Guide to the Eleventh Air Force Reunion. World War II History Project records
1940-1990
Collection number: HMC-0365.
Creator: Eleventh Air Force Reunion. World War II History Project.
Title: Eleventh Air Force Reunion. World War II History Project records.
Dates: 1940-1990.
Volume of collection: 3.7 cubic feet and 8.37 MB.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Documents collected relating to the history of the United States Air Force in Alaska.
Organizational history:
The Alaska Historical Society sponsored a reunion of members of the 11th Air Force in Anchorage in 1990. Several groups cooperated in the effort including the Alaska Regional Office of the National Park Service, the Office of History of the Alaska Air Command, the Office of History and Archeology of the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, the University of Alaska Anchorage Dept. of History, Archives and Special Collections of the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. The reunion took place at the Northern Lights Inn on August 9-11, 1990. The cooperating agencies conducted oral history interviews and copied photographs and papers.
Collection description:
This collection consists of the records and papers acquired during the course of the Eleventh Air Force Reunion 1990, World War II History Project. The collection includes administrative files such as lists of cooperating groups interviewees, interviewers, and pre-interview questionnaires. The project photographs include negatives and contact prints of original photographs loaned by veterans for copying and photographs of interviewers and interviewees. Veterans files contain legal papers, copies of military related papers, copied photographs, and other papers. In addition there are documents concerning the history of the 11th Air Force and the 51st through the 58th Fighter Squadrons. The oral history interviews include tape cassette recordings of interviews with thirty 11th Air Force veterans and transcripts and summaries of most recordings.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged into four series:
Series 1: Administrative files; 1990
Series 2: Project photographs; 1990
Series 3: Veterans files; 1990
Series 4: Oral history interview records; 1990
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection are not available online. Access may only be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Collection materials may be subect to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: Eleventh Air Force Reunion. World War II History Project records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: Subject guide to Archives collections relating to World War II in Alaska.
Acquisition note: This collection was deposited in the Archives in 1990 as a result of an agreement among the sponsoring and cooperating agencies: the Alaska Historical Society; U.S. National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office; U.S. Air Force, Alaska Air Command, Office of History; Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation; the University of Alaska Anchorage Department of History and Archives and Special Collections; and the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. Digital copies of oral history summaries and transcripts were provided to the Archives by the National Park Service in 2022.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Dennis Walle in 1990. The guide was reformatted to meet current standard by Arlene Schmuland in 2017. The guide was updated in 2022 by Arlene Schmuland to reflect the addition of the oral history transcripts and interviews.
Container list:
Series 1: Administrative files; 1990. 0.05 cubic feet.
This series consists of administrative files containing lists of cooperating groups, interviewees, and interviewers as well as pre-interview questionnaires of participants in the 11th Air Force Reunion at the Northern Lights Inn in Anchorage in 1990.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/1 | List of cooperating groups, interviewees, and interviewers; letters | 1990 |
| 1/2 | Pre-interview questionnaire. 47 questionnaires including additional data from E.H. Beistline, M.H. Cottfried, W.E. Preble, and L. Reineke | 1990 |
Series 2: Project photographs; 1990. 0.05 cubic feet.
This series consists of negatives and photographs copied by Linda Cook, of the National Park Service during the 11th Air Force Reunion in 1990. The photographs were loaned for copying by various veterans attending the reunion. There are contact prints for six of the nine rolls of negatives; the negatives for five rolls were not copied. Also, there is a list of the photographs that were copied as well as photographs of some of the interviewees. Note: The list of photographs in the first folders of the second series identifies eleven rolls of film. Several rolls did not turn out properly due to equipment failure at the hotel.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/3 | List of photographs. This is a list of the photographs copied by Linda Cook of the National Park Service. | 1990 |
| 1/4 | Photographs, roll 1: negatives, contact prints and selected prints. Photos from G.W. O’Kelley, G.S. Arnold, and H.C. Campbell | 1990 |
| 1/5 | Photographs, roll 2: negatives and contact prints. Photos from H.C. Campbell | 1990 |
| 1/6 | Photographs, roll 3: negatives from H.C. Campbell and R.E. Renkert | 1990 |
| 1/7 | Photographs, roll 4: negatives from R.E. Renkert, M. Rutherford, and G.W. O’Kelley | 1990 |
| 1/8 | Photographs, roll 5: negatives and contact prints. Photos from J. Barone, G.W. O’Kelley and an unattributed album | 1990 |
| 1/9 | Photographs, roll 6: negatives and contact prints. Photos from G.W. O’Kelley, B.B. Talley, G. Byrne, O. Olona | 1990 |
| 1/10 | Photographs, roll 7: Negatives (poor). Photos from O. Olona, S. Green, W. Wood, W. Preble, F. Stilwell, and B.B. Talley. Roll 8: Negatives (poor). Photos from B.B. Talley. Photographs, roll 9: negatives (poor). Photos from R.E. Renkert, W. Bailey, W. Preble, and M.A. Modeen. Photographs, roll 10: negatives (poor). Photos from W. Preble, R.E. Renkert and Jim. Photographs, roll 11: negatives (poor). Photos from B.B. Talley | 1990 |
| 1/11 | Photographs of interviewees. Negatives and contact prints of nineteen people, and list of interviewees | 1990 |
Series 3: Veterans files; 1990. 2.4 cubic feet..
This series consists of files related to thirty-seven veterans who attended the reunion and participated in interviews and/or loaned materials to the archives for copying. Among the papers
found in various files are legal documents including signed releases, copies of military papers, diaries, photographs, and other papers. Series contents are arranged alphabetically by name of veteran.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/12 | George S. Arbuthnot. Pre-interview questionnaire, gift and release, agreement permission to copy and use, and envelope cover. Six photographs. Negatives, electrostatic copies of photographs | 1990 |
| 1/13 | Gilbert S. Arnold. Typed copy of diary (1944-1945), drawings of B-24s, publication “Welcome to Shemya Air Force Base,” electrostatic copies of photographs, and envelope cover | 1944-1495, 1971 |
| 1/14 | Rhodes F. Arnold. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, notes, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/15 | Mitchell Barchuk. Gift and release agreement and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/16 | Lyle A. Bean. Gift and release agreement, military service summary, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/17 | Earl H. Beistline. Pre-interview questionnaire, statement of military service letter to W.S. Hanable, blank gift and release document (verbal agreement to interviewer John Cloe), and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/18-19, 3/10 | Robert W. Blair. Pre-interview questionnaire, gift and release agreement, list of loaned items, address, list of O’Dair items, envelope cover, letter (from Tim Brown), clearances, immunization records, individual flight records, pay records, propaganda “leaf,” notes on crews, radio signals and flights, newspaper, rosters, extracts of orders, papers on winterized B-26s, equipment records, weather and mission records, awards, transfer, letter to Don Dawson, “Account of Robert W. Blair, B-26 Pilot,” pilot log book, electrostatic copy of photo album | 1941-1946, 1984-1990 |
| 1/20 | Willis (Dan) Boone. Pre-interview questionnaire, gift and release agreement, interview question form, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/21 | Ted Buszek. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/22 | George T. Byrne. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions (answered), gift and release agreement, envelope cover, and song verses | 1990 |
| 1/23 | H.C. Campbell. Permission to copy and use form; publications (some copied): “Airmen in the Aleutians” (life), “The Battle of the Aleutians,” “Adak Album,” “Unit Costs of Aircraft and Engine,” “The Aleutians” (Life), “Anniversary Extra,” “Lets see Alaska,” “Information for Military Personnel,” “Fall-In,” “Greetings from Alaska,” “Mt. McKinley Tops Them All,” “Welcome to Men in the Armed Forces of the United States,” “Mt. McKinley National Park,” and “The Alaska Mission of the Methodist Church.” Also copies of articles from “Alaska, The Territorial Life Magazine” | 1941-1945 |
| 1/24 | Nathan Morrell Crary. Programs of performances of the Air Corps Male Chorus (originals and copies), and his address | 1941 |
| 1/25 | William C. Daley. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, and note | 1990 |
| 1/26 | George E. Daniel. Interview questions and gift and release agreement | 1990 |
| 1/27 | Clarence W. Durbin. Pre-interview questionnaire, gift and release agreement, notes on interview, envelope cover, orders relating to personnel assigned to the 21st Bomb Squadron and to awards and promotions and envelope cover | 1942-1943, 1990 |
| 1/28 | Sherman Clark Green. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions (Blanks), gift and release statement, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/29 | Wilbur (Bill) P. Green. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions, gift and release agreement, permission to copy and use form, envelope cover, birth certificate, certificate and record of service, and records and papers relating to the 1986, 1987, and 1990 11th Air Force reunions; publications and clipping relating to the 10th AAF Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron; electrostatic copies of photographs; negatives, dontact prints, and envelope cover | 1940-1945, 1986, 1990 |
| 1/30 | Arthur W. Kidder. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions, gift and release agreement, permission to copy and use form, envelope cover, clippings, photographs (4), and envelope cover | 1945, 1989-1990 |
| 1/31 | Karl Kolva. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/32 | Richard (Dick) J. Korpanty. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/33 | Richard W. Lavin. Special orders on assignments and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/34 | Roy Lemons. Pre-interview questionnaire, permission to copy and use form, diary excerpt, and envelope cover | 1943, 1990 |
| 1/35 | William T. Lockard. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions (blank), gift and release agreement, notes, and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 1/36 | Joseph L. Morris. Publication: “We Were There” on the 404th Bomb Squadron, and envelope cover | 1945 |
| 3/11 | James Robert O’Dair. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions, gift and release agreement, permission to copy and use form, envelope cover, drawings, telegram, diary entries, Russian language class mates, and envelope cover | 1943-1944, 1990 |
