Walker, Frederick Frye. Frederick Frye Walker Papers, 1938-1999 1961-1975.
Title:
Frederick Frye Walker Papers, 1938-1999 1961-1975.
This collection contains documents and records, correspondence, memoranda, inter-office routing slips, office notes, reports, radio messages (incoming, outgoing, and XOXO), application files, maps, approach procedures and charts, manuals and handbooks, airfield directories, clippings, magazine articles, press releases, newsletters, Notice to Air Men (NOTAM) and other information circulars, blueprints, photographs, moving images, ephemera, memorabilia, and other materials that were created and/or collected during Fred Walker's life and represent his active career with Civil Air Transport (CAT) and Air America, Inc. The third series, Air America Series, is the largest and most important one and especially subseries (a), (b), (d), (e), and (f) represent the day-to-day operation of Air America, Inc. not only as commercial airline but also as a contractor for the United States government, specifically the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Furthermore, the Department Files give an excellent overview about the internal structure of Air America. A large number of the memoranda were composed by Walker in his various positions as Chief Pilot, Regional Chief Pilot, and Manager Flying Department. Of equal importance next to the Department Files, Subseries (a), are the radio messages, Subseries (b), themselves and particularly the XOXO message dealing with aircraft and personnel accidents and incidents. The latter are insofar significant, since they give a detailed account about the incident regarding ten code, aircraft type, time, location, people involved, damage, nature of accident, weather conditions, and which measures were taken by the investigators or whether "customers," CIA personnel, where present. Noteworthy in Subseries (d) are pilot alphabetical listings stating name, date of employment/termination. The next large batch of materials in this subseries deals with flight crew, flight time, and flight training. Of interest among other materials are rosters, flight crew designators, pilot planning manning reports, daily flight schedules and especially the Last Schedule Saigon from Apr. 28-29, 1975. Subseries (e) the Personnel files refer to applications sent to Air America, Inc. Though they do only represent a fraction of the company's flight personnel they are a great source of what kind of individuals considered working for the organization, since they mention the educational and professional background of the applicant. These documents can also be used for genealogy research purposes because of the family background information. Subseries (f) contains various reports and their supporting documentation. Series V, Subseries (c) and Series VI contain clippings that well reflect the political situation in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era, comments and informs on the different political parties - the Pathet Lao and the Hmong under the leadership of Gen. Vang Pao - their political point of view and their success of defeat on the battle field, the role of Air America, Inc. in search and rescue or famine relief missions. The clippings also support the department files and radio messages regarding the public information provided by the media of any given day. Series X, Subseries (a), contains only about 450 images and depicts various types of aircraft, aircraft crashes, and airport facilities or landing strips, as well as events such as the celebration of the Meo or Hmong New Year, delivery of goods to the Hmong, and locations throughout Southeast Asia. For those researching ethnology the images about the traditional costumes of the Hmong people and dances and chants during their New Year's celebration and the aerial views of their villages are of particular interest.
ArchivalResource:
53.81 linear ft.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/426565288 View
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