Description: This photograph shows various military aircraft at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. Two men are standing in the center background of the photograph. Beginning in the 1910s, with World War I's outbreak, the United States government began investigating the use of airplanes in war. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson created the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). This committee suggested establishing a center to research the use of airplanes in the military and also to seek improvements in airplane technology. Due to the presence of several automobile and aircraft plants in Ohio, the NACA established this center at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio. By 1924 the United States Air Corps had outgrown the facilities at McCook Field. Hoping to keep the Air Corps in Dayton, city officials and residents donated 5,250 acres of land on the city's outskirts. The Air Corps accepted the land and built Wright Field on the site. The base was named Wright Field to honor Orville and Wilbur Wright's contributions to flight. The Wrights had tested many of their early airplanes in the vicinity of Wright Field. Wright Field formally opened in 1927. In 1926 the United States government created the Army Air Corps, replacing the earlier Air Corps. The Army Air Corps stationed its Materiel Division at Wright Field. Here, scientists continued to improve aircraft. The scientists also realized that they had to work together to create the best possible plane. Before creation of the Army Air Corps, researchers studied individual parts of the plane, like engines, armor, wings, and propellers. Now scientists continued to specialize in individual components of planes, but they realized that changes in a plane's armor would affect all other parts of the plane. The same held true for changes in engines, wings, and the other parts of a plane. Under the Army Air Corps, researchers now kept a dialogue open between the various experts. Despite Wright Field's existence, the United States Army Air Corps entered World War II at a severe disadvantage numerically and technologically when compared to the air forces of other nations. To help overcome these weaknesses, the federal government in 1940 designated $300 million to improve Wright Field and to create an Air Corps with at least 5,500 planes. In 1941 only forty buildings existed at Wright Field, but by 1944 the airfield consisted of more than three hundred buildings. During World War II, research continued on airplanes, with much attention focused upon improving the horsepower of plane engines, airplanes' ranges and maneuverability, safety features for crews, and weapons. Workers at Wright Field helped to design and to construct numerous airplanes, such as the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster, the Curtiss C-46 Commando, the Sikorsky XR-4, the Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk, the B-24 Liberator, and the B-29 Superfortress, among many others, during World War II. After World War II, Wright Field continued to play a major role in aircraft research and construction. In 1947 the United States government created the United States Air Force, eliminating the Army Air Forces and establishing a new branch of the United States military. That same year the Air Force combined Wright Field with nearby Patterson Field, creating Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Research continues at the base's facilities today, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is also home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06663
Subjects: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio); United States. Army. Air Corps; Aviation--History; Military aircraft; Aeronautics, Military; United States. Air Force--History
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken in 1971 by U.S. Army medic Charles Tweel, this photograph shows a U.S. aircraft, probably a C 130, flying above an American flag and the flag of South Vietnam. This photograph is part of the Charles Tweel Collection (AV 324) at the Ohio History Connection. Charles Tweel grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University. After graduation in 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a non-combatant, first training as a medic at Fort Sam Huston, followed by nine months of additional training at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He finished his training as a Specialist 3 and 91C, MOS, and went on to serve in Bamberg, Germany, with combat engineers for one year. In January 1971, Tweel served in Vietnam with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Air Mobile), 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, based out of Camp Evans near Phu Bai, north of Hue, until December of that year. Tweel spent most of his service on various firebases as the medic in charge, and occasionally shared firebases with South Vietnamese soldiers. He also visited MedCAP stations (Medical Civic Action Programs) where he treated civilians. Tweel received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement, and was promoted to Specialist 5 in 1971. After discharge from the Army, he went to medical school and was in private practice as a family practitioner from 1979-2016, and now works part-time in inner city medical clinics in Columbus, Ohio, and Charleston, South Carolina. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV324_B01F05_015
Subjects: Vietnam War (1961-1975); United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st; Military aircraft; Airplanes
Places: Vietnam
 

Description: Military security police watch a C-130 take off with 3rd Armored Division soldiers aboard for their return trip to the United States at the end of the Persian Gulf War. This photograph, from the Rodger Cuccio Collection, was taken at Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait City, 1991. Rodger Cuccio was a member of the 356th Tactical Airlift Squadron stationed at Rickenbacker Air Force Base near Columbus. His unit, along with four others, was attached to the 907th Tactical Airlift Group, U.S. Airforce Reserve. This squadron, made up of over 250 servicemen and women, served in the Gulf War from January to June of 1991. While in Kuwait, Cuccio’s unit flew over 2,000 sorties, hauled over 4,400 tons of cargo and moved more than 13,000 people during Operation Desert Storm. Additional missions of the 907th squadron included resupplying Kuwait City after its liberation, redeployment of troops from Iraq to Saudi Arabia following the signing of the United Nations peace treaty, and evacuation of Shiite Muslims from southern Iraq. The men and women of the 907th Tactical Airlift Group returned to Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts on June 14, 1991, after 141 days overseas. Other photographs in the Cuccio Collection depict camp life for U.S. soldiers, old artillery and military aircraft, Kuwaiti refugees, and Kuwait City and the surrounding areas. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03440
Subjects: Military Ohio; Transportation; Persian Gulf War, 1991; Soldiers; Aircraft; Flags; Jeep automobiles; Military police
Places: Kuwait City (Kuwait)
 

