Laurence H. Sylvester papers

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2017 Box 1 (17.0003-17.0027), Folder: 17.0022 - Folder 1

Identifier: 17.0022

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Laurence H. Sylvester who served with the 2nd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) in India and China during World War II. The collection contains letters, newspaper clippings, and identification cards.

Dates

Created: 1945-1962
Other: Date acquired: 09/25/2017

Creator

Sylvester, Laurence H., 1915-1967 (Family)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Laurence H. Sylvester was born on June 22, 1915, in Pasco, WA and passed away in Seattle, WA on August 12, 1967. He graduated from O'Dea High School and attended the University of Washington. He then graduated from Gonzaga Law School. He served with the 2nd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron in India and Chengdu, China during World War II as a Staff Sergeant. After the war, he served as an assistant state attorney general from 1950 to 1953. He was an organizer for the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks from 1953 to 1958.

Operational flying by the 2nd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) began in October 1944. The squadron was assigned B-25D Mitchell bombers converted for weather forecasting. At that time the squadron began weather reconnaissance flights over the Bay of Bengal from advance bases in India. In November of the same year, a detachment of the squadron was placed in China to accomplish weather reconnaissance in the North China area in direct support of XX Bomber Command operations. With the cessation of operations of the XX Bomber Command, the squadron continued work in China in support of the 14th Air Force and Pacific operations. Prior to bombing missions by other units, empty spaces on the meteorological map were often filled in by flying weather reconnaissance squadron to take needed recordings. Citation: Taylor, Bill. "2nd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium)." cbi-history.com. http://www.cbi-history.com/part_vi_2nd_weather_recon_sq.html (accessed September 9, 2017).

Extent

1 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Monica Parikh (Daughter of Laurence H. Sylvester)

Method of Acquisition

Donation

Subjects

Aerial reconnaissance--United States Subject Source: Local sources
B-25 (Bomber) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Chengdu (China) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Meteorology--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Military meteorology--United States Subject Source: Local sources
Pasco (Wash.)--History Subject Source: Local sources
Seattle (Wash.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Weather forecasting--History Subject Source: Local sources
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--China Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--India Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings