Dean E. Christianson World War II and Korean War Collection
Collection
Identifier: 2022-09-01-A
The Dean E. Christianson World War II and Korean War Collection consists primarily of textal materials and a few visual materials from Dean's service as a navigator in the U.S. Army Transportion Corps. Included in the collection are correspondence files, personnel documents, military orders, charts, maps, navigator’s logs and flight plans, as well as a small amount of travel ephemera. The materials which range from 1941 to 1958, are organized in three series: Series I. Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Camp, Anchorage, Alaska; Series II. World War II; and Series III. Korean War.
The first series, Joint Base Elmednorf Richardson Camp, Anchorage, Alaska, contains a large amount of correspondence from Christianson to his parents detailing his experiences at the camp,from 1941-1943 where he was a construction worker in the Engineer Office of the United States War Department. In addition, there are his personnel records during this time, one that includes an application to leave Alaska to train as a navigator and join the United States Air Force.
The following two series, World War II and Korean War, also contain a large amount of correspondence from Christianson to his family. In addition, there are military orders, training material, flight logs, as well as multiple charts and ordnance maps related to each of the wars that he served in. Within the Korean War series there is also a small amount of travel ephemera that Christianson collected as he traveled throughout the Pacific and Asia.
The first series, Joint Base Elmednorf Richardson Camp, Anchorage, Alaska, contains a large amount of correspondence from Christianson to his parents detailing his experiences at the camp,from 1941-1943 where he was a construction worker in the Engineer Office of the United States War Department. In addition, there are his personnel records during this time, one that includes an application to leave Alaska to train as a navigator and join the United States Air Force.
The following two series, World War II and Korean War, also contain a large amount of correspondence from Christianson to his family. In addition, there are military orders, training material, flight logs, as well as multiple charts and ordnance maps related to each of the wars that he served in. Within the Korean War series there is also a small amount of travel ephemera that Christianson collected as he traveled throughout the Pacific and Asia.
Dates
- 1941-1958
Creator
- Christianson, Dean E., 1920-1966 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research but has not been fully processed. Access to the collection may be limited or may require additional processing time. 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
1.75 Cubic Feet (1 Legal size 5-inch document box, 1 Legal size 2-inch document box, and 1 oversize box (20.5” x 24.5” x 3.75”), 1 panoramic folder)
Biographical Note: Dean E. Christianson
Dean E. Christianson served as a navigator in the United States Army during both World War II and the Korean War.
Dean Edwin Christianson was born in Prosser, Washington on December 13, 1920 to Dwight Fitch Christianson and Jadith Linen Brunsberg. His family moved to Seattle, Washington where Christianson attended Broadway High School from 1935 to 1939, and later the University of Washington from 1939 to 1941, where he majored in economics and business.
Christianson began his career with the United States War Department as a construction worker in the Engineer Office at Fort Richardson, Alaska from 1941 to 1942. Upon the completion of the contract, Christianson trained in becoming a navigator and transferred to the Army Transport within the United States Air Force. He served in World War II from 1942 to 1946 and was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal, American Theater Medal and the Victory Medal for his time.
Following World War II, Christianson continued to serve as a navigator in the United States Army Transportation Corps during the Korean War. After the war, he married Marjorie Jean-Merril on July 30, 1955. Dean Christianson passed away in Seattle, Washington on September 2, 1966.
Dean Edwin Christianson was born in Prosser, Washington on December 13, 1920 to Dwight Fitch Christianson and Jadith Linen Brunsberg. His family moved to Seattle, Washington where Christianson attended Broadway High School from 1935 to 1939, and later the University of Washington from 1939 to 1941, where he majored in economics and business.
Christianson began his career with the United States War Department as a construction worker in the Engineer Office at Fort Richardson, Alaska from 1941 to 1942. Upon the completion of the contract, Christianson trained in becoming a navigator and transferred to the Army Transport within the United States Air Force. He served in World War II from 1942 to 1946 and was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal, American Theater Medal and the Victory Medal for his time.
Following World War II, Christianson continued to serve as a navigator in the United States Army Transportation Corps during the Korean War. After the war, he married Marjorie Jean-Merril on July 30, 1955. Dean Christianson passed away in Seattle, Washington on September 2, 1966.
Arrangement
The Dean Christianson World War II and Korean War Collection has been grouped chronologically into three series, each reflecting Christianson’s different points of service with the United States Army. The first series contains documentation of his time working for the Engineer Office, War Department at the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Camp. The following series represent his time as a navigator with the Army Transport division of the United States Army first during World War II and then the Korean War.
The correspondence files arrived in apparent order and have been maintained in their original organization. The remaining documents were grouped together by the processing archivist and arranged alphabetically within a series.
The correspondence files arrived in apparent order and have been maintained in their original organization. The remaining documents were grouped together by the processing archivist and arranged alphabetically within a series.
Processing Information
Maps and other oversize materials have not been unfolded, humidified or flattened.
- Alaska
- Anchorage (Alaska)
- Christianson, Dean E., 1920-1966
- England
- Flight navigators
- Flight navigators, Military
- France
- Japan
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (Alaska)
- Korea
- Korean War, 1950-1953
- Navigation (Aeronautics)
- Thailand
- United States. Air Force
- United States. Air Force. Military Air Transport Service
- World War, 1939-1945
- aeronautical charts
- identity cards
- logs (records)
- membership cards
- military records
- navigation charts
- orders (military records)
- photographic prints
- slides (photographs)
- telegrams
Creator
- Christianson, Dean E., 1920-1966 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Dean E. Christianson World War II and Korean War Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 2
- Author
- C. Dinges
- Date
- 2023
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Edition statement
- 1st
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org