Contents of Collection
The collection is comprised of a photograph album and accompanying typescript document relating to Meyers' service as an airplane mechanic and the activities of the 88th Aero Squadron during and after World War I.
The album contains one hundred twenty-nine (129) photographs with images featuring squadron and group photos, often posed with aircraft; maps and aerials; souvenir copy photos; shots of servicemen, aircraft, offices, and construction at Orly Field; airships and hangars, aircraft; numerous views of troops on the move. Locations primarily follow the movements of the 88th around France and their post-war station in Trier, Germany. Aircraft pictured include Caudron, de Havilland, Hannover, Junkers, Royal Aircraft Factory, Rumpler, Salmson, Sopwith, and SPAD planes.
The document provides a detailed description of the movements, missions, promotions, and other activities of the 88th Aero Squadron, from their arrival in France in November 1917 to the armistice in November 1918.
Please note that some of the images in this album contain graphic images of wartime casualties.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1918-1919
Creator
- Meyers, Irwin Bryan (Person)
Language of Materials
All materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.
Conditions Governing Use
The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Biographical Note
Private Irwin Bryan Meyers served in the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I as an airplane mechanic for the 88th Aero Squadron. As part of his duties, he would retrieve crashed airplanes. No further information about Meyers is known.
Source:
Biographical note derived from collection paperwork.
Historical Note
The 88th Aero Squadron was formed at Kelly Field, Texas in August 1917. In October, they were stationed at Garden City, New York before shipping overseas. They arrived in France in November, where they assisted with the construction of the Colombey les Belles Air Depot. In February 1918, they received orders to move to Amanty, where they were outfitted as an observation squadron. They moved to Ourches at the end of May where they stayed until September. At the end of September 1918, the 88th was ordered to Souilly, where they flew a number of observation missions. From then until the armistice, the squadron participated in several important engagements including the Battle of Chateau-Thierry, the Vesle, St. Mihiel, and Argonne-Meuse. After the war, they became part of the occupational forces and were stationed at Trier, Germany. They were ordered home in May 1919.
Sources and further reading:
Center of Military History, United States Army. Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War - Zone of the Interior: Directory of Troops, vol. 3, pt. 3. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1988.
[Wilson G. Crosby]. Fletcher Ladd McCordic, 1st Lieut., 88th Aero Squadron A.E.F., 1891-1919 : a tribute. Chicago : [s.n.], 1921.
Extent
0.25 Cubic Feet (1 legal size folder and 1 oversize folder)
Abstract
The Irwin Bryan Meyers Photograph Album is comprised of a photograph album and accompanying typescript document relating to Meyers' service as an airplane mechanic and the activities of the 88th Aero Squadron during and after World War I.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Existence and Location of Copies
Materials from this collection have been digitized and are available at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections.
Subject
- Meyers, Irwin Bryan (Person)
- United States. Army. Air Service. Aero Squadron, 88th (Organization)
- United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Air pilots, Military
- Aircraft accidents
- Airplanes, Military
- Caudron Type R.11 (R XI)
- Hannover CL.IIIa
- Junkers J 4 (J.I)
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
- Rumpler C.I (Typ 5A2)
- SPAD XIII (S.13)
- SPAD XVI (S.16)
- Salmson 2 A2
- Soldiers
- Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter Family
- War casualties
- World War, 1914-1918
- de Havilland (Airco) D.H.4
- Title
- Guide to the Irwin Bryan Meyers Photograph Album
- Status
- Completed Level 3
- Author
- A. Demeter
- Date
- 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Processing, cataloging and digitization of this collection was made possible by a Council on Libraries and Information Resources (CLIR) "Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives" grant.
- Edition statement
- 1st Edition
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org