The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Edward L. Leiser Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10233

San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives

2020

2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park

San Diego 92101

URL: http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives

Title: Edward L. Leiser Personal Papers

Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10233

Physical Description: 10 Cubic Feet The collection covers aviation history dating back to the first flights and includes extensive background and research material. Description: The collection consists of nine archival boxes; eight measuring 16-1/2” x 13” x 10-1/2” and one measuring 12-1/2” x 10” x 5”.  The collection consists of nine archival boxes; eight measuring 16-1/2” x 13” x 10-1/2” and one measuring 12-1/2” x 10” x 5”.

Date (bulk): bulk

Abstract: The collection covers aviation history dating back to the first flights and includes extensive background and research material. It was the personal collection of Ed Leiser. It focuses on the History of Aviation in San Diego.  Ed Leiser wrote World War I aviation history for the journal Cross & Cockade until about 1974 and then began researching San Diego Aviation History. He composed many volumes detailing San Diego's rich history in aviation. He theorized that aviation began in San Diego with John Montgomery's man-carrying glider in 1883. Ed documented the activities of many San Diego pilots following Montgomery, telling of their trials and tribulations, accidents, and records of achievement. Also documented are the beginnings of the North Island Naval Base, the Army Aviation School, and the Aero Club of America. He also wrote about air shows, aviation activity during World War I, and many more aviation-related topics. The Library and Archives of the San Diego Air and Space Museum houses many of his historical records, including, in a Special Collection, which contains much of his basic research material. Some of his notable works are "San Diego Flying Days," "Out of the Overcast" which were newsletters for the Museum docents' use, "San Diego Aviation by Year," "In Your Face with Air and Space," "Out of the Past This Month at San Diego," and many more well-researched historical pieces.

Physical Description: Description: The collection consists of nine archival boxes; eight measuring 16-1/2” x 13” x 10-1/2” and one measuring 12-1/2” x 10” x 5”.  Content notes: The collection covers aviation history dating back to the first flights and includes extensive background and research material. 

Biographical / Historical

Edward L. Leiser was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 13, 1928. He grew up in a Navy family, moving from Washington, D.C. to Honolulu, and several cities in between. The family eventually ended up in San Diego, California where Ed graduated in 1945 from San Diego High School. After taking some flying lessons in Piper Cubs, but without soloing, Ed enlisted in the U. S. Navy. After learning the aviation metalsmith trade in airplane hangars and flying Navy planes as a target drone controller, he was accepted for Officer Candidate School. In 1954, he met and married Nellie A. Kitch. They raised three children, two sons and a daughter. Ensign Leiser joined the fleet aboard the destroyer USS THE SULLIVANS (DD-537) in 1958, and later served on the USS CHUKAWAN (AO-100). In 1965, in San Diego, First Lieutenant Leiser served on the USS COMSTOCK (LSD-19). After several more ships, and the Vietnam War, Lieutenant Leiser retired in 1970 from the Fleet Training Group in San Diego. On July 2, 1970, the day after leaving the Navy, he was hired by the San Diego Aerospace Museum where he worked as Supervisor, and later as Curator of Exhibits until 1966, and then as Historian. By about 1982, the docent program at the Aerospace Museum was taking shape and the volunteers required educating. Ed took on this task and produced weekly and/or monthly information sheets that he provided to the docents, as well as conducting training sessions. Ed Leiser wrote World War I aviation history for the journal Cross & Cockade until about 1974 and then began researching San Diego Aviation History. He composed many volumes detailing San Diego's rich history in aviation. He theorized that aviation began in San Diego with John Montgomery's man-carrying glider in 1883. Ed documented the activities of many San Diego pilots following Montgomery, telling of their trials and tribulations, accidents, and records of achievement. Also documented are the beginnings of the North Island Naval Base, the Army Aviation School, and the Aero Club of America. He also wrote about air shows, aviation activity during World War I, and many more aviation-related topics. The Library and Archives of the San Diego Air and Space Museum houses many of his historical records, including, in a Special Collection, which contains much of his basic research material. Some of his notable works are "San Diego Flying Days," "Out of the Overcast" which were newsletters for the Museum docents' use, "San Diego Aviation by Year," "In Your Face with Air and Space," "Out of the Past This Month at San Diego," and many more well-researched historical pieces. After leaving the employ of the Museum, he continued to volunteer his time in the Museum Library. Ed Leiser died on June 24, 2011 in Chula Vista, California.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Ryan Aeronautical

Aeronautic -- California -- San Diego -- History

Consolidated B-24 Liberator Family

General Dynamics Corporation. Convair Division

Leiser, Edward L.

Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus)

Box 1 of 9

SERIES I: Edward L. Leiser Personal

Folder 1 – Leiser, Ed – Writings

Folder 2 – AAHS Article – “Don’t You Wish You Had Been There?”

Folder 3 – Articles by Ed Leiser

Folder 4 – Ed Leiser Personal and Professional

Folder 5 – Correspondence, Folder #1 of 2

Folder 6 – Correspondence, Folder #2 of 2

SERIES II: Aviation History

Folder 7 – History of U.S. Army Air Corps

Folder 8 – U.S. Naval Aviation History

Folder 9 – Aviation History Articles

Folder 10 – Calendar of Aerospace History

Folder 11 – Chronology of Aerospace History, 1918 - 1939

Folder 12 – Index of San Diego Aviation History, Folder #1 of 2

Folder 13 – Index of San Diego Aviation History, Folder #2 of 2

Folder 14 – San Diego Aviation History A-F

Folder 15 – San Diego Aviation History P-Z

Folder 16 – Aviation History This Week (Chronology)

Folder 17 – In Your Face with Air and Space (Aviation Chronology)

Folder 18 – Out of the Past This Week (Aviation Chronology)

Folder 19 – Out of the Past Chronologies

Folder 20 – Out of the Overcast Newsletters 1-100

Folder 21 – Out of the Overcast Newsletters 101-217

Folder 22 – San Diego Aviation (Aircraft and Pioneers)

Folder 23 – Out of the Past This Month at San Diego (Chronology)

Folder 24 – Chronologies – Aviation

Folder 25 – San Diego Flying Days: A Chronology from 1883

Box 2 of 9

SERIES II: Aviation History (continued) Draft San Diego Flying Days

Physical Description: Folders 1-17 containing a draft of "San Diego Flying Days" covering 1882-1928.

Box 3 of 9

SERIES II: Aviation History (continued) Draft San Diego Flying Days

Physical Description: Folders 1-11 containing a draft of "San Diego Flying Days" covering 1829-1936.

Box 4 of 9

SERIES II: Aviation History (continued) San Diego Aviation by Year

Physical Description: Folders 1-32 covering San Diego Aviation History from 1909 to 1945.

Box 5 of 9

SERIES II: Aviation History (continued) San Diego Aviation by Year

Physical Description: Folders 1-31 covering San Diego Aviation history from 1945-1986.

SERIES III: History – General

Folder 32 -- Calendar of San Diego History

Folder 33 -- When the Red Lights Went Out in San Diego

Folder 34 – General History of San Diego

Folder 35 – World War I Chronology

SERIES IV: Indexes -- Miscellaneous

Folder 36 – Album Collection Index No. 1

Folder 37 – Album Collection Index No. 2

Folder 38 – Album Collection Index No. 3

Folder 39 – Fog Index Folder 40 – National Geographic Aeronautics Index

Folder 41 – New York Times Aeronautics Index 1902-1914

Folder 42 – San Diego Military Index

Folder 43 – Traditions Index

SERIES V: Documents

Folder 44 – Air Corps Inventory 1927, AAHS Journal, Winter 1973

Folder 45 – Coast Guard

Folder 46 – Army Aviation in San Diego, 1912-1916, Ray Wagner

Folder 47 – The Three Musketeers, Merle C. Olmstead, AAHS Journal, Fall 1977

Folder 48 – Ryan X-13 Experimental Aircraft

Folder 49 – Partial Manuscript on W. H. Bowlus, pp. 34-59, by “Gary”

Folder 50 – Log Book – SDAM Log Books Index 2000

Folder 51 – Log Book – Log Books, 1929 (photocopies)

Folder 52 – Log Book – Spirit of St. Louis Log Book (photocopy)

Folder 53 – Log Book – Clifford Charles Adams

Box 6 of 9

SERIES V: Documents (continued)

Folder 1 – Log Books (photocopies)

Folder 2 – Log Book – Walter Glenn Barnes Jr., 1938-41 USN (photocopy)

