Archives at The Museum of Flight

Abstract Michael T. Russo (1920-2006) was born in Cleveland, Ohio and joined the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1941 as a fighter pilot. Russo attained Ace status while fighting in the European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operation. The collection contains photographs, textual materials and ephemera related to the World War II experience of American Fighter Ace Michael T. Russo.

Abstract Seymour Rutberg (1919-2009) was a Jewish American World War II pilot. The collection documents Seymour Rutberg's World War II service as a pilot as well as his post-war service and veteran activities. A smaller amount of material is personal in nature. Most items are dated 1941-1952 and types of material include military records, flying logs, clippings, correspondence, reports and photographs.

Contents of the Collection This small collection relates to Lieutenant Schuster's time serving as a United States Army Air Force pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II, circa 1939-1945. The collection includes his official military flying and travel records, as well as a photograph of a B-32 bombing.

Contents of the Collection the Charles Ashby Shoop World War II Collection contains textual and visual materials related to the World War II and post-war military service of Charles Ashby Shoop, a liaison pilot with the United States Army 104th Infantry Division. The bulk of the textual materials is Shoop’s 1942-1945 World War II and 1946-1960 post-war Reserve military service records, which include orders and assignments, promotion recommendations, memorandums and correspondence, and receipts and shipping...

Abstract Walter A. Smith, Jr. served in the United States Air Force for over 30 years and was an active member of the P-47 Pilots Association. The collection contains materials relating to Walter Smith's Air Force career and World War I-era music collected by his wife, Flossie Smith.

Overview The Kenneth D. Wallace World War II Collection is comprised of textual and photographic materials primarily relating to Kenneth D. Wallace's military career as a pilot during World War II circa 1940s.

Abstract Ralph H. Wandrey (1921-2020) was a World War II American fighter pilot and ace. The Ralph Wandrey Fighter Ace Collection documents fighter pilot and ace Ralph Wandrey's World War II service as well as activities associated to his veteran status, from 1935-2009. A smaller amount of material is personal in nature. Types of material include military records, a pilot's log, photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, pamphlets, personal and educational records and clippings.

Abstract The Paul A. Ludwig Military Aviation Photograph Collection contains 2382 photographic prints and negatives with a very small amount of textual materials collected by Paul A. Ludwig and ranging from the late 1910s through the early 1980s. The bulk and strength of the collection is photographs of World War II-era aircraft and squadrons. The collection is nearly all copy prints from a variety of institutions and dozens of private collections.