Scope and Contents

This collection consists of original papers documenting Captain Walter Seaborn's World War I service, especially his duties relating to the Army Air Service's evaluation, procurement, and transfer of German aircraft and equipment to the United States after the war. The following types of material are included in the collection: correspondence, memorandums, reports, photographs, passenger lists, resumes, supply receipts, rosters, notes, publications, and military orders.

Arrangement

The Captain Walter J. Seaborn World War I Collection is arranged by content type.

Biographical / Historical

Captain Walter J. Seaborn (1892-19??) attended high school and the Western Military Academy in Illinois. He attended several different business schools before graduating from the University of California with a law degree in 1912. In 1917, after having held a variety of jobs and traveling, Seaborn joined the Army Air Service and was assigned to Kelly Field. He was promoted to Commanding Officer of the 25th Aero Squadron and ordered overseas, to England and then to France. In France, Seaborn worked as the Liaison Officer between the Technical Section SOS and the Zone of Advance. In 1918, Seaborn was promoted to captain and after the war he transferred to the 3rd Army where his duty was to secure types of all available German aircraft for shipment to the United States for further evaluation.