Folder 3 – Log Book – Miles Blain, 1953-64 (photocopy)

Folder 4 – Log Book – Douglas T. Kelley, 1926-1929 (photocopy)

Folder 5 – Log Book – Philip E. “Ted” Myers, 1923-25 Army (photocopy)

Folder 6 – Log Book – Arnold H. Peik, 1928-46 (photocopy)

Folder 7 – Log Book – Barrett Studley, 1923 USN (photocopy)

Folder 8 – Log Book – Frank M. Taylor, 1936-39 Civil and Army (photocopy)

Folder 9 – Log Book – Thomas A. Watson, 1939-40 USN (photocopy)

Folder 10 – Newsletters - Miscellaneous

Folder 11 – Guide Books/Notes – Docent and Tour Guide Program

Folder 12 – Guide Books/Notes – SDAM Guidenotes, Folder #1 of 3 (#1-10)

Folder 13 – Guide Books/Notes – SDAM Guidenotes, Folder #2 of 3 (#11-21)

Folder 14 – Guide Books/Notes – SDAM Guidenotes, Folder #3 of 3 (#22-31)

SERIES VI: Research Material by Subject

Physical Description: ,Folder 15 -- Aviation Accidents in San Diego – 1883-1929 ,Folder 16 -- Aviation Accidents in San Diego – 1930-1939 ,Folder 17 -- Aviation Accidents in San Diego – 1940-1944 ,Folder 18 -- Aviation Accidents in San Diego – 1945-1989 ,Folder 19 -- Aviation Accidents in San Diego – 1990-1999 ,Folder 20 -- Aviation Accidents in San Diego – 2000-2005 ,Folder 21 – Pioneer Flyers – Notable California Aviation Accidents ,Folder 22 -- Army Aviation Mortalities ,Folder 23 – Cemeteries ,Folder 24 – Crashes Includes envelope with B/W snapshots of damaged planes. ,Folder 25 – Fatalities ,Folder 26 -- Last Landings, ,Folder #1 of 2 Aviation accidents, fatalities, burial locations ,Folder 27 -- Last Landings, ,Folder #2 of 2 Aviation accidents, fatalities, burial locations.,Folder 28 -- Aircraft Names / Nicknames ,Folder 29 -- Boeing Aircraft Includes Boeing 247; 314; F4B-1. ,Folder 30 – Consairway Employee Roster ,Folder 31 -- Convair History ,Folder 32 -- Consolidated / Convair Aircraft Includes CV-880; 990 Convair Liner; PBY; Seadart; Consolidated Seaplane article. ,Folder 33 -- Douglas Aircraft Includes DC-2; F4-D. ,Folder 34 – Drones ,Folder 35 -- Fogel Gliders ,Folder 36 -- Ford Trimotor ,Folder 37 -- Grumman Aircraft Includes Attack Aircraft; A-6A; F2F-1; F3F-2. ,Folder 38 -- Lockheed Aircraft Includes Lockheed 10; 12; 14.

Box 7 of 9

SERIES VI: Research Material by Subject (continued)

