National Air and Space Museum Archives

George H. Riley World War II Photo Album

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.2020.0011
Dates:
1943 - 1945
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.33 Cubic feet
One 11 by 14 by 3 inch flat box.
Repository:
This 10 by 12 inch World War II album chronicles George Riley's World War II aviation career, both stateside and in Italy.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This 10 by 12 inch World War II album contains the following types of material chronicling George Riley's World War II aviation career, both stateside and in Italy: photographs (official photo reconnaissance images, copies of official Air Force photography, and snapshots taken by Riley of base life, aircraft, and personnel); patches and insignias; newspaper articles; ephemera such as passes, notices and playbills from his service in Italy; correspondence / cards; various European currency; and certificates, including one relating to his Caterpillar Club membership.

Arrangement

Arrangement
No arrangement, just one album.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
George H. Riley (1924 - 1996) was a radio operator and gunner, serving in Italy with the 301st Bombardment Group (Fifteenth Air Force), a highly decorated group flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. Riley entered the Army Air Corps in February 1943, attending the Army Air Forces Training Command's radio school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then the Yuma Gunnery School in Yuma, Arizona. After his stateside training, Riley served in Italy, where he flew over 60 missions, mostly against Axis oil and communication centers in Southern Europe.

Administration

Author
Patti Williams
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Steve Riley, Gift, 2020, NASM.2020.0011
Processing Information
Arranged, described, and encoded by Patti Williams, 2020.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
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.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Preferred Citation
George H. Riley World War II Photo Album, NASM.2020.0011, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1939-1945 -- Italy Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Group (Heavy), 301st Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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