[Portrait of Ralph E. Casey]

Photograph of Private Ralph E. Casey posing in uniform, at the age of 16.
Date: September 1940
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Ruins of Dunkirk, France]

Photograph of ruined buildings in the city of Dunkirk, France. Rubble litters the foreground, and most of the photo contains the decrepit shells of ruined buildings. A tall belfry building stands intact in the center of the background.
Date: 1940
Creator: De Meester, J.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[City Square of Brussels]

Postcard depicting the buildings and roads at the city square, called Place Brouckère, in Brussels. Many cars and people are visible on the roads, and there is a monument in the center of the square. The photo has been colored by hand.
Date: [1940..1945]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Inside Westminster Abbey]

Postcard depicting the interior of Westminster Abbey in London, England. The high altar and the choir are visible, as is an aisle between two sections of pews.
Date: [1940..1945]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Schloss Heiligenberg in Germany]

Postcard depicting the exterior Schloss Heiligenberg in Germany. Trees are visible beyond the building.
Date: [1940..1945]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of People in Baird, Texas]

Photograph of several men and women standing outside of a house. A handwritten note on the photo says "June 8-'40, went to Baird. Sgt. Baker- Camp Barkley."
Date: June 8, 1940
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of the Desert Training Center in California]

Photograph of the Desert Training Center located in California. Ten planes are flying overhead, tanks are rolling towards the camp, and smaller jeeps are moving across the desert. In the right of the picture, artillery cannons work on their aim.
Date: [1940..1945]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from H. P. Abbott to Mrs. Downey - December 18, 1940] (open access)

[Letter from H. P. Abbott to Mrs. Downey - December 18, 1940]

Letter written to Mrs. Downey, the mother of Robert L. Downey, detailing the acceptance of her son into the armed forces.
Date: December 18, 1940
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of Robert L. Downey]

Photograph of a young man identified as Robert L. Downey wearing a dark button-up shirt.
Date: December 1940
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: 'On Silver Wings' tells of women's flights in WWII] (open access)

[Clipping: 'On Silver Wings' tells of women's flights in WWII]

Newspaper clipping of an article about Marianne Verges's experience serving in WASP during WWII. The article includes a photograph of Verges leaning out of the cockpit of a plane. The back of the clipping has an article about an exhibit on display in Washington D.C.
Date: [1940..]
Creator: Foster, Nancy Haston
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
Aerodynamics for Pilots (open access)

Aerodynamics for Pilots

Training manual on information needed for safely flying an airplane. Chapters cover topics such as physical laws, properties of air, general operation of flight, and forces that act on planes such as resistance, lift, weight, and drag.
Date: September 1940
Creator: Jones, Bradley
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Miscellaneous Sections

Miscellaneous sections for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include d.h. window, detail of fixed window guard, detail of hinged window guard exterior, detail of hinged window guard interior, horizontally sliding window, exterior door detail, sliding door, interior door detail, sidewall section at water table, detail of shelf and mirror, typical details for insulation in exterior walls & first floor construction, concrete door sill, concrete pier & footing, porch door, details for recessed radiation, detail of wall framing and fire protection at heater room breaching and smoke pipe, typical section thru foundation wall and footing, and general notes.
Date: August 6, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Miscellaneous Details

Miscellaneous details for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include d.h. window, detail of fixed window guard, detail of hinged window guard exterior, detail of hinged window guard interior, horizontally sliding window, exterior door detail, sliding door, interior door detail, sidewall section at water table, detail of shelf and mirror, concrete door sill, concrete pier for footing, porch door, details for recessed radiation, detail of wall framing and fire protection at heater room breaching and smoke pipe, typical section thru foundation wall and footing, and notes.
Date: July 6, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Miscellaneous Sections

