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This collection consists of William Jones' World War II scrapbook.
William Jones was an aerial photographer in the Army Air Corps during World War II. During the occupation of Japan, Jones photographed the atomic bomb damage of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki at low altitude. After his discharge he continued in his photography career, owning and operating a studio, Jones Photos, in Columbia City, Indiana, for over 43 years.
NASM.2006.0067
Jones, William
bulk 1943 - 1946
William Jones, Gift, 2006, NASM.2006.0067
.49 Cubic feet (1 box.)
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This collection consists of William Jones' World War II scrapbook. The scrapbook measures 10.125 by 12.5 by 4.25 inches and contains 215 pages plus inserted pockets holding additional documents and photos. The scrapbook includes maps; patches and images of insignia; Jones' military records; news clippings; foreign currency; drawings; a technical drawing of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress; fabric from a Japanese aircraft; a typewritten narrative by Jones of his time in the U.S. Army Air Corps; a piece of paper autographed by Harry S. Truman; an Office of Civilian Personnel Recreational Guide to the Tokyo area; vectographs and two pairs of viewing glasses; information on Jones' donations to other museums; and numerous photographs, many of which were taken by Jones. Subjects of the photographs include daily life in the U.S. Army Air Corps; portraits of various military personnel; scenes in various parts of the Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan; views of bombing damage in Japan; prints from gun camera film of Japanese aircraft being shot down; and aerial views of Itazuke Airfield and Nagasaki and Hiroshima after the atomic bombing took place. The aerial photos of Nagasaki are signed by Fred J. Olivi (co-pilot of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Silverplate Bocks Car) and the aerial photographs of Hiroshima are signed by Paul Warfield Tibbets, Theodore J. "Dutch" Van Kirk, and Thomas Wilson Ferebee (pilot, navigator, and bombardier respectively of the Boeing B-29, Silverplate Enola Gay). Aircraft depicted in the photographs include the North American P-51 Mustang; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress; Douglas C-54 Skymaster; Consolidated B-24 Liberator; Stinson (Aircraft) L-5 Sentinel; Noorduyn Norseman; Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Zeke; and Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight) Irving (Night Fighter Model 11). The collection also includes the publication, How to Make Polaroid Vectographs, published by the Polaroid Corporation in November 1943, as well as four CDs containing high resolution scans of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki aerial views and scans of other pages in the scrapbook.
No arrangement, single item.
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William Jones World War II Scrapbook, NASM.2006.0067, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Atomic bomb
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japan -- Hiroshima
Aerial photography
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Digital images