Guide to the Robert Wickman papers
circa 1944-1945
Collection number: HMC-0498.
Creator: Wickman, Robert.
Title: Robert Wickman papers.
Dates: circa 1944-1945
Volume of collection: 0.01 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs and papers of a B-24 pilot in the 404th Bombardment Group, 11th Air Force, who served in the Aleutians.
Biographical note:
Captain Robert Wickman served with the 11th Air Force in the Aleutians during World War II. Originally from Chicago, he served as a pilot with the 404th Bombardment Group. He flew a B-24 on missions over Japan, including Surabachi, Shismashu, Kurabuzki, Onekotan, Kashiwabara, Matsuwa, and Kataoka. Wickman’s service in the Air force earned him the Air Medal with one Oak Cluster, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Captain Wickman served in Alaska and the Aleutians from 1944-1945.
Collection description:
This collection contains photographs from a scrapbook and the combat itinerary of Captain Robert Wickman. The single page combat itinerary documents 19 bombing runs made in the Pacific from September 7 through December 6, 1944. Information includes the date of the bombing run, distance, departure time, the aircraft number, the type of mission, and remarks about the flight. The collection also contains 123 black and white photographs relating to Wickman’s service in the 404th Bombardment Group in Alaska. Also included in the collection are xerographic copies of fourteen photographs, which were removed by a previous owner.
Arrangement: This collection is arranged by type of material.
Alternative formats: A xerographic copy of the original scrapbook is included in the collection.
Digitized copies: Select images from this collection are available on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not hold copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: Robert Wickman papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Custodial history: The original scrapbook was purchased by a second party via eBay in 2000, who then sold the photographs to Archives and Special Collections and gave a xerographic copy of additional materials not given to Archives, in 2001.
Acquisition note: Wickman’s combat itinerary was purchased via eBay in 2000. The photographs were purchased from a second party in 2001.
Processing information: This collection was described by Kathy Hertel in 2001. The guide to the collection was revised by Veronica Denison in 2015. The photographs were rearranged into the original order in which they appeared in the scrapbook by Tom Myers in 2024.
Location of originals: 14 images and additional materials were removed from the collection before arriving at Archives and are presumed to be with the previous owner of the materials.
Container list:
| Items | Description |
| Combat Itinerary | |
| 1-5 | Unidentified Officer in chair |
| 6 | Our Kitchen in Elmendorf, Anchorage, Alaska. |
| 7-8 | Lt. R. M. McFarland, Navigator. |
| 9 | Chuck Weniger, Bob Weiss, Bob Wickman |
| 10 | Lt. Murphy, Tech. Rep. Bregson, at the post office |
| 11 | The Navy Flagpole |
| 12 | Lt. Barker |
| 13 | Out Huts, APO 729 |
| 14-15 | Unidentified Officer |
| 16 | F. O. Boehme. Lt. Murphy, Lt. McFarland |
| 17 | Lt. Weniger |
| 18 | Lt. Henning |
| 19 | Lt. Shorty McFarland |
| 20 | Lt. Murphy |
| 21 | Capt. Moeser and Capt. Beale in front of Operation |
| 22 | Lt. Murphy, Lt. Weniger |
