Sutherland Family World War II Collection

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: 2019-09-02

Content Description

The Sutherland Family World War II Collection is a small collection of visual and textual materials related to the U.S. military service of David H., George L. and John R. Sutherland during World War II.

David H. Sutherland's service is documented with a spiralbound notebook with handwritten notes likely from flight training; his certificate of service; a separation qualification record (photocopy); a document clearing his accounts from Hendricks Field, Florida; a V-mail letter regarding a change in address; and a personal history (photocopy).

Two documents are present from John Sutherland's service: a "Special Instruction to Pilot" memo and a flight schedule from April 7, 1945, both from Navy Bombing Squadron VBF 94.

Some photographic images are present in the collection. Six small black-and-white snapshots are unidentified but may depict David, John, and/or George Sutherland during their military service. Two copies of a digital print show David Sutherland with his crew and there is also a photocopy of a portrait of him. One photographic postcard depicts a B-29 bomber and another depicts Randolph Field. A photomechanical print shows desctruction in London, England. A digital print shows B-29 bombers flying by Mount Fuji.

Also present is a graduation announcement for the 43-10 class from Deming Army Air Field, New Mexico with a card for William A. Fritz. His connection to the Sutherland family is unknown. Some United Airlines stationery is also present.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1943-1946

Creator

Sutherland Family (Family)

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: David H. Sutherland

David H. Sutherland was a B-29 pilot for the U.S. Army during World War II.

Sutherland was born December 8 1915 in Walla Walla, Washington to Louis C. and Lula H. Sutherland, the eldest of four sons (George L., John R., and Louis C.). He studied at Whitman College and earned a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Social Work in 1941.

Sutherland enlisted in the army on March 20, 1942 and volunteered with the Red Cross until he was called to active duty in June of that year. He trained in various locations in Texas, Arizona, Florida, and California. During the war he was 1st pilot and airplane commander of a B-29 bomber. He flew 12 combat missions over Japan and 177 combat hours with the 20th Air Force based in the Marianas Islands. He also served as a flight instructor at various army training bases in the U.S. and was an Air Corps supervisor at cadet flying training school. He flew approximately 1800 hours in military aircraft. He separated from the military on January 20, 1946.

After the war Sutherland started an import-export firm, David H. Sutherland & Co., in Portland, Oregon in 1951. He was a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, the Japan-America Society, and the Northwest Antique Airplane Club.

He was married to Beth Sutherland and they had two sons and two daughters. Sutherland died in 1983 and is buried in Portland, Oregon.

Biographical note derived from collection materials, donor information, and records on Ancestry.com.