Major Alford Williams Syndicated Aviation Column

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of newspaper clippings, which have been copied onto acid-free paper. These clippings were from Williams' syndicated columns for Scripps-Howard Newspapers including the New York World Telegram and Washington Daily News during the late 1930s to early 1940s. These columns discuss aviation technology, flying techniques, and the European situation during World War II.

Biographical / Historical

Alford Joseph Williams (1896-1958), who was nicknamed Al, was born in New York City on July 26, 1896. In 1917, he learned to fly with the U.S. Navy and in 1923, he won a Pulitzer Trophy for the Navy by establishing the world's speed record, at 266,51 miles an hour. Williams was promoted to a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and played an active role as a research and test pilot. In 1935, Williams was promoted to a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Williams inspected European Air Forces and reported on the European situation during World War II and his accurate and absorbing syndicated columns for Scripps-Howard had an impact on American thought and perception regarding aviation's role in World War II. Besides his work as an aviation writer, Williams was also involved in business aviation as he was a manager at Aviation Department of Gulf Oil Corporation beginning in 1933.