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Archives at The Museum of Flight


Harold K. and Charlene B. Hartell World War II Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 2021-12-08
The Harold K. and Charlene B. Hartell World War II Collection documents the careers of the Hartells during the war, primarily from 1942 to 1945. The collection documents Harold’s training and service as a bombardier in the United States Air Corps, as well as Charlene’s training and work for North American Aviation building B-25 bombers. This collection consists of flight records, training records, military orders, clippings, photographs, certificates and employee identification cards that document both Harold’s and Charlene’s contributions during the war. The collection is arranged in two series: Series I, Harold K. Hartell, 1942-2007; Series II, Charlene B. Hartell, 1942-1954.

Series I. Harold K. Hartell has been broken down into two subseries; one reflects his time in the United States Air Corps and the second is more personal in nature. The United States Air Corps subseries, 1942-1955, gives a detailed account of Harold’s training and missions as a B-17 bombardier. There are records of tests and flights taken prior to serving in the Air Corps as a First Lieutenant in the 490th Bombardment Group. There are photographs of Harold and his crew mates and aerial shots of bombs being released on German targets. Many of the photographs have transcriptions. In addition, there are photographs and reports that capture the aftermath of a major mid-air collision between two B-17s that Harold survived, along with only two others. In total, Harold survived three plane crashes during the war. The Personal subseries, 1940s to 2007, contains clippings about Harold’s time as a bombardier and photographs of Charlene and him together. There is also a correspondence file that contains a Valentine’s Day card the Harold sent to Charlene during the war.

The Charlene B. Hartell series, 1942-1955, is smaller in size with two folders related to Charlene’s career during World War II. The first folder contains her vocation training card to become certified as an aircraft radio and electrical assembler. Also, there is a certification card from Norther American Aviation Inc., where she worked during the war building B-25 bombers and a poem that Charlene wrote about her time with the company titled “Life in the Bomber Plant.” There are not many other documents related to her time as an original "Rosie the Riveter" building aircraft during the war. The last folder contains her war ration books.

The files within the two series have been arranged alphabetically.

Dates

  • 1942-1946, 1998-2007

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.

Extent

.5 Cubic Feet (1 legal-size full-width document box)

Overview

The Harold K. and Charlene B. Hartell World War II Collection documents the personal careers of the Hartells during the war, primarily from 1942 to 1945. The collection documents Harold’s training and service as a bombardier in the United States Air Corps and Charlene’s training and work for North American Aviation building B-25 bombers.

Biographical Note: Harold K. Hartell

Harold K. Hartell was First Lieutenant in the United States Air Corps 490th as a bombardier.

Harold Kline Hartell was born to Victor and Edith Hartell on September 5, 1921 in Kansas City, Kansas. After high school he attended flight school and then trained as a bombardier with the United States Air Force where he flew B-24s. Once Hartell completed his training, he joined the United States Air Corps and served in World War II from 1944-1945. He was stationed in England where he flew B-17s as both a bombardier and navigator. During a training mission he and other crew members had a mid-air collision over Bury St. Edmunds, England. All the crew members of both planes died, except for Hartell and two instructors. In total, Hartell survived three plane crashes while in the Air Corps.

After the war, he and his wife Charlene B. Hartell moved to Espanola, New Mexico, where they began their family. Hartell passed away on September 18, 2014 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Biographical Note: Charlene B. Hartell Charlene (Bradley) Hartell worked at North American Aviation during World War II where she assisted with buildings B-25s.

Charlene Wardie Bradley was born to William and Emma Bradley February 3, 1920 in Palo Pinto County, Texas. She grew up in Tres Piedras, New Mexico where she graduated high school and became a school teacher in a single room schoolhouse. In 1942, she moved to Kansas City, Kansas and attended National Defense Training School becoming skilled at aircraft radio and electrical assembly. Following her training she began work at North American Aviation. Once World War II began, North American Aviation heavily recruited women to help build bombers. The company declared that they would hire a staff of 40 percent women to aid in production of aircraft for the war.

She met Harold K. Hartell during her time in Kansas City. After the war, they married and moved to Espanola, New Mexico. She received a PhD in Psychology and worked as a professional counselor in Espanola for over 20 years. She passed away on June 16, 2015 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Separated Materials

The following items have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in Objects storage:

  • Green USAF officer’s cap with hat emblem
  • Rifle bayonet in sheath, WWII
  • (1) Silk map of Germany Protectorate, Slovakia, Poland, Hungry, WWII
  • (1) Silk map, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, WWII
  • Silk map case, no contents, WWII
  • Green canvas duffle bag, WWII
  • Green USAF officers coat with 9th Air Force patch
  • Piece of metal shrapnel
  • 8th Air Force stitched handkerchief, “Greetings from England”
  • Dead reckoning computer in case, AN-C-74-A
  • Parachute cord, length
  • USAF “Greetings to Mother” photo case
  • USAF 8th Air Force in East Anglia banner, England
  • Pilots navigation kit, case only
  • Waco Army Flying School tablecloth
  • USAF navigator's watch in box;
  • USAF pilots sunglass with case
  • Green parachute pack only, type A-3
  • "B" jewelry charm
  • Parachute pull handle
  • Halazone pills in sealed package, USAF
  • Military “Stay Awake” pills in package, WWII
  • USAF identification bracelet
  • USAF gold bracelet
  • (7) USAF 9th Air Force patches
  • (2) USAF military medals and (1) USAF military pin in case
  • (22) USAF military pins

Processing Information

This collection has been fully processed.
Title
Guide to the Harold K. and Charlene B. Hartell World War II Collection
Status
Completed - Level 3
Author
C. Dinges
Date
2022
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
English
Edition statement
1st 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