Physical Description: ,Folder 1 -- Ryan Aircraft Includes Ryan NYP; FR-1. ,Folder 2 -- Seaplanes, Early ,Folder 3 -- U.S.N. / U.S.M.C. Aircraft ,Folder 4 -- Vought Aircraft Includes F8U – F8. ,Folder 5 -- World War I Aircraft Totals (U.S.) Airports / Airfields ,Folder 6 -- Airport Editorials ,Folder 7 -- Lindbergh Field ,Folder 8 -- San Diego Airports, ,Folder #1 of 2 ,Folder 9 -- San Diego Airports, ,Folder #2 of 2 ,Folder 10 -- Army Fields 1921 ,Folder 11 -- San Diego Airfields First Flights ,Folder 12 -- First Flights Maps / Charts ,Folder 13 – Maps ,Folder 14 -- Maps and Charts San Diego ,Folder 15 -- San Diego and Imperial County Streets by Categories ,Folder 16 -- San Diego Street Names ,Folder 17 -- Travel & Traffic on Public Streets Insignia / Markings / Registrations ,Folder 18 -- Aircraft Registrations ,Folder 19 -- Civil Aircraft Markings ,Folder 20 -- DOD Prefix Symbols ,Folder 21 -- Insignia ,Folder 22 -- Radio Codes and Signals ,Folder 23 -- Registrations ,Folder 24 – Symbols ,Folder 25 -- U.S. Civil Aircraft Registration ,Folder 26 -- U.S. Civil Aircraft Registration Numbers Not Accounted For ,Folder 27 -- U.S. Naval Aircraft Bureau Numbers ,Folder 28 -- U.S. Navy Flight Codes ,Folder 29 -- U.S.N. Markings ,Folder 30 -- U.S.N. / U.S.M.C. ID Codes 1971 – 1976 ,Folder 31 -- Nautical Chart Symbols and Abbreviations ,Folder 32 -- World Aircraft Registration Prefixes People ,Folder 33 -- Allen, Richard Sanders ,Folder 34 -- Bocquel, Joe ,Folder 35 -- Bowlus, William Hawley Articles on Bowlus gliders / Manufacturer Specs on American Commercial Aircraft and Seaplanes / biographical articles on William H. Bowlus. ,Folder 36 -- Cayley, George ,Folder 37 -- Clover, Russell K. ,Folder 38 -- Gaffney, Dorothy ,Folder 39 -- Gibbon, Elwyn H. ,Folder 40 -- Jones, Stan ,Folder 41 -- Kiessig, Edward F. ,Folder 42 -- Kluck, Robert J. ,Folder 43 -- Koontz, Giacinta ,Folder 44 -- Ledger, Glenn ,Folder 45 -- Lindbergh, Charles ,Folder 46 -- MacMurray, Daniel E.D. Articles by and about Daniel E.D. MacMurray III, including X-660-E “Flywurm.” ,Folder 47 -- Montgomery, John J. ,Folder 48 -- O’Dwyer, William J. Correspondence and papers on donation and “Call the Field Engineer.” ,Folder 49 -- Rand, A. Clare

Box 8 of 9

SERIES VI: Research Material by Subject (continued) People (continued)

Physical Description: ,Folder 1 – Richthofen, Manfred von ,Folder 2 -- Shore, S. R. ,Folder 3 -- Storrs’ Album ,Folder 4 -- Underwood, John ,Folder 5 -- Walsh, Charles ,Folder 6 -- Waterman, Waldo ,Folder 7a -- Whitehead, Gustave ,Folder 7b – People – Miscellaneous Includes Bernard F. Roehrig; Thomas P. Faulconer; Ruth Alexander; Percy Prune.

