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Summary

This 10 by 12 inch World War II album chronicles George Riley's World War II aviation career, both stateside and in Italy.

Biographical / Historical

George H. Riley (1924 - 1996) was a radio operator and gunner, serving in Italy with the 301st Bombardment Group (Fifteenth Air Force), a highly decorated group flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. Riley entered the Army Air Corps in February 1943, attending the Army Air Forces Training Command's radio school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then the Yuma Gunnery School in Yuma, Arizona. After his stateside training, Riley served in Italy, where he flew over 60 missions, mostly against Axis oil and communication centers in Southern Europe.

Identifier

NASM.2020.0011

Date

1943 - 1945

Provenance

Steve Riley, Gift, 2020, NASM.2020.0011

Extent

0.33 Cubic feet (One 11 by 14 by 3 inch flat box.)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This 10 by 12 inch World War II album contains the following types of material chronicling George Riley's World War II aviation career, both stateside and in Italy: photographs (official photo reconnaissance images, copies of official Air Force photography, and snapshots taken by Riley of base life, aircraft, and personnel); patches and insignias; newspaper articles; ephemera such as passes, notices and playbills from his service in Italy; correspondence / cards; various European currency; and certificates, including one relating to his Caterpillar Club membership.

Arrangement note

No arrangement, just one album.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

George H. Riley World War II Photo Album, NASM.2020.0011, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics

World War, 1939-1945 -- Italy

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials