United States Army Air Corps, Aerial Photo Section No. 3 World War II photograph album

United States Army Air Corps, Aerial Photo Section No. 3 World War II photograph album, 1937-1941

Overview of the Collection

Title: United States Army Air Corps, Aerial Photo Section No. 3 World War II photograph album
Dates: 1937-1941 (inclusive)
19411941
Quantity: 1 album (132 photographs)
Collection Number: PH1222
Summary: Photograph album of ski troops training on Mt. Rainier, military equipment, scenes in Alaska, and other wartime activities
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Although the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 is commonly accepted as the inciting event that drew the United States into World War II, the United States Army had been modernizing and mobilizing prior to this pre-emptive strike. The photographs in this album show American soldiers training, mobilizing, and parading for a civilian audience, indicating the United States’ shift to a war footing in the face of a mounting fascist threat overseas. Even before the United States formally entered World War II, Alaska saw a mobilization of support personnel and supplies. This was partially in service to the United States’ Canadian allies and partially in anticipation of engagement with Japan. Meanwhile, Fort Ord in Monterey County, California had been used for decades as an artillery target range before being officially commissioned as a fort in 1940. The military presence in Monterey grew rapidly and Fort Ord and the Presidio became the base of operations for the III Corps, as well as a major hub for mobilizing draftees from the western United States.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Album of photographs of wartime activities: 3rd Division review parade through Tacoma streets, ski troops practicing in the snow on Mt. Rainier; troops in Eklutna, Alaska, bombers over Alaska and in Yukon Territory, mission buildings in California, observation balloon flying, artillery practice, generals on horseback, tank practice, Anchorage, Alaska, Alaskan natives, Alaskan glaciers and mountains, Yakutat, Alaska.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections at University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Walkabout Books, July 8, 2015.

Processing Note

Processed by Michael Lowry Lamble, 2019; Nick Fraser, 2019.

The album was deteriorating and taken apart. The original order of the pages was retained.

Originally accessioned as PH2017-025.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