SERIES VII: Research Material – Alphabetical

Physical Description: ,Folder 8 – A - Miscellaneous – Article by Archie Atherton / Airport Markings, Signs / Arlington cemetery letter and brochure / SDAM Manned Aircraft Chronology / Names of Army Stations / Air Corps Posts / Airports, Good Neighbors / article, “Lift” from Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators. ,Folder 9 -- Addresses – List, Cartoonists / Albert Simpson Historical Research Center / list, Airlines We Remembered / miscellaneous cards, envelopes, scraps of paper with addresses. ,Folder 10 -- Air Commerce Act of 1926 ,Folder 11 -- Air Corps Reserve ,Folder 12 -- Army Engines to 1915 ,Folder 13 -- Art ,Folder 14 -- Aviation Words ,Folder 15 -- Balboa Park ,Folder 16 – Berlin Blockade / Airlift ,Folder 17 – Birthdays – Who Shares My Birthday? ,Folder 18 – Bookends ,Folder 19 -- Brodie System ,Folder 20 – C - Miscellaneous – PBY article by Ev Cassagneres / Corrigan articles and music / list, San Diego Commanding Officers / article, Chapter VII, The Early Birds -- 2 snapshots of Richard Enos. ,Folder 21 -- Calendars ,Folder 22 -- Caterpillar Club ,Folder 23 – D - Miscellaneous – Article, Undaunted Dauntless / Rules of the Air: How to Fly Your Machine, U.S. Army Flying Corps, 1917. ,Folder 24 -- Daedalus & Icarus ,Folder 25 -- Dutch Flats ,Folder 26 – E - Miscellaneous – Articles, Amelia Earhart; article, Elevator First and Tandem Wing Airplanes by George Collinge, 1959 / SDAM Guidenote, Jacob Ellehammer, 1997 / Lists – Engines. ,Folder 27 -- Exposition – 1935 ,Folder 28 – F - Miscellaneous – Ft. Rosecrans Cemetery brochure; articles, Chapter 204, Ford; NYT Fatal LTA and HTA; Fokker Eindeckers; Reuben Hollis Fleet; Air Accidents; Fokker obituary / photocopies of planes and accidents. ,Folder 29 -- First 59 ,Folder 30 -- Flights 1874 – 1908 ,Folder 31 -- Flying ,Folder 32 -- Flying Clubs – San Diego ,Folder 33 -- Ford Building ,Folder 34 -- Four Letter Words ,Folder 35 – G - Miscellaneous -- Photocopies of aircraft, glider pilots’ licenses / article on GPS / Aerospace History This Week. ,Folder 36 -- Gibbs Handbook ,Folder 37 -- Gillespie Field ,Folder 38 -- Gliding ,Folder 39 -- Historic Preservation ,Folder 40 -- Honda Point Disaster ,Folder 41 -- Humor ,Folder 42 -- Japanese Planes ,Folder 43 – K - Miscellaneous – Harriet Quimby Research Conference / Spuds Ellyson Anchors in the Sky ,Folder 44 -- L - Miscellaneous– Article, Advances in Flight / Magazine, Air Power with article on SR- 71 Blackbird, July 1997. ,Folder 45 -- Lewis’ Students 1946 – 1950 ,Folder 46 -- Lighter Than Air ,Folder 47 -- Lists ,Folder 48 – M - Miscellaneous – Metric System, 3 converters / Historical Report, MCAS, 1942- Present / Phil Myers interview / movies with aviation / Groups, Units, Associations Included in Database / article, German Knights of the Air 19145-1918 / photocopies of photo of Frank Courtney, un-ID’d photocopy of photo of 3-year old child. ,Folder 49 -- Machine Guns ,Folder 50 -- Measures ,Folder 51 -- Mesa Flying Club ,Folder 52 -- Mexican Aviation at San Diego ,Folder 53 -- NAS Miramar ,Folder 54 -- Naval Officer Photos (photocopies) ,Folder 55 -- No Laughing Matter – article ,Folder 56 -- Northern California AAHS ,Folder 57 -- North Island Historical Geographical Study of North Island by Jeffrey C. Brown, 1991 ,Folder 58 -- Obituaries ,Folder 59 -- Ordinance No. 10035, June 25, 1925 ,Folder 60 – Out of the Overcast Research Material ,Folder 61 -- Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) ,Folder 62 -- Patrol Squadron Flights – 1930x to 1942 ,Folder 63 -- Photographs – 5 images of plane on deck of aircraft carrier ,Folder 64 -- Photographs of San Diego (photocopies) ,Folder 65 -- Poetry

Box 9 of 9

SERIES VII: Research Material – Alphabetical (continued)

Physical Description: Folder 1 -- “Question-Air” -- numerous sheets containing questions for docents about aircraft and airports ,Folder 2 -- Regulation of Aviation - For ,Folder 3 -- Regulation of Aviation - Against ,Folder 4 -- Rohr ,Folder 5 -- Russell Parachute Company ,Folder 6 -- San Diego – 1937 -- photocopies of magazine articles ,Folder 7 -- San Diego Aerospace Museum ,Folder 8 -- San Diego Aerospace Museum – Memories #1 of 2 ,Folder 9 -- San Diego Aerospace Museum – Memories #2 of 2 ,Folder 10 -- San Diego Aviation Business ,Folder 11 -- San Diego Aviation Pioneers ,Folder 12 -- San Diego Connections ,Folder 13 -- San Diego County ,Folder 14 -- San Diego Fliers ,Folder 15 -- San Diego Flying Days Biographies – G-P ,Folder 16 -- Squadrons ,Folder 17 -- Subliminals ,Folder 18 -- Three-View Drawings ,Folder 19 -- Toliver Airship ,Folder 20 -- United Air Lines ,Folder 21 -- U.S. Navy Arresters and Catapults ,Folder 22 -- U.S. Navy Aviation Photographs (photocopies) ,Folder 23 -- U.S. Navy Miscellaneous – various short magazine articles ,Folder 24 -- War Terms & Expressions,Folder 25 -- World War I Training in U.S. – Cross & Cockade