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: 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: Photograph of the Army Air Force Choral Group performing in Greensboro, North Carolina on November 29, 1944. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: NAM_MSS15_B08_03
Subjects: Music; Musicians; African American men; United States. Air Force.
 

Description: Illustration of the 302nd squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd fighter group, Spit Fire, by A. Ric Druet. This print is autographed by A. Ric Druet and several Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the armed forces of the United States. The squadron was formed in 1941 and based in Tuskegee, Alabama. Print 33 of 1500 ALTERNATE TEXT: Three airplanes sit on a runway at a military base. There is one plane in the air, which is blue with large clouds. The planes all have red noses and tails, with silver bodies. The closest plane is the "Ina the Macon Belle", and it has a pilot inside and a mechanic on the wing. The second plane, "Alice-Jo", also has a pilot in the cockpit and mechanic on the wing. The last plane grounded is "Lucifer" and has the mechanic on the ground and a mechanic looking at the nose. Three men stand to the left next to a Jeep-like Humvee vehicle, marked 219321. Two men are further to the left with the furthest man in a brown leather jacket. Another Humvee sits further up the runway, in front of the last plane. A tent is behind that Humvee. The bottom of the image has signatures with an image of a red flying devil wielding a pitch fork. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: NAM_MSS_6_B11F2_01
Subjects: African American soldiers; African American men; African American Ohioans; Air pilots; Airplanes; Tuskegee Airmen; United States. Air Force.; World War II
 

Description: Illustration of the 301st squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd fighter group, Spit Fire, by A. Ric Druet. This print is autographed by A. Ric Druet and several Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the armed forces of the United States. The squadron was formed in 1941 and based in Tuskegee, Alabama. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: NAM_MSS_6_B11F3_01
Subjects: African American soldiers; African American men; African American Ohioans; Air pilots; Airplanes; Tuskegee Airmen; United States. Air Force.; World War II
 

Description: Illustration of the 99th squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd fighter group, Spit Fire, by A. Ric Druet. This print is autographed by A. Ric Druet and several Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the armed forces of the United States. The squadron was formed in 1941 and based in Tuskegee, Alabama. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: NAM_MSS_6_B11F4_01
Subjects: African American soldiers; African American men; African American Ohioans; Air pilots; Airplanes; Tuskegee Airmen; United States. Air Force.; World War II
 

Description: Illustration of the 100th squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group, Spit Fire, by A. Ric Druet. This print is autographed by A. Ric Druet and several Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the armed forces of the United States. The squadron was formed in 1941 and based in Tuskegee, Alabama. ALTERNATE TEXT: Various styles of planes fly through the sky from the left side of the colorful scene. Each plane has a trail of white smoke behind it. One German plane, number 8, towards the middle right of the scene appears to have been shot and is falling out of the sky, with black smoke coming out of the right engine. The closest plane reads 569 with a number 7 on the right flank. Under the title and artist, there is a logo with a large brown cougar-like cat, with wings. The cat has its front paws on a globe showing North America. The cat is in a round yellow sunburst, inside of a blue ring, white ring, and lastly a red ring. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: NAM_MSS_6_B11F5_01
Subjects: African American soldiers; African American Ohioans; Air pilots; Airplanes; Tuskegee Airmen; United States. Air Force.; World War II
 

Description: This photograph shows famed US Air Force General Curtis LeMay and Lietenant General Hewitt T. Wheless shaking hands at Lockbourn Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio. This picture was taken in May 1955 in the midst of the Cold War when Wheless was the Commanding General of the 801st Air Division at Lockbourn and LeMay was in charge of Strategic Air Command. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08051
Subjects: Military Ohio; Military uniforms; Wheless, Hewitt T. Captain; LeMay, Curtis E.; United States. Air Force; Cold War; Ohio History--Military Ohio
Places: Lockbourn Air Force Base, Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: Illustrated portraits of Tuskegee Airmen from Central Ohio. The portraits are signed by the pilots. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the armed forces of the United States. The squadron was formed in 1941 and based in Tuskegee, Alabama. ALTERNATE TEXT: Artwork of nine African American men who were part of the Tuskegee Airmen. The image includes two airplanes; the right airplane has a red nose and tail. Beneath the red plane is a distant field of grass and trees with a road going through them. There is also a pilot in the cockpit. Top left corner: Herndon 'Don' Cummings- He wears goggles on the top of his head and a collared shirt. He has a smile on his face. Top middle: Alex Boudreaux- He wears a helmet with goggles on his forehead. He has a jacket on along with a collared shirt and tie. Second row, left: Walter McCreary- He wears an officer's hat with a United States eagle seal. He also wears a collared shirt with pins on the lapels. Second row, second to left: Walter Kyle- He wears a dark officer's hat with a United States eagle seal, and a collared shirt. He also has a small moustache. Second row, middle: Walter Davidson- He wears a hat with a collard shirt and a tie. Second row, second from right: Harold Sawyer- He wears an officer's hat with a United States eagle seal. He also wears a collared shirt with a tie. Second row, right: Harold Brown- He wears a collared shirt with pins on the lapels. Bottom row, left: Charles 'C.I.' Williams- He wears a hat with a pin on it. He also has on a collared shirt with a tie. Bottom row, right: William Watkins- He wears a dark officer's hat with a United States eagle seal, and a collared shirt. His suit jacket has a patch on his left side, which has wings above a star and the number 1 above the wings. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: NAM_OVS19
Subjects: African American soldiers; African American men; African American Ohioans; Air pilots; Airplanes; Tuskegee Airmen; United States. Air Force.; World War II
Places: Ohio; Tuskegee (Alabama)