Guide to the John Potter papers
1942-1945
Collection number: HMC-0203.
Creator: Potter, John.
Title: John Potter papers.
Dates: 1942-1943.
Volume of collection: 0.01 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of an Air Force photographer, who served in Alaska in World War II.
Biographical note:
John Potter joined the U.S. Air Force in Iowa in 1942. He was assigned to the 337th Service Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base in August, 1942, and transferred to Ft. Glenn, Alaska, in September, 1942. From December, 1942, to August, 1943, he served in the Aleutians with the 36th Bomber Squadron and the XI Bomber Command as a photographer with the rank of staff sergeant. He participated in various raids and attacks on Japanese installations in the Aleutians, and in April, 1943, he was awarded the Air Force Air Medal for his actions. John Potter remained in the Air Force until his retirement in 1970. He died in 1984 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Collection description:
The collection consists of a log of flying times in the Aleutians, as well as official orders, which concern the awarding of the Air Medal to John Potter and others.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by document type.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Records created by the United States Air Force are in the public domain. Other materials may be subject to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: John Potter papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the archives by the Alaskan Air Command Historian’s Office in 1988.
Processing information: This collection was described prior to 1991. The guide to the collection was converted to current archival standard by Gwen Higgins in 2018. At that time publications concerning World War II in the Aleutians were removed to the processing file.