This collection consists of material collected and organized by Doris L. Rich during research in preparation for her 1989 book, Amelia Earhart: A Biography. Materials include reproductions of newspapers, books, periodicals, correspondence, and typed/handwritten notes by Rich.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of material collected and organized by Doris L. Rich during research in preparation for her 1989 book, Amelia Earhart: A Biography. Materials include reproductions of newspapers, books, periodicals, correspondence, and typed/handwritten notes by Rich.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into 5 series, based upon the original order provided by Doris L. Rich.
Series 1: Biographical Files
Series 2: Amelia Earhart Chronology
Series 3: Historical Chronology
Series 4: Book Correspondence
Series 5: Subject Files and Bibliography
Information added by processing archivist is in brackets. Most notably, Doris L. Rich maintained a very formal tone in her correspondence, frequently addressing women by their married name only, ex. Mollison, Mrs. James. The processing archivist has added additonal name information in brackets when possible, ex. [Amy Johnson].
Biographical / Historical:
Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) in 1928 was the first woman to fly (as a passenger) across the Atlantic, and in 1932 the first woman (and second person, after Charles Lindbergh) to fly solo and nonstop across that ocean. She flew many record flights, published several books, and accomplished much for women in aviation before attempting, on June 1, 1937, an around-the-world flight from Miami, Florida, in a twin-engine Lockheed Electra. She and navigator Frederick J. Noonan were flying from Lae, New Guinea, to Howland Island when they disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937. An exhaustive sea and air search, ordered by President Franklin Roosevelt, was unsuccessful in locating Earhart and Noonan.
Doris L. Rich (1920-2009) was a freelance journalist and photographer in Hong Kong from 1949 to 1967. She taught English in Bangladesh and Ghana before moving to Washington, DC in the late 1970s. Her first book, Amelia Earhart: A Biography, was published by the Smithsonian Press in 1989. In the book, Rich downplays Earhart's disappearance and instead focuses on Earhart's many contributions to the aviation field and her championing of women's rights. The book was proclaimed one of the Notable Books of the Year by the New York Times in 1990 and served as the basis for Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight, a made-for-television movie in 1994.
Provenance:
Doris L. Rich, Gift, 1990, NASM.1991.0003
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 newspaper articles, letters with envelopes, New Zealand postcards, radiograms, and Christmas cards from Konter to his New York Landlady, Mrs. Adalaide Gray (who Konter called 'Ma'), and to Mr. Ed Iovanna. The envelopes and postcards bear the postmarks and stamps of the expedition. There are also three photographs: one of Byrd and Bennett; one of Adalaide Gray; and one of Konter.
Biographical / Historical:
Richard 'Dick' Konter was a seaman on the 'City of New York,' the ship that carried Admiral Richard Byrd to his 'Little America - Antarctica' expedition. Mr. Konter, known as Ukulele Dick, was the recreation officer for this trip and not only played the ukulele for the rest of the crew during leisure time, but also took records and pinola rolls on the trip for the crew to enjoy.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Muriel Yarger, gift, 1998, 1999-0003, pending
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 both of photographs that appear in the book as well as additional research materials, including: correspondence, printed materials, photographs, and negatives.
Biographical / Historical:
Thom Hook's book, Shenandoah Saga was published in 1973. It was written to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the USS Shenandoah--the first American-built, helium-filled rigid airship. This book traces the history of the naval airship from its preplanning stages to its tragic crash on September 3, 1925.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Thomas Hook, Gift, 1985, 1985-0021, varies (including public domain)
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 copies of formerly classified reports, minutes and correspondence gathered by Max Schoenfeld for his research. This collection also contains some secondary source material copied from books. There is no original material in this collection, only copies.
Biographical / Historical:
Max Schoenfeld was the author of the book entitled, Stalking the U-boat: USAAF Offensive Antisubmarine Operations in World War II. This book, published in 1995 by the Smithsonian Press as part of the Smithsonian History of Aviation series, recounts the story of the United States Army Air Forces' antisubmarine operations against German U-boats during the crisis of the Battle of the Atlantic in late 1942 and 1943.
General:
The book "Stalking the U-boat: USAAF Offensive Antisubmarine Operations in World War II" is available in the National Air and Space Museum Branch Library.
