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 Summary

Herbert Mercer served with the United Kingdom's Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force) from 1916 until 1945, and was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, in the early 1920s. While there, he photographed a variety of aircraft that were either stationed in Iraq or Egypt or landing there for refueling. This collection contains eleven photographs taken by Mercer in Iraq and Egypt.

 Biographical / Historical

Herbert Mercer served with the United Kingdom's Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force) from 1916 until 1945, and was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, in the early 1920s. While there, he photographed a variety of aircraft that were either stationed in Iraq or Egypt or landing there for refueling. Upon Mercer's retirement from the Royal Air Force in 1945, he worked for the US Air Force at its base in Bushey Park, Hampton, UK until 1958. Herbert Mercer died in 1964.

 Identifier

NASM.2008.0029

Creator

Mercer, Herbert

Date

1916-1926

Provenance

Frank Long, Gift, 2008, NASM.2008.0029

Extent

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of eleven black and white or sepia toned photographs taken by Herbert Mercer, ranging in size from approximately 3.5 x 2.25 inches to 8.25 x 6.25 inches, and all taken in Iraq or Egypt. The photographs depict the following aircraft: de Havilland D.H.50J (Sir Alan Cobham's Aircraft); Fokker F.VIII (two images); Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8; de Havilland (Airco) D.H.6; Vickers Victoria; Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) "Chicago" (#2); de Havilland D.H.90 Dragonfly (crashed); Bristol Scout C; and Fairey IIID Mk.III. There is also one aerial photograph of the Royal Air Force aerodrome at Hinaidi, Baghdad, Iraq.

Arrangement note

Collection is in original order.

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

Herbert Mercer Photography Collection, NASM.2008.0029, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics

Airplanes

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs