Guide to the NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Records at NARA College Park, 1939-1958
Guide prepared by Glenn Bugos
NASA Ames Research Center History Office
Mail Stop 207-1
Moffett Field, California 94035
©2006 NASA Ames Research Center. All
rights reserved.
NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Records at NARA College Park, 1939-1958
NASA Ames Research Center History Office
National Archives and Records Administration at College Park, Maryland
Record Group 255
NASA Ames Research Center History Office
Moffett Field, California
Contact Information:
- National Archives and Records Administration at College Park, Maryland
- 8601 Adelphi Road
- College Park, MD 20740-6001
- Phone: (301) 837-2000
- URL: http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/index.html
- Guide encoded by:
- Leilani Marshall
- Date Completed:
- December 2006
©2006
Descriptive Summary
Title: NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Records at NARA College Park
Date (inclusive): 1939-1958
Collection Number: RG255
Creator:
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory
Extent:
Number of containers: 28
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001
Abstract: The records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), and its precursor the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), comprise
Record Group 255 of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). At the College
Park, Maryland facility of NARA (known as "Archives II"), there are two groups of textual
records and one group of photographic records that contain documents pertinent to Ames.
Materials in these groups are presented in this guide, and include research authorizations,
material from pubic affairs officers, and photographs.
Language:
English
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright does not apply to United States government records. For non-government
material, researcher must contact the original creator.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Records, [Container number], [Folder
number], National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.
Administrative History
The Ames Aeronautical Laboratory was the second laboratory of the National Advisory
Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). The NACA was created by act of Congress on March 3, 1915
and charged with the development of aeronautical research and testing facilities to improve
both civil and military aviation. By 1917 the NACA had built a fully operational
aeronautical research facility called the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory near
Norfolk, Virginia. By 1939, American political leaders recognized that the world was heading
toward war and that other nations had surpassed the United States in basic aeronautical
research. NACA leaders recognized that the Langley laboratory had run out of space for new
wind tunnels and was straining the electrical capacity in the area. Thus, the Roosevelt
Administration forcefully endorsed a report from the NACA Special Committee on Future
Research Facilities, dated December 30, 1938, that argued for the establishment of a second
research installation near the West Coast aircraft manufacturers. The tentative site
suggested was the U.S. Naval Air Field and Army training base at Moffett Field in Sunnyvale,
California. On February 3, 1939 President Roosevelt transmitted the $10 million request to
Congress for incorporation into the second deficiency bill. A stiff partisan political
struggle followed, however, and it was not until August 9, 1939, that the funds were
approved as a part of the third deficiency bill.
Construction of the second laboratory began on December 20, 1939, led by an elite group
from Langley, whose building priorities indicated a sense of urgency: flight research
building, wind tunnels, the technical services facilities, and lastly the administration
building. On April 18, 1940, the center was christened Ames Aeronautical Laboratory to honor
Dr. Joseph Ames, the chairman of NACA from 1927 to 1939 and a staunch advocate for basic
scientific research and the responsibility of the federal government in training people for
it. Responsibility for organizing the center rested with the Engineer-in-Chief, Dr. Smith J.
De France, served as Center Director from 1940 to 1965. Smitty DeFrance was ably assisted by
John F. Parsons, his deputy in charge of administrative matters, by Harry Goett who directed
low-speed wind tunnel research, and Harvey Allen who directed high-speed wind tunnel
research. Allen joked in 1943 that he was actually in charge of "Theoretical Aerodynamics
and Reinforced Concrete" because, in fact, the bulk of everyone's efforts at Ames was in
building facilities as quickly as possible, rather than conducting research.
The first research effort at Ames involved flight test aircraft rather than wind tunnels.
The Royal Air Force Bomber Command raids over Germany pointed out the need for a de-icing
system to allow aircraft to fly in all types of weather. Within a year an effective hot-air
de-icing system had been developed at Ames for American heavy bombers, and Ames led the
development of methods to test for icing conditions in actual flight. Lewis Rodert won the
1947 Collier Trophy in recognition of the outstanding research done at Ames. Later, the
knowledge of heat transfer gained in wing de-icing experiments was applied to problems of
jet aircraft and missile design.
During World War II, Ames kept its wind tunnels in almost constant operation, working to
improve such famous production aircraft as the P-51 Mustang and the P-38 Lightning. A
complete set of wind-tunnels was available to West coast manufactures and their military
customers: the smaller 1-by-3 foot tunnel that operated at supersonic speeds, to the
workhorse 7-by-10 wind tunnels, to the 40-by-80 full scale wind tunnel, then the world's
largest. In 1943, the Research Division was split into two divisions, one for theoretical
and applied research and the other for full-scale flight investigations. In 1944, the
technical service group and the technical shops were combined into the Service Division.
Otherwise, Ames' organization changed little during the war years.
Ames changed more dramatically in the post-war period. In 1953, as a result of the Hoover
Commission on Government Reorganization and its recommendation on establishing a uniform
nomenclature for all governament agencies, sections were renamed branches, the primary
operational unit below the division. Two new divisions were added at Ames: the High-Speed
and Flight Research Division, and the Research Instrumentation and Engineering Services
Division.
