The George Leslie Boyd Pilot Collection is comprised of Boyd’s personal pilot logbooks, assorted certifications and licenses, notes, as well as photographs related to Boyd’s time as a pilot with the United States Army Air Corps as well as United Airlines. The collection materials date from 1927 to 1967.
The largest segment of materials in the collection are Boyd’s fifteen pilot logbooks. The logbooks begin in 1927 when Boyd first began his training as a pilot at the U.S. Air Service Flying School, in Kelly Field, Texas. The logbooks follow the sequential order of his years as a pilot. After passing his training with the U.S. Army Air Corps, he flew for the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation, based out of Kansas City, Missouri; Egyptian Flying School, in Marion, Illinois; as well as Midplane Sales and Transit Company and the Boeing Air Transport, which were both predecessors of United Airlines. He was formally hired by United Airlines on April 10, 1929, and remained with the company until his retirement in 1967. The logbooks focus primarily on his time with United Airlines.
The four 4x5-inch black-and-white photographs in the collection depict casual scenes of Boyd with friends. They were found tucked in his first pilot logbook. In addition to the snapshots there are three small professional photographs of Boyd; one attached to his military rating certification and two on his pilot licenses.
The remainder of the collection consists of Boyd’s U.S. Army Air Corps military rating card, pilot licenses and certifications, as well as a few loose hand-written flight notes found in his 1939 logbook. These documents range from 1930 to 1983.
The largest segment of materials in the collection are Boyd’s fifteen pilot logbooks. The logbooks begin in 1927 when Boyd first began his training as a pilot at the U.S. Air Service Flying School, in Kelly Field, Texas. The logbooks follow the sequential order of his years as a pilot. After passing his training with the U.S. Army Air Corps, he flew for the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation, based out of Kansas City, Missouri; Egyptian Flying School, in Marion, Illinois; as well as Midplane Sales and Transit Company and the Boeing Air Transport, which were both predecessors of United Airlines. He was formally hired by United Airlines on April 10, 1929, and remained with the company until his retirement in 1967. The logbooks focus primarily on his time with United Airlines.
The four 4x5-inch black-and-white photographs in the collection depict casual scenes of Boyd with friends. They were found tucked in his first pilot logbook. In addition to the snapshots there are three small professional photographs of Boyd; one attached to his military rating certification and two on his pilot licenses.
The remainder of the collection consists of Boyd’s U.S. Army Air Corps military rating card, pilot licenses and certifications, as well as a few loose hand-written flight notes found in his 1939 logbook. These documents range from 1930 to 1983.
Dates
- 1927-1983
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. The 16mm film has not been reformatted and may not be viewed at this 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
.8 Cubic Feet (2 letter-size 5-inch document boxes)
Biographical Note: George Leslie Boyd Pilot Collection
George L. Boyd was a pilot during World War II for the United States Army Air Corps and later United Airlines from 1929-1967.
George Leslie Boyd was born on September 9, 1907, in Hannah, North Dakota to Margaret Ellen Agar and Samuel James Alexander Boyd.
Boyd began his pilot career with the United States Army Air Corps in 1927. He attended the U.S. Air Service Flying School in Kelly Field, Texas. After completing his training in 1928, Boyd began to fly for the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation, based out of Kansas City, Missouri, shortly followed by the Egyptian Flying School, in Marion, Illinois. Then in 1929, he transferred to Midplane Sales and Transit Company and the Boeing Air Transport, both predecessors of United Airlines. In 1940, Boyd was drafted to serve in World War II in the Pacific Theater as a second lieutenant with the United States Army Air Corps. After the war, he returned to his work as a pilot with United Airlines until his retirement in 1967.
On December 1, 1973, Boyd married Verna Monfort in Santa Clara, California. George L. Boyd passed away in Federal Way, Washington on April 10, 1986.
Biography derived from collection materials, donor information and records on Ancestry.com.
George Leslie Boyd was born on September 9, 1907, in Hannah, North Dakota to Margaret Ellen Agar and Samuel James Alexander Boyd.
Boyd began his pilot career with the United States Army Air Corps in 1927. He attended the U.S. Air Service Flying School in Kelly Field, Texas. After completing his training in 1928, Boyd began to fly for the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation, based out of Kansas City, Missouri, shortly followed by the Egyptian Flying School, in Marion, Illinois. Then in 1929, he transferred to Midplane Sales and Transit Company and the Boeing Air Transport, both predecessors of United Airlines. In 1940, Boyd was drafted to serve in World War II in the Pacific Theater as a second lieutenant with the United States Army Air Corps. After the war, he returned to his work as a pilot with United Airlines until his retirement in 1967.
On December 1, 1973, Boyd married Verna Monfort in Santa Clara, California. George L. Boyd passed away in Federal Way, Washington on April 10, 1986.
Biography derived from collection materials, donor information and records on Ancestry.com.
Separated Materials
The following books have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in the Library:
The following items have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in Objects storage:
Please contact us for more details.
- Of Magic Sails [Boyd pictured on page 15]
- More than Meets the Sky
The following items have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in Objects storage:
- United Airlines pilot uniform
- United Airlines headset in storage tin
- United Airlines Boyd ID card
- United Airlines coast to coast cuff link, single
- (2) United Airlines wings with 4 service stars
- United Airlines 100,000 mile club pin box (no pin)
- (2) United Airlines crew bag luggage tags
- United Airlines service ring in box
- (3) Laminate GL Boyd nameplates
- Leather flight bag
- Pioneer Climb gauge
- United Wind component analyzer
- Jeppesen Avigation Chart Plotter, PV-1
- Jeppesen flight computer, CR-3
- United Airlines flight calculator
- USN Star finder and identifier in case
- Telescope in case
- Sunglasses in case
- Air Line Pilots Association metal membership card
- Quiet Birdmen leather card case
- Quiet Birdmen metal membership card
- Headset
- Drafting toolset in case
- USAF leather flying mits, Type A-9
- USAF wings
- ATC wings
- Winged propellor pin
- Unidentified pin, 3 black enameled bars
Please contact us for more details.
Processing Information
This collection has not been fully processed.
- Title
- Guide to the George Leslie Boyd Pilot Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 2
- Author
- Charise Dinges
- Date
- April 2024
- 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
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org