NASMrev
Provenance:
Larry Lynch, Gift, 2000, 2000-0062, 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, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American -- North Atlantic Search this
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations Search this
This collection contains a manuscript (94 unnumbered pages) detailing the history of the 1st Aero Squadron, a folder containing official documents relating to Pendleton's service and another containing an observer's notation board and a single photograph.
Biographical / Historical:
Littleton Flippo Pendleton served as an observer with the 1st Aero Squadron during 1917-1919.
General:
This material is in brittle and fragile condition. To facilitate access to it, a copy of the manuscript has been made onto acid-free paper and it is requested that researchers review this copy instead of the original.
NASMrev
Provenance:
Warren Pendleton, transfer, 1975, XXXX-0591, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
This collection consists color slides and correspondence. The 34 color slides relate to the 509th Composite Group on Tinian during World War II. The images feature the following: the Enola Gay, Enola Gay crew members, noseart, and aerials of Tinian Island and Siapan taken from the Enola Gay. The correspondence is between the donor, then T/Sgt Kenneth L. Eidnes and Marna Anderson. The correspondence consists of 22 letters written by Eidnes to Anderson between August and November 1945. The letters include information regarding his stay at Tinian and his journey back to the United States after the war. On 15 October 1999 the donor gave a First Day Cover of a 1998 509th commemorative envelope, mailed from Tinian.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Kenneth L. Eidnes, gift, 1994, 1994-0030, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Korff, Frederick Francis "Bud,", 1926-2016 Search this
Extent:
0.38 Cubic feet ((2 boxes))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Newsletters
Newspaper clippings
Date:
undated
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of approximately 0.38 cubic feet of material relating to Frederick Francis "Bud" Korff's service with the 509th Composite Group. There is a folder of correspondence between Korff and various friends and relatives, most frequently letters from Korff to his mother. The collection also contains news clippings; "The Atomic Blast" newsletters, dated June-July 1946, issued by the 509th Composite Group from Kwajalein Island; several issues of the Kwajalein newspaper "The Hourglass"; yearbooks for various units under Task Group 1.5 (formed from the 58th Bombardment Wing, part of Joint Army/Navy Task Force One, which conducted the Bikini Atoll tests) including Headquarters, The Air Photo Unit (1.52), Air Instrumentation and Test Requirement Unit (1.53), and the Air Transport Unit (1.54); blank stationery with letterhead art work for the 58th Bomb Wing Crossroads Project and with two different designs for the Operation Crossroads Atomic Tests; Kwajalein Island orientation materials; and a copy of Korff's discharge certificate. Other items of interest include a postal cover flown aboard Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Dave's Dream" in the first atomic test of Operation Crossroads, and a short snorter in various sizes designed for Joint Army/Navy Task Force One/Operation Crossroads. The largest copy of the short snorter measures 13 by 6 inches and is signed by various members of the group.
Biographical / Historical:
Frederick Francis "Bud" Korff (1926-2016) served as an airplane and engine mechanic with the 509th Composite Group, first at Roswell Army Airfield, New Mexico and later as part of Operation Crossroads, an atmospheric nuclear weapon test series conducted in the summer of 1946 at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Korff was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Air Forces in November 1946.
Provenance:
Eric F. Witzke, Gift, 2017
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 50th Anniversary of the NC-4 Transatlantic Flight Collection [Smith] Collection contains photocopies of correspondence, published materials, maps, and photographs. The collection also includes photocopies of aircraft logs, naval ship logs, weather reports, progress reports, biographies of the participants, information on the construction of the NC Aircraft and the general planning for the flight, and original material on the thirtieth and fiftieth anniversaries of the flight.
Scope and Content Note:
This collection was gathered by Dr. Richard K. Smith of the National Air and Space Museum, in preparation for the fiftieth anniversary of the NC-4's transatlantic flight. It contains photocopies from microfilm of documents found in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Record Group 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and Record Group 72, Records of the Bureau of Aeronautics. The researcher will find photocopies of correspondence, published materials, maps, and photographs. The collection also includes photocopies of aircraft logs, naval ship logs, weather reports, progress reports, biographies of the participants, information on the construction of the NC Aircraft and general planning for the flight, and original material on the thirtieth and fiftieth anniversaries of the flight.
The final box of the collection (Box 5) contains 6 reels of microfilm from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Record Groups 24 and 72 relating to the Trans Atlantic flight of the NC-4. As the processing archivist reviewed the microfilm, it appeared that many of the documents in boxes 1-4 were copied from the microfilm. These reels of microfilm are available for review upon request.