Description: Taken at the end of the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, this photograph from the Rodger Cuccio Collection shows security police watching a C-130 take off from the Kuwait International Airport in Kuwait City. The 3rd Armored Division soldiers on board were bound for the United States. Rodger Cuccio was a member of the 356th Tactical Airlift Squadron stationed at Rickenbacker Air Force Base near Columbus. His unit, along with four others, was attached to the 907th Tactical Airlift Group, U.S. Airforce Reserve. This squadron, made up of over 250 servicemen and women, served in the Gulf War from January to June of 1991. While in Kuwait, Cuccio’s unit flew over 2,000 sorties, hauled over 4,400 tons of cargo and moved more than 13,000 people during Operation Desert Storm. Additional missions of the 907th squadron included resupplying Kuwait City after its liberation, redeployment of troops from Iraq to Saudi Arabia following the signing of the United Nations peace treaty, and evacuation of Shiite Muslims from southern Iraq. The men and women of the 907th Tactical Airlift Group returned to Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts on June 14, 1991, after 141 days overseas. Other photographs in the Cuccio Collection depict camp life for U.S. soldiers, old artillery and military aircraft, Kuwaiti refugees, and Kuwait City and the surrounding areas. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3216_3813089_001
Subjects: Military Ohio; Transportation; Persian Gulf War, 1991; Soldiers; Aircraft; Flags; Jeep automobiles; Military police
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Kuwait City (Kuwait);
 

Description: This photograph shows several mililtary aircraft on display at Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) in Dayton, Ohio. Four people (two adults and two children) are seen walking through the display. Beginning in the 1910s, with World War I's outbreak, the United States government began investigating the use of airplanes in war. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson created the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). This committee suggested establishing a center to research the use of airplanes in the military and also to seek improvements in airplane technology. Due to the presence of several automobile and aircraft plants in Ohio, the NACA established this center at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio. By 1924 the United States Air Corps had outgrown the facilities at McCook Field. Hoping to keep the Air Corps in Dayton, city officials and residents donated 5,250 acres of land on the city's outskirts. The Air Corps accepted the land and built Wright Field on the site. The base was named Wright Field to honor Orville and Wilbur Wright's contributions to flight. The Wrights had tested many of their early airplanes in the vicinity of Wright Field. Wright Field formally opened in 1927. In 1926 the United States government created the Army Air Corps, replacing the earlier Air Corps. The Army Air Corps stationed its Materiel Division at Wright Field. Here, scientists continued to improve aircraft. The scientists also realized that they had to work together to create the best possible plane. Before creation of the Army Air Corps, researchers studied individual parts of the plane, like engines, armor, wings, and propellers. Now scientists continued to specialize in individual components of planes, but they realized that changes in a plane's armor would affect all other parts of the plane. The same held true for changes in engines, wings, and the other parts of a plane. Under the Army Air Corps, the researchers now kept a dialog open between the various experts. Despite Wright Field's existence, the United States Army Air Corps entered World War II at a severe disadvantage numerically and technologically when compared to the Air Forces of other nations. To help overcome these weaknesses, the federal government, in 1940, designated $300 million to improve Wright Field and to create an Air Corps with at least 5,500 planes. In 1941 only forty buildings existed at Wright Field, but by 1944 the airfield consisted of more than three hundred buildings. During World War II, research continued on airplanes, with much attention focused upon improving the horsepower of plane engines, airplanes' ranges and maneuverability, safety features for crews, and weapons. Workers at Wright Field helped to design and to construct numerous airplanes, such as the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster, the Curtiss C-46 Commando, the Sikorsky XR-4, the Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk, the B-24 Liberator, and the B-29 Superfortress, among many others, during World War II. After World War II, Wright Field continued to play a major role in aircraft research and construction. In 1947 the United States government created the United States Air Force, eliminating the Army Air Forces and establishing a new branch of the United States military. That same year the Air Force combined Wright Field with nearby Patterson Field, creating Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Research continues at the base's facilities today, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is also home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06664
Subjects: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio); United States. Army. Air Corps; Aviation--History; Military aircraft; Aeronautics, Military; United States. Air Force--History
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Birdie Schmidt (later Birdie Schmidt Larrick) painted by Arthur Olsen, who was the artist of the portrait on the "Birdie Schmidt" ARC B-24 Liberator. During World War II, Columbus native Birdie Schmidt Larrick (1919-2009) became the only woman serving in the Red Cross to have an American bomber named after her. In early December 1943, Birdie traveled to the Air Base in Wendling, England, as program director of the American Red Cross (ARC) Aero Club. Also stationed in Wendling was the 392nd Bombardment Group (BG), which moved to the base in August 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force. As program director, and later as director, Birdie’s responsibilities included managing the Aero Club staff, organizing programs and events for the enlisted men and officers, and managing the club's supplies for soldiers. Because of her popularity among the men at the base, the 392nd named a B-24 Liberator the “Birdie Schmidt ARC” in her honor. A portrait of Birdie’s face was painted on one side of the bomber with the symbol for the Red Cross on the other. The plane flew missions from August 1944 until it was shot down in February 1945. That same year, Birdie joined the ARC Cinemobile and performed with the 7th Army Special Service Shows before returning home in November of 1945. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1528_B01F04_01
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Women; American Red Cross; United States Air Force; Military aircraft;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Wendling (England)
 

