The Howard J. Boydstun Naval Aviation Collection contains both visual materials and textual documents that bring to light the military career of naval aviator Howard J. Boydstun. Boydstun served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. While the collection dates from 1940 to 1995, the bulk of the materials document Boydstun’s main years of service from 1942 until his retirement in 1972. The collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Naval Service, 1940-1973; and Series II. Personal, 1940-1995.

Series I. Naval Service is comprised of both textual documents and visual materials. These materials offer insight into Boydstun’s service in the United States Navy and the progression of his position as his career advanced. The files contain military orders, endorsements, citations, identification cards, mission descriptions, correspondence, flight time reports, leave requests, travel vouchers, instrument ratings, fitness ratings, membership cards, tobacco rationing card, mileage vouchers, invitations, holiday menus, programs, clippings, new release, flyers, poems, cartoon, diploma, course work, and pilot logbooks.

In addition to the textual documents there are 103 photographic prints. The photographs in the series are a mix of official Navy photos or personal snapshots that capture change of command events, award ceremonies, such as Boydstun’s Legion of Merit award of 1967 and of 1972. There are individual photographs of Boydstun in uniform, other Navy service men, and group photographs of squadrons.

Series II. Personal is made up of a small amount of photographic materials but is largely textual. Across the series ther are 14 photos and 1 color negative. The textual materials consist of correspondence, clippings, certificates, membership cards, flyers, reports, articles, and a booklet with an accompanying typed manuscript on the history of Fighting Squadron Eight.

The largest segment of documents in the collection are the letters that Boydstun sent to his wife, Juanita Boydstun, while away on duty from 1940 to 1965. The letters chronicle his time from the very start of Boydstun’s career with the Navy as he is training, to his deployment during World War II and the Korean War, as well as other military duties. The letters are personal in nature and illustrate the closeness between the two. In addition to details related to their relationship, children, and Boydstun’s feelings of being apart from his family the letters also provide documentation on his experiences while away at war. Boydstun often wrote to Juanita daily. The letters offer information on the location of Boydstun and other service men, what their daily experience was like, and often how the men managed to find a sense of normalcy while stationed afar.

The remaining files include correspondence between Boydstun and individuals inquiring about information related to his naval career. The topics covered are the Fighting Squadron Eight, Fighting Squadron 52, and the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star aircraft. Within the correspondence there are photographs and clippings from that time period.