Abstract Collection of approximately one hundred twenty (120) oral histories of Fighter Aces and several non-aces, including relatives of aces, other military pilots, and military historians.

Overview This collection relates to Rober L. Baseler's career as a Fighter Ace, with a focus on his service during World War II.

Contents of the Collection The James O. Brewer World War II Collection documents Brewer’s service as a pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The collection consists of both photographic and textual material, primarily dating from 1942-1949.Photographs are in color and black-and-white and appear to show military personnel, reunions, and personal candids, though most of the photographs are not dated or annotated. A significant number of photographs were taken in Australia and prominently feature...

Abstract Major Thomas Walter Jackson (1916-1942) was a United States Army Air Corps pilot and squadron commander who served in the Aleutian Island campaign during World War II. The collection contains textual materials, photographs, and a digitized film clip pertaining to the 1938-1942 military service of Jackson.

Abstract Roger Charles McNally (1887-1922) joined the U. S. Army in 1917 and after World War I was sent to Italy to assist with the Army’s purchase of the airship Roma. The collection consists of clippings, photographs, and assorted ephmera related to Master Sergeant McNally's career in the Army Air Corps, and his death in the airshipRoma accident.

Abstract William Orthman (1911-1990) was drafted into the United States Army in 1942. He served in the China-Burma-India Theater as Public Relations Officer. The collection is comprised of 340 photographs and a small amount of textual materials from his 1945-1946 service.

Contents of the Collection The Howard E. Smith World War II Photograph Collection is comprised largely of photographic and audiovisual material, including 2,115 prints, 83 negatives, and 5 film reels. The images were taken or collected by Howard E. Smith, a United States Army Air Corps Public Relations Officer and base photographer, primarily while he was stationed at Smoky Hill Army Air Field (SHAAF) in Salina, Kansas. There is also a very small amount of textual documents. Most materials date from 1942-1943, with some...

Interview Summary Pilot Joseph E. Kimm is interviewed about his decade-spanning aviation career. He discusses his early experiences as a flight steward on Ford Trimotor aircraft, and his time as a copilot and pilot for Northwest Airways (later Northwest Airlines), spanning the 1930s to the 1970s. He also touches on his military service during World War II with Air Transport Command, U.S. Army Air Corps. Other topics discussed include his work building aircraft models, his experiences with various aircraft, and a...

Interview Summary World War II veteran James “Jim” Marich is interviewed about his service as a flight engineer aboard the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. He discusses his wartime experiences with the 869th Bombardment Squadron of the 497th Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Forces, while stationed in Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) during 1944 and 1945. He also touches briefly on his post-war engineering career with the Sundstrand Corporation (Illinois). Topics discussed include his training and service history, his...