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Summary

This collection consists mostly of photographs of AEF aircraft and crews on the field, with photos both loose and in a scrapbook. Documents and unit patches are also to be found in these materials. Folder 1: Includes Benson's AEF identity card, a clipping and photo of Benson, seemingly taken from a scrapbook, and various photographs of World War I aircraft such as the DH-4 and Salmson 2, along with crews. Each image in this folder is accompanied by a 4x5" negative. Folder 2: Approximately 50 loose photographs of various sizes of World War I units and their air crews on the field. Folder 3: Documentary materials (approximately 40 pages) including letters of recommendation, an officer's record book, sugar permit, and discharge certificate. Folder 4: Photo album commemorating AEF members (approximately 50 photos). Endpapers have various uniform insignia affixed, both that of the Allied forces and of the Central Powers. Note: Folder 4 includes small 1 3/4x2 3/4" photo of Ruth Law beside wing strut, in uniform.

Biographical / Historical

Lieutenant Leslie A. Benson was a member of the American Expeditionary Forces and was stationed in England and France during 1917-1919.

Identifier

NASM.1997.0047

Creator

Benson, Leslie A. A.

Date

1917-1919

Provenance

Michael Benson, gift, 1997, 1997-0047, Unknown

Extent

0.23 Cubic feet ((1 slim legal document box))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists mostly of photographs of AEF aircraft and crews on the field, with photos both loose and in a scrapbook. Documents and unit patches are also to be found in these materials. Folder 1: Includes Benson's AEF identity card, a clipping and photo of Benson, seemingly taken from a scrapbook, and various photographs of World War I aircraft such as the DH-4 and Salmson 2, along with crews. Each image in this folder is accompanied by a 4x5" negative. Folder 2: Approximately 50 loose photographs of various sizes of World War I units and their air crews on the field. Folder 3: Documentary materials (approximately 40 pages) including letters of recommendation, an officer's record book, sugar permit, and discharge certificate. Folder 4: Photo album commemorating AEF members (approximately 50 photos). Endpapers have various uniform insignia affixed, both that of the Allied forces and of the Central Powers. Note: Folder 4 includes small 1 3/4x2 3/4" photo of Ruth Law beside wing strut, in uniform. Note: The digital images in this finding aid were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping and orientation in addition to color variations resulting from damage to and deterioration of the original objects.

Arrangement note

The Leslie A. A. Benson Collection-- is arranged by content type.

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

Leslie A. A. Benson Collection, Acc. NASM.1997.0047, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics

Aeronautics, Military

World War, 1914-1918

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Correspondence