Papers and photographs of Paul W. Chase, a pilot in the 8th Aero Squadron of the Army Signal Corps during World War I. The bulk of the collection consists of the letters that Paul wrote to his parents, his fiance, and his sister during his stateside training and his World War I military service in France. The letters describe the major events of Chase's service as a pilot such as his stateside training in observation flights, shooting down a German plane, and the Armistice celebration, as well as the accommodations, food, and recreation available to Chase and his squadron both at stateside training facilities and in Europe. Also included are his wartime diary, military records, several issues of the 8th Aero Squadron Association bulletin, a wartime poem written by Chase, and numerous postcards depicting European vistas that Chase picked up during the war and sent home with written comments to his family. The photographs include many shots of Chase in and around his airplane, shots of the 8th Aero Squadron during stateside training, aerial photos taken in Europe, and some scenic shots of wartime Europe. Materials pertaining to Chase's sister, Ruth, a stateside nurse during World War I, can also be found in this collection.