Arrangement:
Materials are arranged by subject and then chronologically.
Historical Note:
In 1917, the United States Navy developed specifications for a flying boat of sufficient range to cross the Atlantic to England. The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, in conjunction with the Navy, developed a three-engine aircraft. The Navy intended that the flying boat would serve as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The first of the new aircraft, the NC-1, flew on October 4, 1918, followed by the NC-2 on April 12, 1919. Even though World War I had ended, the Navy decided to continue the program in an effort to make the first transatlantic crossing by air. As the program progressed, the NC-2 was dismantled for parts for the other NC aircraft. On May 16, 1919, the NC-1, the NC-3, and the NC-4 assembled at Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, to begin the 1200 nautical-mile flight to the Azores. The NC-1 was forced down short of the islands and sank, but the Greek vessel, Ionia, rescued the crew. The NC-3 landed two hundred miles short and taxied the remaining distance to the islands. The NC-4 completed the flight successfully, reaching Plymouth, England via Lisbon, Portugal, on May 31, 1919. Following publicity tours of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the NC-4 was given to the Smithsonian Institution and is a part of the National Air and Space Museum collection.
Reels of microfilm are available for review upon request.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to ue NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
A. Francis Arcier, (1890-1969) was an aviator, scientist, designer and engineer whose pioneering work in aviation design spanned six decades and earned him many honors.
Scope and Contents:
The A. Francis Arcier Collection contains approximately 3 cubic feet of material relating to his extraordinary career in aviation. This collection has biographical and professional documents, technical information on aircraft designs, patents, correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, certificates, photographs, negatives and three scrapbooks.
Note: The digital images shown for this collection were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product which did not reproduce all materials found in this collection; some items have not been scanned.
Arrangement:
Every effort was made to provide dates when possible and each series is arranged in chronological order.
The collection is arranged as follows:
Series 1: Biographical and professional material
Series 2: Technical material
Series 3: Publications
Series 4: Photographs
Series 5: Scrapbooks
Biographical/Historical note:
A. Francis Arcier, (1890-1969) was an aviator, scientist, designer and engineer whose pioneering work in aviation design spanned six decades and earned him many honors. Born in London, he studied aeronautics in Passey, France under Sir Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower. He served as draftsman for such notable aircraft designers as Gabriel Voisin, Henri Coanda, Frank Barnivell and Gordon England. At the age of 21, he learned to fly and received his international aviator's certificate. He served as a flight instructor at the Hall School of Flying in Hendon, England and during World War I, with Handley Page, Ltd. He designed the first twin engine and the first four engine bombers used by the United States and its Allies. Arcier emigrated to the United States in 1919 and was employed as Chief Engineer at the Witteman Aircraft Corporation, makers of the Barling Bomber designed by Arcier. It was the largest heavier-than-air aircraft of its time. During his years with Witteman, Arcier won the Army Air Service Engineering Divisions' design competition for a bomber aircraft design. That same year, Arcier became Chief Engineer for the Fokker Aircraft Corporation, where among other notable accomplishments, he designed the Fokker Trimotor Transport which was used by Amelia Earhart and by Richard Byrd in his flight over the North Pole and also across the North Atlantic. After Arcier attained his United States citizenship in 1929, he became Vice President of Operations and Director of the General Airplanes Corporation in Buffalo, New York. In 1930 under his leadership, the "Mailplane", one of the first all-metal airplanes, was built. Later in 1930, Arcier became Chief Engineer of the Weaver Aircraft Company, WACO. He worked for WACO for 17 years in various capacities. Arcier and the Waco Aircraft Company made many contributions to the National Defense Program during World War II such as the Model UPF-7. The Waco Company was entrusted with the entire combat and cargo glider Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces. This was initiated in an Army Design Competition which the Company won and resulted in a program involving the design, prototype construction and, in some cases, production construction of some twelve models ranging from Model CG-3A to the CG-15A. These gliders were built by the thousands under Arcier's technical direction by sixteen prime contractors and many hundreds of sub-contractors throughout the nation. In 1948, Arcier became Chief Scientist for U.S. Air Force Intelligence at Wright- Patterson AFB until he retired in 1963. After his retirement, he served as consultant to the Commander, Foreign Technology Division and Special Advisor to the Division's Advisory Group on scientific and technical intelligence matters. Among his honors were the USAF Meritorious Civilian Service Award (1953), and the USAF Distinguished Civilian Service Award (1961.) A. Francis Arcier died on November 21, 1969.
