Various artifacts, relics and memoribilia from the Paul Martin Collection:
(unless otherwise noted)
1949 Bowman Gum Company Card
"Nazi Nabbed at Mitchel as Traitor" Every once in a while you find something that makes you go Huh? I found this 1949 Bowman Bubble Gum Card, "Rendezvous at Mitchel Field" from the "America Salutes the FBI – Heroes of Law,” card series. Obviously it piqued my interest and further investigation. Here is the ODD but TRUE story. From my forthcoming book. Enjoy! Thanks, Paul Martin.
Note the mis-spelling of both Mitchel Field and Monti's name.
The Bowman Gum Company produced this interesting 36-card set in 1949. Titled, “America Salutes the FBI – Heroes of Law,” these 2 1/16” x 2 ½” cards use colorful artwork depict the crime-fighting efforts of America’s national law enforcement organization. Cards are printed on either white or gray stock, and feature a colorful image on front, with captions printed in black in the lower border. The reverse is printed with red and blue ink, with details and text supplied by “G-Men Detective Magazine,” which was a pulp fiction periodical of the era. Card backs also contain a mail-in offer for various law-related items.
Officers' Mess Membership Card 1950s
Added April 2020
1954 Armed Forces Day Cachet
Added April 2020
The William Hoff RPPC Set 1 (1940s)
Added March 2020
Individual Hi rez scans from the Post Card set from Mario R. Maipid. Thanks Mario. There are 12 cards in the set and each is about 2" x 3" Real Photo Postcards (RPPC) in a cardboard pocket pouch, printed on photo paper in a darkroom and sold at the PX. This one says set 1, so there may be more sets. Probably WWII era. The photos were taken by William Hoff, who was also La Guardia Airport's official photographer.
Click on each postcard to enlarge.
Click on each postcard to enlarge.
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Key fob from C. George, 1st. Observation Squadron, Mitchel Field: (1920s)
added January 6, 2020
Upon its return to the United States after WWI, the 1st Aero Squadron was based first at Park Field, Tennessee, on 4 August 1919, and then at Mitchel Field, New York, on 10 October 1919, where it remained until 1940. The 1st Squadron was assigned as a component squadron of the new 9th Observation Group on 1 August 1922. It was assigned directly to the II Corps on 23 March 1923, as the 1st Observation Squadron, but remained attached to the 9th Observation Group. This command arrangement continued until 15 February 1929, when the 1st Observation Squadron was permanently assigned to the 9th Group. Its aircraft from 1928 to 1935 was primarily the Curtiss O-1B Falcon observation plane, but it also field tested and employed other Falcon variants (O-13, O-39, and Y1O-40 Raven) and several Douglas observation types, the Y1O-31, Y1O-35 and O-35. The 1st Observation Squadron's O-35s all participated in delivering the U.S. Mail in 1934 without loss. The 1st Observation Squadron became the 1st Bombardment Squadron on 1 March 1935, and was equipped with Keystone B-6 bombers. It converted to Martin B-10 bombers in 1936 and operated these until 1938, when it again re-equipped, with Douglas B-18 bombers. The designations of the squadron changed in the late 1930s as the role of bombardment became pre-eminent in the Air Corps, becoming the 1st Bomb Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939, and the 1st Bomb Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940. During the period 1935–1940 the 1st Bomb Squadron trained aircrews, took part in maneuvers, and participated in air shows.
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1918 Post Hospital Envelopes added April 23, 2019
A little history: In 1917, Hazelhurst Field #2 was established south of and adjacent to Hazelhurst Field (later Roosevelt Field) to serve as an additional training and storage base, part of the massive Air Service Aviation Concentration Center. Hazelhurst Field No. 2 was renamed Mitchel Field on July 16, 1918, to commemorate John Purroy Mitchel, the former mayor of New York killed in a flying accident on July 6 while training with the U.S. Air Service in Louisiana. Here are 4 envelopes from the original Post Hospital illustrating the name change. Field No. 2 postmarked August and September 1918 , and Mitchel(l) Field postmarked November and December 1918. Note however that the 2 Mitchel Field envelopes are mis-spelled.
Pre- WWII and WWII Envelopes
Mitchel Field NCO Club token: 1930s-1940s added march 2019
A recent find and acquisition. A pre-war Mitchel Field Seasons Greetings card, and the 1938 picture depicted in the center.
A Picture Book of Mitchel Field with Mailing Envelope, 1944
Front Cover
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Back Cover
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Mitchel specific pages. Click on each to enlarge.
A typed letter from my collection, with the very common mis-spelling of the name Mitchel, to 2nd LT. Paul Seitzer at Batchelors Headquarters, from his apparent "girlfriend" thanking him for the nylon stockings and asking him to by her some more, which "By the way, you can use that as a good excuse for an evening call at the home!!! -----Length-Short. Size 9 1/2 or 10. Golly who would have thought that some day you would be buying girls stockings!! DUE TO WAR CONDITIONS." More great content in the rest of the letter. Dated October 27, 1942.
New York telephone Company Guide to Mitchel Field: 1944-1945: Click on pages to enlarge.
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License Plate Toppers
Mitchel Field License Plate topper, 1940s |
Mitchel AFB License Plate Topper: late 50s early 60s |
Click on images to enlarge: Added january 21, 2019
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Boy Scout Pocket Patch:
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Mitchel AFB Officer's Club drink stirrers: Paul Martin Collection. 6 inches long. Guessing they're pretty rare.
Matchbook
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Matchbook
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Matchbook WWII, USAAF
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Matchbook
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Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
Interesting to note Cigars and Cigarettes on the menu
WWII Mailing box and Handkerchief: Reads: "Mitchel Field, NY U.S. Army Air Forces: Wife"
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Mitchel Field Pillow Shams, WWII (below)
Air Corps, pre-1942 "Sweetheart" or "Mother" pillow covers, often called "Pillow Shams" were commercially-manufactured during World War I & II for military personnel to send home to loved ones. They were readily available at Airfield and Base PXs. Most were "Generic" with only the name of the Airfield or Base individualized. World War I pillow covers are often silk and sometimes wool. World War II pillows are usually made of rayon or acetate (these are shiny fabrics but are NOT silk). I have yet to see ANY World War II pillow covers made of "recycled parachute silk" as is sometimes claimed. 4 Pillow Shams from my personal collection. Air Corps, pre-1942. Air Force(s), post-1942.
Runway Light Housing: Found by Paul Martin in 1973
Shipping Stencil found by Paul Martin in the mid-1970s in an abandoned building on Warehouse Row. Probably from late 1950s.
Pamphlet: Armed Forces Day, May 21-22, 1960
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