U.S. Army Corps AlbumReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	The Third Division marching down Broadway, Tacoma, Washington	October 30, 1941
1/1	2	An Army marching band on Broadway, Tacoma, Washington, followed by a car and marching soldiers	October 30, 1941
1/1	3	Army jeeps driving in a parade in Tacoma, Washington	October 30, 1941
1/1	4	An XB-15 aircraft at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington	October 15, 1937
1/1	5	Three ski troops lying prone behind a snow embankment with rifles leveled, Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/1	6	Mount Rainier, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/1	7	Mountain troops climbing rocks on Mount Rainier, Washington Possibly Wahpengo Peak.	November 27, 1941
1/1	8	A column of mountain troops following behind ski troops, Mount Rainier, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/1	9	Thirteen ski troopers standing in a row at Paradise with Mount Rainier in the background	January 29, 1941
1/1	10	One mountain trooper pulling another over a rock ledge with a rope, Tatoosh Range, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/1	11	Three ski troops lying prone behind a snow bank, seen from behind	January 29, 1941
1/1	12	A mountain trooper standing in the snow with his rifle at his shoulder, Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/1	13	Ski troops and tents in the snow, near Paradise, Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/1	14	A mountain peak, possibly Eagle Peak, in the Tatoosh Mountain Range, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/1	15	A mountain trooper standing on the edge of a cliff, Tatoosh Mountain Range, Washington Possibly Wahpengo Peak.	November 27, 1941
1/1	16	A line of mountain troops marching through the snow in the Tatoosh Mountain Range, above Reflection Lake, with Mount Rainier in the background, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/1	17	A column of mountain troops following behind ski troops in the snow, Mount Rainier, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/1	18	Mountain troops scaling a snowy slope, Tatoosh Mountain Range, Washington Possibly Wahpengo Peak, Little Tahoma in the background.	November 27, 1941
1/1	19	Three ski troops lying prone behind a snow bank, viewed from the side, Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/1	20	Mountain troops climbing a rock ledge, Mount Rainier, Washington Possibly Wahpengo Peak.	November 27, 1941
1/2	21	Mountain troops taking cover behind a rock outcropping, Tatoosh Mountain Range, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/2	22	A ski trooper standing in the snow with his rifle at his shoulder at Paradise, Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/2	23	Thirteen ski troops in white uniforms at Paradise, Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/2	24	Ski troops and mountain troops lined up, with three trucks behind, Mount Rainier, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/2	25	Mountain troops and one ski trooper on a mountainside, Mount Rainier, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/2	26	Mountain and ski troops on a mountainside, Mount Rainier, Washington	November 27, 1941
1/2	27	Head of the Nisqually River, near Mount Rainier, Washington	January 29, 1941
1/2	28	A ski trooper standing in the snow holding his rifle in front of him near Paradise, Mount Rainier, Washington	1941
1/2	29-30	The Third Division marching along the 900 block of Broadway, Tacoma, Washington	October 30, 1941
1/2	31	A group of soldiers standing in front of an aircraft	Bet1941?
1/2	32	A group of soldiers standing and sitting outside of a building	1941?
1/2	33	Plane decal art of a bear running from bullets and holding a camera and scroll	1941?
1/2	34	Plane decal art of a bird smoking a cigar and carrying a bomb and a camera	1941?
1/2	35	Two bear cubs on an artillery barrel, one looking down the barrel. Labeled "looking for trouble." Probably Alaska.	May 18, 1941
1/2	36	An F2 airplane flying over fields	1941?
1/2	37	Four soldiers standing in front of a canvas wall	1941?
1/2	38	The Flight "F" Ski Patrol near Paradise, Mount Rainier, Washington	1941?
1/2	39	A soldier and an Alaskan Native woman at Eklutna, Alaska	May 18, 1941
1/2	40	A soldier and an Alaskan Native woman rubbing noses	July 9, 1941
1/3	41	A soldier with a moose calf in Alaska Same solider and moose in item 43.	July 9, 1941
1/3	42	An Alaskan Native woman, Alaska Same young woman as item 39.	1941?
1/3	43	A soldier feeding a moose calf, Alaska Same solider and moose in item 41.	July 9, 1941
1/3	44	An Alaskan Native woman at Eklutna, Alaska Same young woman as in item 39.	May 18, 1941
1/3	45	An F2 airplane flying near the Chugach Mountains in Alaska	May 26, 1941
1/3	46	Four F2 airplanes at an airfield in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada	May 21, 1941
1/3	47	A group of soldiers sitting in Mission San Antonio de Padua, Jolon, California	1941?
1/3	48	Mission San Carlos Borromeo del rio Carmelo, Carmel, California	1941?
1/3	49	A group of soldiers standing outside Mission San Antonio de Padua, Jolon, California	1941?
1/3	50	A group of soldiers crouching behind M114 155mm howitzers, probably Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/3	51	A US Army observation balloon, tethered to the ground, probably Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/3	52-54	Soldiers firing rifles, planes flying, and a piece of artillery deployed as part of a demonstration for the public, possibly Fort Lewis, Washington	1941?
1/3	55	Three teams of soldiers operating 81 mm mortars, possibly Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/3	56	A group of soldiers loading a piece of artillery, possibly Fort Lewis, Washington	1941?
1/3	57	General John L. DeWitt (left) and General Walter Sweeney on horseback with mounted soldiers behind, Fort Ord, California General John L. DeWitt was the architect and commanding officer of Japanese internment on the West Coast of the USA.	1941?