Provenance:
Elizabeth Arcier, gift, 1972, additional material received from Francis Arnoult, 2019, NASM.XXXX.0072.
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.
Knabenshue, A. Roy (Augustus Roy), 1876-1960 Search this
Names:
Early Birds of Aviation (Organization). Search this
Knabenshue, A. Roy (Augustus Roy), 1876-1960 Search this
Extent:
3.6 Cubic feet (8 legal document boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Diaries
Drawings
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Photographs
Date:
circa 1890s-1960s
Summary:
This collection contains approximately three and a half cubic feet of material relating to the life and career of A. Roy Knabenshue. The collection includes correspondence, photographic material, drawings of aircraft, and flight records.
Scope and Contents:
The A. Roy Knabenshue Collection (accession XXXX.0136 and related accession XXXX.0370) contains approximately three and a half cubic feet of material relating to the life and career of a daring aeronaut and the United States' first successful dirigible pilot. The collection includes correspondence, photographic material, drawings of aircraft, and flight records. The material spans over seventy years, from the end of the nineteenth century to the nineteen-sixties.
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) received these materials in several parts in the early 1960s. Material was donated by Mrs. A. Roy (Jane) Knabenshue and their son, Glenn Knabenshue. Original order, where identified, has been maintained.
Arrangement note:
Series 1: Personal
Subseries 1: Biographical
Subseries 2: Articles and Manuscripts
Subseries 3: Correspondence
Series 2: Career
Subseries 1: The Wright Company
Subseries 2: National Park Service
Series 3: Photographs and Scrapbooks
Series 4: Drawings
Series 5: Subject files
Series 6: Miscellaneous
Biographical/Historical note:
Augustus Roy Knabenshue was born July 15, 1876 in Lancaster, Ohio to Samuel S. and Salome Matlack Knabenshue. The family later moved to Toledo, Ohio where Roy's father became editor-in-chief of the Toledo Blade. It was there that Roy became interested in lighter-than-air flight after seeing a balloon ascension when he was five years old. His interest continued to grow in the years that followed and in 1899 he bought a captive balloon and its equipment. The next season, he began to take short leaves of absence from his job at Central Union Telephone Company and was operating his balloon at fairs and carnivals, charging attendees for ascensions. To protect his day job and spare his socially prominent family embarrassment, Knabenshue used the name "Professor Don Carlos" at his balloon engagements. By 1900, Knabenshue had begun to fabricate additional spherical balloons himself, for use in free ascensions.
In October of 1904, Knabenshue took a new balloon to Saint Louis to enter it in contests associated with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. There he met Thomas S. Baldwin, who had brought his dirigible the California Arrow to the event. The airship proved incapable of take off with Baldwin at the controls, and the slimmer Knabenshue was asked to substitute as pilot. Possessing no experience with dirigibles, Knabenshue accepted Baldwin's instructions and on October 25 became the first person to successfully pilot a dirigible in the United States.
Roy Knabenshue's name would be associated with the term "first" many times in the next few years. In 1905, Knabenshue built his own airship, the Toledo I, and flew it at its namesake city on Independence Day. A month later, Knabenshue made the first flight of an airship over Manhattan, taking off from Central Park and circling the Times Building. On December 17, 1908, he made the first successful night flight of a dirigible in the United States.
By 1909, Knabenshue had teamed up with Lincoln Beachey to fly airships at various events. Beachey was to fly a Knabenshue dirigible a year later at the Los Angeles International Air Meet, held at Dominguez Field, Los Angeles, which Knabenshue was instrumental in organizing. Knabenshue also raced his own airship during the event, setting several records.
His success attracted the attention of the Wright brothers, who were considering entering the exhibition field. Knabenshue was hired to manage the Wright Exhibition Team beginning in 1910, and worked with the team periodically for the next few years. Associated professionally at times with Glenn Martin, Walter Brookins and James V. Martin, by 1917 he had formed the Knabenshue Aircraft Corporation to produce dirigibles, kite balloons and parachutes. During the First World War, this company made captive observation balloons for use by the United States Navy.
In 1933, Knabenshue began working for the National Park Service. His duties included surveying air routes, and the management of an autogiro project.
