Descriptive Finding Guide for the Frank T. Courtney Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10031
Finding aid prepared by Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
10/17/2014
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA, 92101
(619) 234-8291
Title: Frank T. Courtney Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10031
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.36 Cubic feet
1 Manuscript Box
Date (inclusive): 1914-1977
Abstract: Frank Courtney started his aviation career in 1913, flying in World War I, World War II, and serving in commercial and military
aviation for decades. His collection contains IDs, passports, and journals from 1922-1971.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The papers of Frank T. Courtney were donated to the San Diego Aerospace Museum Library and Archives on October 7, 1980.
Frank T. Courtney’s personal collection of papers and diaries relates to nearly all aspects of his lifelong career in aviation.
The diaries cover the daily aspects of his career and life, the documents cover the legal aspect of his flying and immigration,
and the correspondence covers the publication of his book, The Eighth Sea. The records date from 1914 to 1977 and include
correspondence, correspondence reply record, diaries, medical waivers, passports, and sport and pilot’s licenses.
Frank T. Courtney (1894-1982) was born in London and was one of the few aviators that could make the claim that he was there
for it all. He started his career with an apprenticeship at the Grahame-White Aircraft Company in 1913 and attained his pilot’s
certificate in August 1914 flying primitive box-kite airplanes. He attained the rank of Captain while serving in the Royal
Flying Corps in WWI while flying in a Morane-Saulnier “Parasol.”
After the war Courtney became a test pilot for De Havilland and in between testing planes he was an avid air racer. The early
1920’s saw Courtney pioneer airline service routes between Britain and the European Continent across the English Channel for
Daimler Airways. In 1925 Courtney tested the newly invented autogiro and helped with its development into a practical concept.
Courtney’s next pioneering venture came in 1927 and 1928 when he tried and failed on two separate occasions to prove the concept
of an airline service route between Europe and North America by flying unsuccessfully across the Atlantic from east to west.
In 1928 Courtney came to the USA as a technical-assistant to the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, went back to England in 1936
to test hydroplanes, and returned to the USA 1940 to test planes for Convair. During WWII he served as a ferry pilot routinely
flying B-24’s and PBY’s for delivery. After the war Courtney served as an advisor to Boeing and finished up his aviation career
by participating in the development of the Atlas Missile. He published an autobiography, The Eight Sea, in 1972 through Doubleday
publishing (Published as Flight Path in the UK). He was married to Constance May “Ginger” Filby (1901-1968).
Related Archival Materials note
Located in the SDAM Library are books pertaining to major topics covered in this collection. Courtney, Frank T. The Eighth
Sea. Garden City, NY, Doubleday Publications, 1972 [TL540 .C77 .A32]
Published in England as: Courtney, Frank T. Flight Path. London, England, Doubleday Publications, 1973 [TL540 .C77 .A33]
Some of this Collection has been digitized and placed on Flickr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Courtney, Frank T. , 1914-1974
Atlas (missile)--history
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Family
Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina
World War, 1939-1945
Box 01
Physical Description:
1. Correspondence Regarding Publication and Revision of Courtney’s Book: The Eighth Sea, from 01 Nov 1967 to 29 Nov 1974.
2. Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Annual Sporting License, USA, 1929
3. USA Transport Pilot’s License 27 Mar 1930
4. Royal Aero Club Competition Register, 1914
5. FAI British Empire Aviator’s Certificate, 20 Aug 1914
6. FAI Great Britain, Royal Aero Club License, 1922
7. USA Department of Commerce, Pilot’s License no. 7982 and, exp. 15 Mar 1939
8. USA Department of Commerce Pilot’s Identification Card and Statement of Medical Examiner
9. Medical Waiver and Pilot’s License from 1946 to 1964
10. Immigrant ID Card (Green Card), 19 Feb 1940
11. Selective Service Permit to leave country on nature of military secret, 3 May 1944
12. National Registration Identity Card, date unknown
13. UK Air Ministry Pilot’s License, 16 Dec 1922 to 15 Jun 1923
14. British Passport, 30 Oct 1925 and 5 Jul 1935
15. Great Britain Air Ministry Pilot’s Certificate and License 03 Jul 1924 and 29 Jan 1925
16. UK Air Ministry Pilot’s License 23 Sept 1936
17. USA Passport, 5 Nov 1946
18. Specialties Handbook, For the Technical Man Away from his Desk, 1952
19. Leather-Bound, metal 6-ring binder containing notes by Courtney on planes flown and when and a few notes on his Diary,
undated
20. Envelope, Frank T. Courtney, contains: “Remarks on Diary Collection,” 7 Jun 1971 (read to understand what Diaries are
about)
21. Diary, (excluding dates before 9 may 1922), 1922
22. Diary, 1923
23. Diary, 1924
24. Diary, 1925
25. Diary, 1926
26. Diary, 1927
27. Diary, 1928
28. Diary, 1929
29. Diary, 1930
30. Diary, 1931
31. Diary, 1932
32. Diary, 1933
33. Diary, 1934
34. Diary, 1935
35. Diary, 1936
36. Diary, 1937
37. Diary, 1938
38. Diary, 1939
39. Diary, 1940
40. Diary, 1941
41. Diary, 1942
42. Diary, 1943
43. Diary, 1944
44. Diary, 1945
45. Diary, 1946
46. Diary, 1947
47. Diary, 1948
48. Diary, 1949
49. Diary, 1950
50. Diary, 1951
51. Diary, 1952
52. Diary, 1953
53. Diary, 1954
54. Diary, 1955
55. Diary, 1956
56. Diary, 1957
57. Diary, 1958
58. Diary, 1959
59. Diary, 1960
60. Diary, 1961
61. Diary, 1962
62. Diary, 1963
63. Diary, 1964
64. Diary, 1965
65. Diary, 1966
66. Diary, 1967
67. Diary, 1968
68. Diary, 1969
69. Diary, 1970
70. Diary, 1971
71. Diary, 1972
72. Diary, 1973
73. Diary, 1974
74. Diary, 1975
75. Diary, 1976
76. Correspondence Record, (Metal Spiral Bound), From 21 Sept 1970 to 30 Aug 1977