Miscellaneous sections for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include d.h. window, detail of fixed window guard, detail of hinged window guard exterior, detail of hinged window guard interior, horizontally sliding window, exterior door detail, sliding door, interior door detail, sidewall section at water table, detail of shelf and mirror, typical details for insulation in exterior walls & first floor construction, concrete door sill, concrete pier & footing, porch door, details for recessed radiation, detail of wall framing and fire protection at heater room breaching and smoke pipe, typical section thru foundation wall and footing, and general notes.
Date: August 6, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Miscellaneous Details

Miscellaneous sections for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include d.h. window, detail of fixed window guard, detail of hinged window guard exterior, detail of hinged window guard interior, horizontally sliding window, exterior door detail, sliding door, interior door detail, sidewall section at water table, detail of shelf and mirror, typical details for insulation in exterior walls & first floor construction, concrete door sill, concrete pier & footing, porch door, details for recessed radiation, detail of wall framing and fire protection at heater room breaching and smoke pipe, typical section thru foundation wall and footing, and general notes.
Date: August 6, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Miscellaneous Sections

Miscellaneous sections for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include d.h. window, detail of fixed window guard, detail of hinged window guard exterior, detail of hinged window guard interior, horizontally sliding window, exterior door detail, sliding door, interior door detail, sidewall section at water table, detail of shelf and mirror, typical details for insulation in exterior walls & first floor construction, concrete door sill, concrete pier & footing, porch door, details for recessed radiation, detail of wall framing and fire protection at heater room breaching and smoke pipe, typical section thru foundation wall and footing, and general notes.
Date: August 6, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Elevations & Sections

Mess hall elevation and sections for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include front elevation for a 250 man mess hall, plan showing typical knee brace at walls, cross section, left end elevation, kitchen end elevation, half plan of louver, detail of built up corner, and section of kitchen entrance.
Date: December 19, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Plumbing Details

Plumbing details for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include hot water heater connections to range boiler or vertical h.w. storage tank, hot water heater connections for horizontal h.w. storage tank, connections for vertical h.w. generator, gas hot water heater connections for h.w. storage tank, pipe stand for vertical hot water storage tank, method of installing range boilers in battery, schedule for hot water tank connection & accessories, lavatories in battery, wall hung urinal, front elevation through urinal, front elevation service sink, front elevation single or double compartment cement laundry tray, shower & drain, scullery sinks, water service box, cold water supply for pipe protection with shut off valve & drain, front elevation of wash sink, water closet, schedule for pipe covering, and notes.
Date: August 1, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Mess Hall Floor Plans

Mess hall floor plans for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include a floor plan for 118 men, 170 men, 210 men, and 250 men. Other sections include a legend, electric fixture schedule, gas fixed heating cabinets, kitchen equipment, and general notes.
Date: December 26, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

Army Mobilization Buildings: Mess Halls

Mess hall plans for mobilization buildings in support of war efforts. They include Plan of Mess Hall for 250 Men Showing Plumbing and Electrical Layouts, Plan of Mess Hall for 210 Men, Framing Plan, Legend, Electric Fixture Schedule, Heating Cabinets, General Notes, and Kitchen Equipment.
Date: October 15, 1940
Creator: United States. Office of the Quartermaster General. Construction Division.
Object Type: Technical Drawing
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Standard Oil Company Computer]

Manual computer for calculating speed in miles per hour, distance traveled, and time in flight. The object is marked with the name, "Standard Oil Company of California" along with the logo of the company, a red plane with the head of an Eagle. Instructions for the device can be seen on the center of the front and back.
Date: 1940
Creator: Standard Oil Company of California
Object Type: Physical Object
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Ten Women on Boat]

Photograph of ten unidentified young women standing at the railing on the deck of a boat with the smoke stack visible in the background; several of the women on the right are looking towards the camera while others are looking and pointing down on the left.
Date: 1940~/1949~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[WASP Trainees Marching]

Photograph of a group of WASP trainees marching in a single-file line on an airfield; a woman in the front is holding a flagpole with two flags on it and a row of airplanes is visible in the background.
Date: 1940~/1949~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Plane on Airfield]

Photograph of a military airplane on a dirt airfield with other planes visible in the background.
Date: 1940~/1949~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History