Description: Photograph showing Birdie Schmidt (later Birdie Schmidt Larrick) with fellow performers in the American Red Cross Cinemobile and 7th Army Special Service Show, at the Stadt Theater in Heidelberg, Germany, September 1945. From left to right are Chuck Moffett, Schmidt, John O'Neil, Helen Malsed, and Eddy Phillips. Seated in front is Sidney Porcelain. During World War II, Columbus native Birdie Schmidt Larrick (1919-2009) became the only woman serving in the Red Cross to have an American bomber named after her. In early December 1943, Birdie traveled to the Air Base in Wendling, England, as program director of the American Red Cross (ARC) Aero Club. Also stationed in Wendling was the 392nd Bombardment Group (BG), which moved to the base in August 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force. As program director, and later as director, Birdie’s responsibilities included managing the Aero Club staff, organizing programs and events for the enlisted men and officers, and managing the club's supplies for soldiers. Because of her popularity among the men at the base, the 392nd named a B-24 Liberator the “Birdie Schmidt ARC” in her honor. A portrait of Birdie’s face was painted on one side of the bomber with the symbol for the Red Cross on the other. The plane flew missions from August 1944 until it was shot down in February 1945. That same year, Birdie joined the ARC Cinemobile and performed with the 7th Army Special Service Shows before returning home in November of 1945. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1528AV_B03F01_01
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Women; American Red Cross; United States Air Force; Military aircraft;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Heidelberg (Germany)
 

Description: Photograph showing Birdie Schmidt (later Birdie Schmidt Larrick) with program director Helen Malsed, December 1944. During World War II, Columbus native Birdie Schmidt Larrick (1919-2009) became the only woman serving in the Red Cross to have an American bomber named after her. In early December 1943, Birdie traveled to the Air Base in Wendling, England, as program director of the American Red Cross (ARC) Aero Club. Also stationed in Wendling was the 392nd Bombardment Group (BG), which moved to the base in August 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force. As program director, and later as director, Birdie’s responsibilities included managing the Aero Club staff, organizing programs and events for the enlisted men and officers, and managing the club's supplies for soldiers. Because of her popularity among the men at the base, the 392nd named a B-24 Liberator the “Birdie Schmidt ARC” in her honor. A portrait of Birdie’s face was painted on one side of the bomber with the symbol for the Red Cross on the other. The plane flew missions from August 1944 until it was shot down in February 1945. That same year, Birdie joined the ARC Cinemobile and performed with the 7th Army Special Service Shows before returning home in November of 1945. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1528AV_B03F04_01
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Women; American Red Cross; United States Air Force; Military aircraft;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Wendling (England)
 

Description: Birdie Schmidt and crew at the christening of the “Birdie Schmidt ARC,” August 1944. Back row left to right: Lt. Wise, Lt. Hoffman, Lt. Randall, Birdie, Lt. Gorton, Cpl. McNutt, S/Sgt. Goo. Front row left to right: T/Sgt. Boney, S/Sgt. Sanders, S/Sgt. Kamacho, S/Sgt. Dopson. During World War II, Columbus native Birdie Schmidt Larrick (1919-2009) became the only woman serving in the Red Cross to have an American bomber named after her. In early December 1943, Birdie traveled to the Air Base in Wendling, England, as program director of the American Red Cross (ARC) Aero Club. Also stationed in Wendling was the 392nd Bombardment Group (BG), which moved to the base in August 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force. As program director, and later as director, Birdie’s responsibilities included managing the Aero Club staff, organizing programs and events for the enlisted men and officers, and managing the club's supplies for soldiers. Because of her popularity among the men at the base, the 392nd named a B-24 Liberator the “Birdie Schmidt ARC” in her honor. A portrait of Birdie’s face was painted on one side of the bomber with the symbol for the Red Cross on the other. The plane flew missions from August 1944 until it was shot down in February 1945. That same year, Birdie joined the ARC Cinemobile and performed with the 7th Army Special Service Shows before returning home in November of 1945. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1528AV_B03F10_01
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Women; American Red Cross; United States Air Force; Military aircraft;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Wendling (England)
 