After suffering a heart attack in 1949, Knabenshue retired. He died on March 6, 1960, at the age of 83, and was buried at the Portal of the Folded Wings, Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California. He had held Balloon License Number 31, Dirigible License Number 4, built ten airships and numerous balloons, was a prominent member of the Early Birds of Aviation, and had earned a significant place in American aviation history.
Provenance:
Mrs. A. Roy (Jane) Knabenshue, NASM.XXXX.0136.
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.
Admiral Albert C. Read, USN (Curtiss NC-4) Collection
Creator:
Read, A. C. (Albert Cushing), 1887-1967 Search this
Names:
Read, A. C. (Albert Cushing), 1887-1967 Search this
Extent:
1.74 Cubic feet (1 legal document box, three oversized boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Biographies
Clippings
Reports
Scrapbooks
Logs (records)
Correspondence
Photographs
Date:
1919-1946
bulk May 1919 to June 1919
Summary:
Rear Admiral Albert C. Read (1887-1967) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1907 and became Naval Aviator #24 in July 1915. In 1919, Read was the commander of the Curtiss NC-4, the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic. The NC-4 covered 2150 nautical miles, from Nova Scotia to the Azores. The NC-4 was joined in the flight by the Curtiss NC-1 and Curtiss NC-3, but both the NC-1 and NC-3 were forced to land in the open sea.
This collection consists of the following: black scrapbook containing photographs with US Navy numbers; newspaper front pages; reports; cable grams; signals and dispatches; the NC-4 log; biography of Read; and correspondence.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of the following: black scrapbook containing photographs with US Navy numbers; newspaper front pages; reports; cable grams; signals and dispatches; the NC-4 log; biography of Read; and correspondence in both Portuguese (with English translations) and English.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Biographical/Historical note:
Rear Admiral Albert C. Read (1887-1967) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1907 and became Naval Aviator #24 in July 1915. In 1919, Read was the commander of the Curtiss NC-4, the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic. The NC-4 covered 2150 nautical miles, from Nova Scotia to the Azores. The NC-4 was joined in the flight by the Curtiss NC-1 and Curtiss NC-3, but both the NC-1 and NC-3 were forced to land in the open sea.
Provenance:
Rear Admiral Albert C. Read, gift, 1962, XXXX.0391, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
United States. Navy -- Reserve fleets -- Flying Corps Search this
United States. Navy. Anacostia Naval Air Station Search this
United States. Navy. Bureau of Aeronautics [BuAer] Search this
Extent:
6.54 Cubic feet ((6 records center boxes))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Photographs
Clippings
Date:
[ca. 1910s-1970s]
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of the following types of material relating to Pride's illustrious naval aviation career: correspondence, photographs: official documents, such as Naval orders newsclippings; and certificates.
Biographical / Historical:
Admiral Alfred Melville Pride (1897-1988) was a retired four-star admiral who was a pioneer in Navy aviation. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Pride attended the Engineering School at Tuft's College before enlisting in the US Naval Reserve Force in 1917. In September 1917, Pride was appointed Ensign in the Naval Reserve Flying Corp where he served in England and France during World War I. Pride was designated a naval aviator in 1918 and was transferred to the regular Navy in November of 1921 and was commissioned a Lieutenant. In September 1921 Pride reported for duty with the aviation detachment of the USS Langley, where he developed the arresting gear to be installed on the Langley and where he carried out experimental take-offs and landings on the aircraft carrier. The Navy sent him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study aeronautical engineering. He later served with the original crews on the Navy's next two carriers --the Saratoga and the Lexington, Pride made the first landing of a helicopter on an aircraft carrier in 1931 and from 1934-1936 he was commander of the flight test section at the Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington, D.C. During World War II, Pride commanded the aircraft carrier Belleau Wood in the South Pacific, conducting air strikes against the Japanese in the following campaigns: Tarawa, Wake and Makin Islands, Kwajalein, Truk, Sampan and Tinian. Pride also commanded the Naval Air Center at Pearl Harbor, directing air support for amphibious landings and played a major role in planning for the invasion of Okinawa and the Japanese home islands. After World War II Pride headed the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington, DC, and in 1953 he was selected to command the Seventh Fleet. He retired in 1959.
General:
Additional materials: Uniform and flight were transferred to the National Air and Space Museum Aeronautics Division.
