Aerial reconnaissance--United States

Content Description

This collection includes miscellaneous materials collected from numerous sources by Michael Amdahl, a Refuse Transfer Center worker who collected and donated found materials over the course of many years. Included in this collection are a variety of graphic materials, letters, documents, magazines, and a book on the 13th Air Force. Also included are photographs depicting war-torn cities, soldier life, sea and air vessels, and scenery from around Europe.

Scope and Contents

The William R. Auld papers include over 800 photographs taken by Major William R. Auld who served with the 31st Photo Reconnaissance Squadron of the Ninth Army Air Force following General George S. Patton throughout the United States, England, France, and Germany.  The William R. Auld papers also include various sketches done by one of his comrades, a promotion notice, and two poems.

Scope and Contents This collection relates to Master Sergeant James E. Flynn who served as a technician gunner with the 12th Bombardment Group (Medium),  83rd Bombardment Squadron, in North Africa, Italy, and Burma, as well as a photo gunner with the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron on Guam during World War II. The collection consists of paper memorabilia and material objects from his service from 1942-1945. The medals included a Purple Heart and Air Medal. Flynn served as a member of the prewar U.S. Army and went on to serve in the Korean conflict. His collection consists of documents from his military service, newspaper articles, photographs, silk and cloth maps, medals, and patches.  Images of the...

Content Description

This collection relates to John L. McQuigg (Lieutenant Colonel with the US Army Air Force) who served with the 8th Air Force in Photographic Reconnaissance in the European and Mediterranean Theaters and participated in the North African and the Italian Allied Photo Reconnaissance Wing, including surveillance for the Anzio Landing. The collection contains military papers, ephemera, photographs, artifacts, and maps covering John L. McQuigg's communication with his wife and children, surveillance operations during the war, and documents from the Air Force reserves following the war.

Scope and Contents The bulk of this collection consists of letters written by John Rawls during his time in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in Brazil. He achieved the rank of Major. These letters, primarily to his mother, give details on his time in training and daily life while stationed in Brazil. He tells stories of friends, the tedium of his work, and mentions the various girls he sees throughout the war. Also included is a photograph album consisting of photographs taken by Rawls while in the service. John Rawls' brother David Rawls also served with the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot, stationed in the Pacific Theater. David Rawls was present during the attack on Pearl...

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.