Description: Portrait of Birdie Schmidt (later Birdie Schmidt Larrick), 1944. During World War II, Columbus native Birdie Schmidt Larrick (1919-2009) became the only woman serving in the Red Cross to have an American bomber named after her. In early December 1943, Birdie traveled to the Air Base in Wendling, England, as program director of the American Red Cross (ARC) Aero Club. Also stationed in Wendling was the 392nd Bombardment Group (BG), which moved to the base in August 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force. As program director, and later as director, Birdie’s responsibilities included managing the Aero Club staff, organizing programs and events for the enlisted men and officers, and managing the club's supplies for soldiers. Because of her popularity among the men at the base, the 392nd named a B-24 Liberator the “Birdie Schmidt ARC” in her honor. A portrait of Birdie’s face was painted on one side of the bomber with the symbol for the Red Cross on the other. The plane flew missions from August 1944 until it was shot down in February 1945. That same year, Birdie joined the ARC Cinemobile and performed with the 7th Army Special Service Shows before returning home in November of 1945. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1528AV_B03F12_01
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Women; American Red Cross; United States Air Force; Military aircraft;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph taken during the christening of the B-24 "Birdie Schmidt" bomber, August 10, 1944. Seen from left to right are Schmidt (now Birdie Schmidt Larrick), Honorable Frances and Mary Roche, their father Morris (Lord Fermoy) and Lt. Col. Lorin Johnson of Utah. During World War II, Columbus native Birdie Schmidt Larrick (1919-2009) became the only woman serving in the Red Cross to have an American bomber named after her. In early December 1943, Birdie traveled to the Air Base in Wendling, England, as program director of the American Red Cross (ARC) Aero Club. Also stationed in Wendling was the 392nd Bombardment Group (BG), which moved to the base in August 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force. As program director, and later as director, Birdie’s responsibilities included managing the Aero Club staff, organizing programs and events for the enlisted men and officers, and managing the club's supplies for soldiers. Because of her popularity among the men at the base, the 392nd named a B-24 Liberator the “Birdie Schmidt ARC” in her honor. A portrait of Birdie’s face was painted on one side of the bomber with the symbol for the Red Cross on the other. The plane flew missions from August 1944 until it was shot down in February 1945. That same year, Birdie joined the ARC Cinemobile and performed with the 7th Army Special Service Shows before returning home in November of 1945. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1528AV_B03F17_01
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Women; American Red Cross; United States Air Force; Military aircraft;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Wendling (England)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Lunken Aire Port. Cincinnati, Ohio. RAF." This is most likely an Army B-17. A crowd of people are gathered around the field. Hanger 3, in the background, has the letters W.A.C.O., the "O" being obstructed by the crowd, with a banner above the doors that says Queen City Flying Service. Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field or Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport is more commonly known as Lunken Field or Lunken Airport and was named after Eshelby Lunken. Llocated three miles (5 km) southeast of Downtown Cincinnati, it was a commercial airport in the 1920s '30s and '40s. It is situated in the Little Miami River valley near Columbia, the site of the first Cincinnati-area settlement in 1788. When the original 1000-acre (4 km²) airfield was dedicated in 1925, it was the largest municipal airfield in the world. American Airlines started at Lunken Airport during this time, but no major commercial airlines use it anymore. Instead, many large Cincinnati-area companies now base their corporate aircraft there. On December 17, 1925, the Embry-Riddle Company was formed at Lunken Airport by T. Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle. A few years later, the company moved to Florida, and later became the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Lunken Airport was supplanted by the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in 1947 following catastrophic flooding from the Ohio River. The flooding problem prompted the airport's nickname of "Sunken Lunken." The control tower, located at the southwest corner of the airport, was almost totally submerged during the historic Ohio River flood of 1937, and now has a single black brick facing the airfield to indicate the high-water mark. Today the old control tower is home to the Lunken Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, and is the oldest standing control tower in the United States.[ci The property also contains public recreation areas, including an 18-hole golf course, playgrounds, and walking/biking paths. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F05_29_01
Subjects: Airports; Military aircraft; Aviation--History
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)