Ralph H. Lyall World War II Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 1995-01-09

Contents of the Collection

The Ralph Lyall World War II Collection relates primarily to the World War II service of pilot Ralph H. Lyall, Jr., who served in the China-Burma-India Theater from 1944-1945.

The collection is a mix of loose materials and a scrapbook. Loose materials include a 1917 registration card for Ralph H. Lyall, Sr., military orders, certificates, correspondence, citations and recommendations, and records. Some items are photocopies and not original documents. One document from 1950 relates to Lyall's veteran eligibility and entitlement. Other World War II-era materials include assorted newspaper clippings from unidentified publications. There are also six black-and-white photographs. They depict the Martin B-26 Marauder "Shorty" in flight, a crashed aircraft (tail number 441186) and military personnel, including Lyall.

The scrapbook contains a mix of textual and visual materials and mostly relates to Lyall's military service, although there is one page related to the 1941 passing of Thomas Lyall, Ralph's grandfather. The textual materials include military documents, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera. There are also 48 black-and-white photographs, most of which do not include captions or identifying locations. The photographs are a mix of casual snapshots and posed portraits and feature military personnel, including Lyall. Additional images depict military aircraft, including a Vultee Valiant, military bases and fields, and an aerial shot of Sheppard Field, Wichita, Texas.

Dates

Creation: 1917-1950
Creation: Majority of material found within 1944-1945

Creator

Lyall, Ralph H., 1919- (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: Ralph H. Lyall

Ralph H. Lyall, Jr. was born October 9, 1919 in California Ro Ralph H. Lyall, Sr. and Edna Mae (Swindle) Lyall. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in October 1941. During World War II, Lyall served as a pilot and was stationed in the China-Burma-India Theater.

Post-war, Lyall returned to California. In 1947, he married Shirley Mae Gingles. The couple had a daughter, Barbara. Ralph H. Lyall, Jr. died February 20, 1977.

Biography derived from collection materials and Ancestry.com.

Extent

0.7 Cubic Feet (1 2-inch legal size document box and 1 photograph album)

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection was donated by Ralph Lyall's daughter, Barbara Lyall Gamba.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Separated Materials

The following materials have been separated from the archival component and are kept in Objects storage:

Flying Tigers silk scarf
American flag
Two leather patches; Air Service Command and Flying Tigers
Leather jacket with patches inside, including American flag, 20th Air Force, Chinese flag, Flying Tigers, and Blood Chit