| 23 | Weniger, Me, and Wickman, Nov. ’44, Lt. R. A. Weiss |
| 24 | Lt. Blacklock, Lt. Salzman, Lt. Adams |
| 25 | Oldham and Wickman, APO 729 |
| 26 | Lt. Smity |
| 27 | McFarland and Smith, APO 729 |
| 28 | Fireplace |
| 29-30 | New Year’s Party 1945, APO 729 |
| 31 | Scenery |
| 32 | Unidentified Officer |
| 33 | Mountain Peak |
| 34 | Glacier around Northway |
| 35 | Operations Jeep |
| 36 | The dropped Jeep |
| 37 | Lt. Mizzanin, Bombardier, gets a shock by dropping a Jeep |
| 38 | Picking up the Jeep Mizzanin dropped |
| 39-40 | Illegible, shoreline scene |
| 41 | Fisherman’s tent on Nunivak |
| 42-43 | Nunivak |
| 44 | Left to right: Swift, Oldham, Wickman, Smith, Feb. 1945 |
| 45 | Wickman and Oldham in Exposure Suites, February in the North pacific 1945, APO 729 |
| 46 | Wickman and Oldham in Life Raft, APO 729, 1945 |
| 47 | Lt. Wickman and crew testing exposure suites in the North Pacific, 2-10-45 |
| 48 | Blue Fox, APO 729, Feb. 1945 |
| 49 | Joker and Boheme |
| 50 | Lt. Weniger and crew |
| 51 | Lt. Blakeway and crew |
| 52 | Lt. Karpanty and crew |
| 53 | Lt. McKinley and crew |
| 54 | Lt. Watkins and crew |
| 55 | Lt. Clinlengbeard and crew |
| 56 | Wickman’s crew |
| 57 | Lt. Reynolds and crew |
| 58 | Lt. Newman and crew |
| 59 | Shorty, the navigator always |
| 60 | Smith |
| 61 | Lt. Stacle |
| 62 | Mac, Smith, Oldham, and Wickman |
| 63 | Lt. Jurgenson, our navigator |
| 64 | Mutter, Shorty, Crawford, Smith, Wickman, Evans |
| 65 | Wickman |
| 66 | Oldham |
| 67 | Smith |
| 68 | Shorty |
| 69 | Oldham |
| 70 | Shorty |
| 71 | Wickman, Daniels |
| 72 | Lt. Weniger |
| 73 | F.O. Boehme |
| 74 | Lt. Murphy |
| 75 | Windell |
| 76 | Oldham |
| 77 | Shorty and Our Hut, notice our sign |
| 78 | Wickman |
| 79 | Snowball fight |
| 80 | No. 88 |
| 81 | Air view |
| 82 | Wickman at altitude |
| 83 | No. 90 |
| 84 | On our trip from Canada to Anchorage: Northway |
| 85 | Unidentified soldier |
| 86 | On our trip from Canada to Anchorage: Northway |
| 87 | Shoreline |
| 88 | Agattu |
| 89 | Air view |
| 90 | Lt. Talbot’s crew. Shot down in flames over Paramushiro, Japan, Jan. 23, 1945 |
| 91 | Agattu Island |
| 92 | Lt. McFarland, Lt. Smith, Lt. Oldham, our hut in the background |
| 93 | Me. Shorty shook the camera |
| 94 | Oldham |
| 95 | Tom Young and I. Shorty double exposed this one |
| 96 | Shorty at Stef McHelends house, Anchorage, Alaska |
| 97 | On our leave at Anchorage, Shorty and Oldham |
| 98 | Shoreline, APO 729 |
| 99 | Shorty |
| 100 | A sign of spring, first marble game, APO 729 |
| 101 | The gang |
| 102 | Oldham and Wickman, APO 729 |
| 103 | Unidentified |
| 104 | Lt Boehme, the Queen of the Aleutians is in the center |
| 105 | Group of Officers |
| 106 | Group of Officers |
| 107 | Wickman receiving medal |
| 108 | Officer receiving medal |
| 109 | Officer receiving medal |
| 110 | Officers behind bar |
| 111 | Band members |
| 112 | Officers and dates dancing |
| 113 | Officers and dates |
| 114 | Officers and dates dancing |
| 115 | Group of Officers |
| 116 | South Pacific |
| 117 | Alaska flag postcard |
| 118 | Officer |
| 119 | Officer and woman |
| 120 | Unidentified man and woman. |
| 121 | Unidentified officer in chair |
| 122 | Unidentified shoreline |
| 123 | Women at party |
| 124 | Officers and women at party |
| Xerographic copy of the Wickman scrapbook, plus copies of 14 photos removed by a previous owner |