1/3	58	Soldiers marching for review past General John DeWitt (right) and General Walter Sweeney, Fort Ord, California General John L. DeWitt was the architect and commanding officer of Japanese internment on the West Coast of the USA.	1941?
1/3	59	Soldiers crouching in front of an explosion at night	1941?
1/3	60	Soldiers crouching behind firing 75mm artillery	1941?
1/4	61	10,000 soldiers arrayed on a field, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	62	A tank run partially up a tree, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	63	A view of the camp at Fort Ord, California, through trees	1941?
1/4	64	Tank with its front rising off the ground, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	65	Three tanks driving on a field and kicking up dust, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	66	A soldier in a gas mask sitting behind a machine gun, possibly Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	67	A group of soldiers operating a piece of 75mm artillery, possibly Fort Lewis, Washington	1941?
1/4	68	Three soldiers operating anti-tank artillery, probably Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	69	A smoke cloud over a firing artillery barrel, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	70	Soldiers crouching behind artillery, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	71	Soldiers operating a .50 caliber machine gun, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	72	A soldier standing knee-deep in water in the middle of camp, possibly Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	73	Soldiers firing M1 Garand rifles on a range, Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	74	A group of soldiers operating anti-tank artillery, probably Fort Ord, California	1941?
1/4	75	The American flag flying over a post office in Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/4	76	4th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska at night, looking west	May 18, 1941
1/4	77	4th Avenue, looking west, in Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/4	78	Corner of Lacey Street and 2nd Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska	1941?
1/4	79	A moose calf in Alaska	1941?
1/4	80	An Alaskan Native woman in a parka, Alaska Same young woman as in item 40.	1941?
1/5	81	A soldier in uniform and two Alaskan Native women in parkas, Alaska Same women as in items 39 & 40.	1941?
1/5	82	An Alaskan Native woman in a parka, Alaska Same young woman as in item 39.	1941?
1/5	83	Alaskan Native shoes, boots, and boot liners, Alaska	1941?
1/5	84	Alaskan Native ivory carvings including beads and figurines of people and animals, Alaska	1941?
1/5	85-86	"Tiger Glacier," Sargent Icefield, Kenai Peninsula, Valdez-Cordova County , Alaska	June 6, 1941
1/5	87	Ice floes, possibly the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/5	88	Aerial view of Eklutna Lake, northeast of Anchorage, Alaska	June 29, 1941
1/5	89-91	"Placer Glacier," probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	July 28, 1941
1/5	92-93	Ice floes at Placer Glacier, Alaska	July 28, 1941
1/5	94	"Placer Lake and Placer Glacier," probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	July 28, 1941
1/5	95	Photographer with equipment walking in the snow in front of a mountain, Alaska	1941?
1/5	96	Ice on the water with people in the distance, Alaska	1941?
1/5	97	Ice floes, probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/5	98	A man in a coat holding a chunk of ice by the water, Alaska	1941?
1/5	99	A wooden building on the water identified as the future post office of Yakutat, Alaska	1941?
1/5	100	The USAT St. Mihiel at Yakutat, Alaska	May 18, 1941
1/6	101	The sunset over water in Alaska	1941?
1/6	102	Trees shaking in the wind in a storm in Alaska	1941?
1/6	103	"Placer Glacier," probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	July 28, 1941
1/6	104	200 foot iceberg crevasses, probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/6	105	Floating icebergs, probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/6	106	The Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska	1941?
1/6	107	Iliamna Volcano, seen from northeast, Alaska	July 3, 1941
1/6	108	Knik Glacier, Alaska	1941?
1/6	109	A barn with mountains in the distance in Matanuska Valley, Alaska Mountain in background is on south bank of the Knik River, near S. Old Glenn Highway	May 18, 1941
1/6	110	Smoke rising from the Iliamna Volcano, Alaska	July 3, 1941
1/6	111-116	An F2 aircraft flying over Mount McKinley in Alaska	August 4, 1941
1/6	117	Mount McKinley, Alaska	1941?
1/6	118	Mount McKinley, Alaska	1941?
1/6	119	Corner of 4th Avenue and C Street , looking west, Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/6	120	A snow gauge in Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/7	121	4th Avenue, looking west, in Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/7	122	Monterey coast, California	1941?
1/7	123	Iceberg on the water, probably the Spencer Glacier on the Placer River, southeast of Anchorage, Alaska	1941?
1/7	124	Midway Point in Monterey County, California	1941?
1/7	125	Ships at moored at a dock, Lurline Burns , center The Lurline Burns would be rechristened the USS Besboro by the US Naval Reserve in Seattle, 9/22/43.	1941?
1/7	126	Three Alaskan Natives wearing parkas	1941?
1/7	127-131	The USAT St. Mihiel at Yakutat, Alaska	May 18, 1941
1/7	132	Sunset on the ocean, US Navy ships carrying airplanes	1941?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Artillery--United States--Photographs
Bombers--Photographs
Glaciers--Alaska--Photographs
Parades--Washington (State)--Tacoma--Photographs
Ski troops--Photographs
Soldiers--Alaska--Eklutna--Photographs
Spanish mission buildings--California--Photographs
Tanks--United States--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

United States. Army. Air Corps. Aerial Photo Section No. 3

Geographical Names

Rainier, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs

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