the album, which has brief captions in Italian, contains views of Regia Marina equipment and facilities at the Stazione Idrovolante Giuseppe Miraglia (Miraglia Seaplane Base) on the Canal Sant'Andrea in Venice, Italy, including hangars of the 251a Squadriglia and 252a Squadriglia; aircraft pictured include Macchi L.3 (M.3), FBA Type H, the Bresciani Bre.4 hydroaeroplane (one of a type developed in 1915-1916 by Luigi Bresciani and Roberto Prunas from a highly modified Caproni Ca.3 trimotor), and what is probably a Lohner Type L Flying Boat or a Macchi L.1 (License built Lohner L-40). Also seen are views of a Caproni Ca.3 bomber, possibly at a different location. This is followed by views of an airship hangar, a close-up view of an airship cockpit, and views of the SCA (Stabilimento di Costruzione Aeronautiche) airship M.9 in flight above a speedboat of the Regia Marina's Motoscafi Anti Sommergibili (M.A.S., Anti-Submarine Motorboats). The next part of the album contains views of several captured Austro-Hungarian aircraft, featuring the sinking of the UFAG (Ungarische Flugzeugwerke A.G.) T1 c/n L 137 (a.k.a. Lohner Type T Flying Boat) shot down by M.A.S. Several aerial reconnaisance photo mosaics appear at the end of the album, including views of Pola (Pula, Croatia) and Isola (Izola, Slovenia) on the peninsula of Istria, Durazzo (Durrës, Albania), and Trieste (now part of Italy). At the time the photographs were made, all these Adriatic port cities were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Austria-Hungary).
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged in a photo album with no apparent order.
Biographical / Historical:
The Servizio Aeronautico della Regia Marina [Royal Navy Aeronautical Service of the Kingdom of Italy], first created in 1913 as a section of the Italian Royal Navy, gained greater importance following the entry of Italy into World War I on May 24, 1915. Their air fleet consisted predominantly of hydroaeroplanes (seaplanes, flyingboats) and airships (dirigibles), the latter being particularly useful for spotting enemy submarines.
Samuel Wesley Stratton (1861-1931), owner of the album, was the founder and first director of the National Bureau of Standards, a member of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and the eighth president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Provenance:
Family of Samuel Wesley Stratton (through Wesley S. Hobbs), Gift, 1964 [National Air Museum Acquisition R-12-64, Scrapbook S-47], XXXX.0235.
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 report containing information and photographs on World War I British aircraft, including aircraft by the following manufacturers: de Havilland; Vickers; Bristol; Blackburn; Sopwith; and the Royal Aircraft Factory.
Provenance:
Unknown, Unknown, 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
