Peter A. Klover World War I Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2019-04-04-A

Scope and Contents

The Peter A. Klover World War I Collection is a small collection consisting of documents and photographs from approximately 1917-1935 related to Klover's service in World War I as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

The documents in the collection include an undated clipping from later in his life detailing his military service and post-war work; an undated form from the U.S. Civil Service Commission for temporary appointment, transfer, reinstatement, or promotion; and a handwritten document explaining his military and work experience from 1917 to about 1934, possibly an addendum to the previous form.

There are ten black-and-white photographs in the collection. A panoramic group portrait depicts an unidentified military squadron, though probably from the Signal Corps. Peter Klover's brother, Nicholas Cornelius Klover, is pictured in this group in the 2nd row, seventh from left, seated. This image was possibly taken at Kelly Field, Texas. An 8x10" image depicts an American Multiplane Company's John's Multiplane, likely at Langley Field, Hampton Virginia in 1919, with a Thomas-Morse Scout in the background. Two 8x10" aerial views show the Fairfield Air Intermediate Depot in what was then Fairfield, Ohio (the area was renamed Fairborn in 1950) with numerous pursuit planes lined up. One of these aerials is dated 1931. A black album page includes six snapshots, four of which are personal in nature. One of the images is captioned, "planes on line, victory liberty loan, Chicago," and depicts Curtiss Jennies (including JN-4Hs) at Grant Park. The last photo is captioned, "captured German Fokker 'V' L.L. Chicago May 1919" and depicts two men on a Fokker D.VII with lozenge camouflage.

Though Klover worked closely with dirigibles during World War I, there are no materials related to dirigibles in the collection.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within circa 1917-1935

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: Peter A. Klover

Peter August Klover was an aviation mechanic who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I.

Klover was born February 19, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his education through the eighth grade. He took a six-month correspondence course on shop math as well as a 12-month course on auto and engineering mechanics through night school and a 12-month course on cabinetry and woodworking. In 1912 he worked for the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois doing power line maintenance. In 1913 he performed general carpentry and construction work and in 1914 was working on a farm. By late 1914 he was working for Elgin Joliet and Eastern Railroad as a railroad machinist helper. He traveled and worked odd jobs in 1915 before returning to the railroad. In 1916 he moved to Waterloo, Iowa where he worked for Chamberlin Machine Company making explosives for the British government. He worked odd jobs and traveled before returning to the railroad again in 1917.

Klover enlisted in the Army on April 18, 1917 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and completed his basic training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in the new Aviation Section of the Signal Corps in the 10th Aero Squadron. He later transferred to the 38th. While in the Army he worked as an aviation mechanic, was in charge of hangars, and was chief inspector of the flying line. In 1919 he re-enlisted and served in the lighter-than-air branch where he worked with both free and captive balloons and dirigibles. After completing a course for dirigible flight engineers, he became the Assistant Engineer for the dirigible Zodiac. After his discharge on April 20, 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, he worked in Joliet, Illinois doing auto repair and for General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania as a machine operator. In 1921 he became an instructor for the Air Corps Technical School in Rantoul, Illinois teaching airplane mechanics, assembly, rigging, elementary aerodynamics, and theory of flight. He then moved to Fairfield, Ohio where he worked for the Fairfield Air Intermediate Depot where he was worked on airplane assembly, eventually being promoted to senior aircraft mechanician about 1935. During World War II the company reconditioned aircraft engines and he served as Chief Inspector.

Klover married Nina V. Morgan on December 28, 1921. He died February 16, 1969 and is buried in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Biographical information derived from collection materials.

Extent

0.05 folder (1 Letter-sized folder and 1 oversize folder)

Additional Description

Existence and Location of Copies

Materials from this collection have been digitized and are available at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections.

Separated Materials

Three books, The Aeroplane Speaks (H. Barber, printer 1917) and A Text Book of Aeronautics (H. Shaw, 1919) and Military Aeroplanes (Groever Loening, 1917), were transferred to the Library.