| OSF1 | George W. O’Kelley. Pre-interview questionnaire interview questions (blanks), gift and release agreement permission to copy and use form, envelope cover, military orders, equipment checklist, photograph of crew of the 77th Bombardment Squadron (M) | 1944-1945, 1990 |
| 3/12 | Raiford L. Perry. Gift and release agreement, envelope cover, narratives, clippings, electrostatic copies and photos, selected negatives, contact prints and envelope cover | 1942, 1984, 1990 |
| 1/37-3/1 | William E. Preble. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, notes, lists of veterans, letters, completed registration and planning information forms, note, album scrapbook, military communications, clippings, papers of Arthur W. Kidder, oral history interview transcript. Copy of history of sections and units: Unit histories: 51st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Squadron, 53rd Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Squadron, 11th Air Force section histories: Anti-Aircraft Section, Personnel Services Section, Instrument Training School, Medical, Staff Judge Advocate, A-4 Staff, Ordnance, Chemical Warfare, Quartermaster. | 1941-1945, 1968, 1987-1990 |
| 3/2 | Ralph B. Rogers. Gift and release agreement, address, envelope cover, Article: “Up where the soup begins” | 1943, 1990 |
| 3/3 | George I. Ruddell. Pre-interview questionnaire, gift and release agreement, envelope cover | 1990 |
| 3/4 | Vern Sahroian. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, envelope cover, oral history interview transcript | 1990 |
| 3/5 | Jerry T. Segura. Pre-interview questionnaire, interview questions, gift and release agreement, list of charts used in navigators of the 404th Bomb Squadron, and envelope covers | 1990 |
| 3/6 | Lester A. Smith. Interview questions, gift and release agreement, permission to copy and use, envelope cover, electrostatic copies of photograph album negatives, contact prints, electrostatic copy of an individial photograph with a negative, newspaper clipping and envelope cover | 1941-1945, 1990 |
| 3/7 | Dan Stringfellow. Gift and release statement and envelope cover | 1990 |
| 3/8 | William Francis Xaver. Pre-interview questionnaire, gift and release agreement, envelope cover, reminiscence: “One navigators experience in the Aleutians in B-24s,” several documents in Japanese including pro-surrender leaflets, electrostatic copies of photographs negatives, contact prints | 1942-1945, 1990 |
| 3/9 | Louis Zomparelli. Gift and release agreement, envelope cover, electrostatic copy of photographs, negatives, contact prints, oral history interview transcript | 1940, 1990 |
Series 4: Oral history interview records; 1990. 0.2 cubic feet and 8.37 MB.
Arranged alphabetically by interviewee name.
| Box/Item | Description | Date |
| 4/1 | George S. Arbuthnot, interview by C. Diters | 1990 August 11 |
| 4/2 | Rhodes F. Arnold, interview by S. Scott | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/3 | Mitchell Barchuk, interview by Rebecca Johnson | 1990 August 9 |
| 4/4 | Lyle A. Bean, interview by W.S. Hanable | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/5 | Earl H. Beistline, interview by J. Cloe | 1990 August 9 |
| 4/6 | Robert W. Blair, interview by J. Cloe | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/7 | Willis D. Boone, interview by L. Binek | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/8 | Ted Buszek, interview by D. Beckstead | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/9 | George T. Byrne, interview by W. Hanable | 1990 August 11 |
| 4/10 | William C. Daley, interview by K. Majeske | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/11 | George Daniel, interview by L. Binek | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/12 | Clarence W. Durbin, interview by C. Diter | 1990 August 9 |
| 4/13 | Sherman Clark Green, interview by K. Majeske | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/14 | Wilbur (Bill) Green, interview by B. Houston | 1990 August 11 |
| 4/15 | Arthur W. Kidder | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/16 | Karl Kolva | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/17 | Richard (Dick) J. Korpanty, interview by S. Elliott | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/18 | William T. Lockard, interview by J. Clemens | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/19 | James O’Dair, interviewed by J. Clemens | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/20 | George W. O’Kelley, interview by K. Majeske | 1990 August 9 |
| 4/21 | Raiford L. Perry | Undated |
| 4/22 | William E. Preble, interview by W. Hanable | 1990 August 11 |
| 4/23 | Ralph B. Rogers, interview by J. Cloe | 1990 August 9 |
| 4/24 | George I. Ruddell, interview by S. Levi | 1990 August 12 |
| 4/25 | Vern Sahroian, interview by R. Johnson | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/26 | Jerry T. Segura, interview by K. Majeske | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/27 | Lester A. Smith, interview by B. Houston | 1990 August 11 |
| 4/28 | Don Stringfellow, interview by S. Levi | 1990 August 12 |
| 4/29 | William F. Xaver, interview by J. Cloe | 1990 August 10 |
| 4/30 | Louis Zomparelli, interview by B. Houston | 1990 August 11 |
| Server | Summaries and transcripts | 1990 |