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Archives at The Museum of Flight


Colonel Ralph J. Moore Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 1996-07-15

Contents of the Collection

The Colonel Ralph J. Moore Collection consists of primarily of manuscripts and photographic items collected by Col. Moore during his career in the Army Air Forces. Col. Moore commanded the 61st Troop Carrier Group during World War II, but the documents in this collection do not relate to that part of his career. They mostly relate to the 1937-1943 period of training and flight safety work that Col. Moore seems to have been heavily involved in during his military service.

At the beginning of the collection are assorted manuscripts items, which are divided up by subject and range from 1937-1943. There are several folders of Civil Aeronautics Authority publications, a folder of Army Air Corps memos and orders, and a folder of Air Line Pilots Association newsletters.

Following the manuscripts are Aircraft Accident Reports from the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA), circa 1937-1944. These reports were originally stored in the envelopes which were sent to Colonel Moore from the CAA; the envelopes have been removed for preservation reasons, but the original organization and order of these items has been preserved. The reports are organized by their publication date, and were generally published a few months after the accidents they describe. It is unknown if Col. Moore worked with the CAA in some capacity, or if these reports were sent purely for his own information.

At the end of the collection are standard Sectional Maps published by the Department of Commerce and one (1) clipping from an unidentified publication, "Air Bureau Gives Detailed Report on Rogers-Post Crash," dated October 1935. Also included is a panoramic photograph of the 61st Troop Carrier Group, taken in 1943.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1930s to 1940s

Creator

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 James Moore

Ralph James Moore (1909-1963) graduated from the Boeing School of Aeronautics in 1931. He was a member of the Army Air Corps during the 1930s and worked with the Civil Aeronautics Board through the 1930s and 1940s. He eventually rose to the rank of Colonel.

During World War II, Colonel Moore was part of 12th Air Force in Algeria, operating in the North African Theatre under General James "Jimmy" Doolittle. Col. Moore was the commanding officer of the 61st Troop Carrier Group. The Group flew Douglas C-47 Skytrains and Douglas C-53 Skytroopers during the war.

No further information is known.

Source:

Biography derived from collection materials.

Extent

1.95 Cubic Feet (1 records carton, 1 5-inch legal size document box, 1 flat box (12x18x3), and 1 oversize folder)

Abstract

Ralph James Moore (1909-1963) graduated from the Boeing School of Aeronautics in 1931, was a member of the Army Air Corps during the 1930s, and worked with the Civil Aeronautics Board through the 1930s and 1940s. The collection consists of manuscripts, maps, photographs, and clippings collected by Moore during his career in the Army Air Forces. The majority of the collection is comprised of Aircraft Accident Reports from the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA).

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Related Archival Materials at The Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight holds several collections related to people mentioned in the Aircraft Accident Reports in this collection. These related collections include:

The Elrey B. Jeppesen Collection (1996-11-26): Extensive collection of materials related to the life and work of Elrey B. Jeppesen, air pioneer and creator of the Airway Manual. See Box One, Folder 3 for the related accident report, wherein Jeppesen had a minor crash at the Municipal Airport in Denver, Colorado.

Roy Schreck/Nick Mamer Collection (1995-01-03): approximately 190 photographs and one ticket related to Mamer Air Transport, which was operated by Nick Mamer in Spokane, Washington. See Box Two, Folder 3 for the related accident report wherein Mamer, his co-pilot, and the 8 passengers were all killed.

File: Boeing Model 307, The Museum of Flight Aircraft Files Collection: Includes photographs from the 1939 crash of a Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner near Alder, Washington. See Box Two, Folder 4 for the related accident report for this aircraft, NX-19901.

The A. Elliot and Mildred (Filz) Merrill Collection (1985-09-27): Collection of archival materials related to Northwest aviation. Topics include the Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field, The Ninety-Nines, The Boeing Company, Boeing Field, the Army Air Service, and test pilots. See Box Two, Folder 5 for the related accident report describing the crash that caused the deaths of pilot Cora Sterling and her 4 passengers.

Robert W. Stevens Collection (2004-11-02): Extensive collection of materials on Alaskan aviation, including materials on pilot Harold Gillam. See Box Two, Folder 40 for the related accident report. Gillam died while attempting to get help after the crash, but four of his five passengers were rescued 33 days later.

Separated Materials

The following items are also part of the Colonel Ralph J. Moore Collection, but they were separated from the archival component and are kept in objects storage:

  • Two (2) Army Air Corps uniform jackets, circa 1930s
  • One (1) pair of Army Air Corps leather boots, circa 1930s
  • One (1) painted canvas from the Boeing School of Aeronautics
  • One (1) painted canvas from Kelly Field (Texas)
  • One (1) piece of burned aircraft canvas, with a skeleton in a hula skirt painted on it

Title
Guide to the Colonel Ralph J. Moore Collection
Status
Completed Level 4
Author
L. Zaborowski, J.Parent
Date
2014, 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
2nd Edition

Repository Details

Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository

Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874


The Museum of Flight | 9404 E. Marginal Way South | Seattle WA 98108-4097 | 206-764-5874
Contact us with a research request
curator@museumofflight.org