NASMrev
Provenance:
Carol P. Lemeshewsky, Gift, 1989, 1997-0010, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean Search this
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations Search this
3.27 Cubic feet ((3 records center boxes) (1 20x24x3 flatbox))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Correspondence
Publications
Clippings
Manuscripts
Date:
1922-1977
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains information about Admiral Leslie from the years 1922-1977, covering his Navy career and including the World War II years and his part in the Battle of Midway. The collection contains the following types of material: official Navy documents, letters from researchers who sought information on the Battle of Midway, personal papers, newspaper clippings, a magazine article with general information on the Battle of Midway and post-War publications. The collection also contains numerous photographs but none pertaining to the Battle of Midway. Most of the photographs are not labeled and show base life, including many of base athletic teams, mostly baseball.
Biographical / Historical:
Admiral Maxwell Franklin Leslie (1902-1984) attended the University of Washington before entering the US Naval Academy in 1922. He was commissioned Ensign in 1926, received flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1929 and was designated Naval Aviator in 1930. When the US entered World War II, he was Executive Officer of Bombing Squadron 3, based on the USS Saratoga. He later commanded that unit, operating from the USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway. For extraordinary heroism there, he was awarded the Navy Cross. He also flew with his squadron operating from from the USS Enterprise while escorting the USS Hornet for the Doolittle raid on Tokyo, April 17, 1942. He continued to serve the Navy overseas during World War II and after the war spent the rest of his career on various ships and bases. He retired in 1956. In addition to the Navy Cross, he was presented the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" and the Commendation Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation to the USS Enterprise, American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
William N. Leslie, gift, 1986, 1987-0131, 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
This collection consists of photographs and documents relating to the Aerial Navigation Company of America, including: Call engine photographs and literature; Call aircraft, including the 1912 Call Monoplane; by-laws and stock certificates for the Company; a photograph of the machine shop; and newspaper clippings regarding William Moody, who was a mechanic for the company, circa 1910-1912. There is also material regarding the lighting system installed by Moody at the Omaha Airport, 1936.
Biographical / Historical:
The Aerial Navigation Company of America (1908-1912) was founded by Henry Laurens Call, socialist lawyer and economist. Located in Girard, Kansas, the Aerial Navigation Company designed the the Call airship -- the first Kansas-designed and built aircraft to make an attempt to take off. The airship was not successful, but the company established a factory, a flying school, and built an additional 13 aircraft before going bankrupt in 1912. Only one of the aircraft, the Call Monoplane, actually flew. The Company's biggest success was with the Call Aviation Engine which they manufactured and marketed.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Knapp, gift, 1995, 1995-0046, 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
Aerocar, Inc. was founded by Moulton B. "Molt" Taylor to produce the Aerocar aircraft he designed. This collection contains materials relating to Aerocar, Inc. including correspondence to shareholders; a news clipping; an advertisement for a scale model Aerocar toy; and two stock certificates for five shares each.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains materials relating to Aerocar, Inc. including correspondence to shareholders, which contains financial information, from Moulton B. "Molt" Taylor (president); a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Dickson Porter Hill (shareholders) from Theolynn Aune (wife of Harold Aune, one of the company's directors) discussing procurement of a contract for production of the Aerocars; a news clipping; an advertisement for a scale model Aerocar toy; and two stock certificates for five shares each.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Aerocar, Inc. was founded by Moulton B. "Molt" Taylor to produce the Aerocar aircraft he designed. The company was officially incorporated in 1951 and Taylor received official Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Type Certificate approval for the Aerocar in 1956. Taylor then began searching for a manufacturer for the Aerocar. A contract was signed in 1961 with Ling-Temco-Vought, but it ultimately fell through. Some examples of the Aerocar were built and used as demonstrator models, but the aircraft never entered production.
Provenance:
Robin C. Cowley, Gift, 2012, NASM.2012.0009
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 consists of material documenting the Army's air mail service and includes correspondence, air mail schedules, equipment lists and receipts, operation orders and memorandums, officer lists and personal notifications and orders.
Biographical / Historical:
H. Paul Culver (1893-1964) was taught to fly by Glenn Curtiss and was an Army test pilot and combat flying instructor during World War I. In May of 1918, 1st Lieutenant Culver was one of four United States Army pilots who flew the Nation's first regular two way air mail run between New York City and Washington, DC. Culver flew from Philadelphia to New York, the second leg of the historic run. Culver was also in charge of the Bustleton Pennsylvania Air Mail Station during the three month period that the Army flew the air mail. At the end of that period, the post office took over all air mail operations. After Culver's stint as an air mail pilot, he resigned from the Army and became a sales engineer for the Ex-Cell-O Corporation. He was a member of the Early Birds.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Commander Paul D. Culver, gift, 1999, 1999-0028, 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
This collection consists of the following ephemeral items documenting Pullman's travels: photographs and postcards, including three images of Wolfgang von Gronau's Dornier Wal; certificates - one "Jupiter Rex," for crossing the equator and one "Clipper Club," for flying around the world; and a red 10x13" scrapbook containing baggage labels, postcards, menus, guest lists, hotel and travel literature, decals, and tickets and napkins which were souvenirs from events and places he visited during his travels. A technical manual for Air-Ground Communication, December 2, 1941, was also donated as was a souvenir edition of "Plane News: Air Service Paper of the A.E.F.", January 25, 1919; a roster and photograph of the Ordnance Detachment, A.F. in G., Metternich, Germany, distributed on the occasion of a Thanksgiving Dinner, November 25, 1925; five July, 1938 images relating to Pan Am Philippine Clipper trip number 222; four World War I era images and one portrait of a young pilot in parachute harness.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of the following ephemeral items documenting Pullman's travels: photographs and postcards, including three images of Wolfgang von Gronau's Dornier Wal; certificates - one "Jupiter Rex," for crossing the equator and one "Clipper Club," for flying around the world; and a red 10x13" scrapbook containing baggage labels, postcards, menus, guest lists, hotel and travel literature, decals, and tickets and napkins which were souvenirs from events and places he visited during his travels. A technical manual for Air-Ground Communication, December 2, 1941, was also donated as was a souvenir edition of "Plane News: Air Service Paper of the A.E.F.", January 25, 1919; a roster and photograph of the Ordnance Detachment, A.F. in G., Metternich, Germany, distributed on the occasion of a Thanksgiving Dinner, November 25, 1925; five July, 1938 images relating to Pan Am Philippine Clipper trip number 222; four World War I era images and one portrait of a young pilot in parachute harness.
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 Airline Ephemera Collection [Pullman]-- is arranged by content type.
Biographical / Historical:
Henry W. Pullman's job as the export manager for a major oil tool company required him to travel extensively from the late 1920s to the 1950s. Pullman used the following airlines in his travels: Trans World Airlines (TWA); Pan American Airways; Royal Dutch Air Lines (KLM); Royal Netherlands Indies Airways; and American Airlines.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Henry Pullman, gift, 1993, NASM.1993.0018
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 manuscript, 'Letters Home From the Lafayette Flying Corps,' comprised of Alan's correspondence during the war, his brother Jack's journal, newspaper articles, and sympathy letters to Alan's parents from his friends after his death; two letters from Alan Nichols to W.H. Nichols, September 8 and November 21, 1917; and five photographs taken by Alan in France, circa 1917.
Biographical / Historical:
Alan H. Nichols (189 -1918) was a student volunteer for the Standford ambulance corps during World War I. Within six months Nichols switched over to the French aviation service, where he flew a SPAD for the Escadrille 85. He was cited twice and was awarded the Medaille Militarie posthumous. Nichols died of an abdomen wound he received during a patrol run between Compiegne and Soissons in 1918.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Alan and Nancy Nichols, unknown, 1992, 1992-0047, Donor
Restrictions:
Donor holds copyright on materials.
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 biographical material on Albert F. Hegenberger, including photographs of his Hawaii flight and papers concerning his work with the development of instrument flying and aerial navigation.
Biographical / Historical:
Albert Francis Hegenberger (1895-1983) graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as an aeronautical engineer and served as a flight instructor during World War I. In 1927, Hegenberger and Lester Maitland became the first persons to fly from California to Hawaii, in the Fokker C-2 , Military, "Bird of Paradise." For this achievement they received the MacKay Trophy and the Distinguished Flying Cross from President Coolidge. Hegenberger went on to develop a blind landing system, and in 1932 he made the world's first solo instrument-only flight at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. His system was adopted for both military and civilian use and earned him a second Distinguished Flying Cross and the Collier Trophy in 1934. Hegenberger rose to the rank of major general in the United States Army.
Provenance:
Robert F. Hegenberger, Gift, 1986
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
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