Another key addition, in 1950, was the Ames Unitary Plan Design Group. More high-speed
tunnels and more sensitive instrumentation were required for the United States to compete in
the world of jet aircraft and guided missiles. To combine the talents of NACA, university,
military, and industry researchers--as well as to forge a unified front in lobbying for the
enormous funds required--Ames led the formation of a Unitary Plan wind tunnel design group.
This group was to design a series of high-speed wind tunnels located wherever such research
was needed, at a total estimated cost of $10 billion. After Congress whittled down the
Unitary Plan to $27 million only one such tunnel was constructed--at Ames. Not only was the
tunnel itself an engineering masterwork--with three tunnels operating integrated to make the
most efficient use of drive motors and researchers' time--but the tunnel supported much of
the key work that led America into the space age.
By 1957, international pressures, the arms race, and the orbit of Sputnik again forced
change in the administrative structure of Ames. On July 29, 1958, the National Aeronautics
and Space Act was signed. On October 1, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration was born, it absorbed the NACA, and Ames became a part of America's space
program.
Indexing Terms
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Corporate Name
Ames Aeronautical
Laboratory
Geographic Names
Moffett Field
(Calif.)
Scope and Content
The records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and its precursor
the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), comprise Record Group 255 of the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). When NASA assumed the functions of the
NACA in 1958, there were three NACA laboratories in the United States, one of which was the
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, located at Moffett Field, California. Per federal guidelines,
NACA material meant for permanent retention was sent to the National Archives, which was
located in Washington, DC during the 1950s.
This guide provides a detailed list of the materials relating to the Ames Aeronautical
Laboratory that have been deposited with the NARA branch at College Park, Maryland (known as
"Archives II"). While there are many more records in RG255 than those listed here, this
guide is intended to provide access only to the records that relate to the Ames Aeronautical
Laboratory. For more complete documents related to the other NACA laboratories and the NASA
field centers, please contact the National Archives.
Materials listed in this guide are from three separate sub-groups of RG255, all of which
contain some amount of records related to the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory.
RG255.2.2 consists of Records of the Research Coordination Division and includes three
boxes of Ames research authorizations, which are primarily made up of correspondence between
NACA headquarters and Ames regarding the funding of aeronautical research during World War
II.
RG255.4.1 consists of the records of the NASA Ames Research Center, previously known as the
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. While the bulk of materials (over 700 cubic feet) in RG255.4.1
are located at the Pacific Region branch of NARA in San Bruno, California, a few boxes
(approximately 3.5 cubic feet) are located at Archives II in College Park, Maryland.
Materials in these 10 boxes include press releases, newspaper clippings, and reports from
public affairs officers.
The NACA records at Archives II include three sets of photographs that pertain to the Ames
Aeronautical Laboratory: RG255-RF, RG255-RFA and RG255-RA. Photographs of NACA research
facilities make up RG255-RF, and there are five boxes (numbered 10-14) that contain material
related to Ames, such as photos of buildings and facilities, wind tunnels, and aerial
photographs of the laboratory campus. Photographs of NACA aeronautical research facilities
make up RG255-RFA, and there are 34 folders that contain material related to the
aeronautical research conducted at Ames, such as personnel, wind tunnels, facilities,
aircraft and spacecraft. Photographs of scientific research conducted at NACA facilities
makes up RG255-RA, and there are 11 boxes that are organized by scientific research subject.
This guide does not provide detailed information about RG255-RA, and further information
must be obtained from the National Archives.
The photograph files were all closed out in 1958, when the NACA was absorbed into NASA.
Most of the photos relating to Ames were generated by Ames photographers and thus can also
be found using the Ames negative numbers in the Ames photograph collections at NARA San
Bruno. Many of the images have also been scanned and indexed by the Ames Research Center and
can be found on the Ames Imaging Library System (AILS) on the NASA Ames Web site.
RG255.2.2
Records of the Research Coordination Division: Ames Research Authorizations
1939-1952
Physical Description: Boxes 1 - 3
Scope and Content Note
The materials in this set of records are the Records of the Research Coordination
Division. The entirety of RG255.2.2 consists of correspondence, 1915-52; technical
reports, memorandums, and notes, 1916-58; reprints of reports issued during World War II
("Wartime Reports"), 1942-52; and a reference library of aeronautical literature,
1938-52. Records of the Research Administration Division, consisting of invention and
patent case files, 1917-58. Correspondence of the Research and Contribution Board, 1917-
58. Records of the Research Coordination Division, consisting of research memorandums,
1946- 57; Langley Research Authorizations, 1918-48; case files relating to work
accomplished at the Langley Laboratory under research authorizations, 1920-41; Ames
Research Authorizations, 1941-50; and Lewis Research Authorizations, 1942-50.
The materials listed below are the records in RG255.2.2 that relate to the Ames
Aeronautical Laboratory, and primarily consist of correspondence between NACA
headquarters and Ames about funding research during World War II.
Box 1, Folder 1
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Miscellaneous
Box 1, Folder 2
122.1 Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Administration, Policy and
Procedures
Box 1, Folder 3
122.22 Administration and Service Buildings
Box 1, Folder 4
122.32 Schedules of Tests
1949-1952
Box 1, Folder 5
122 Ames Aeronautical Laboratory
Box 1, Folder 6
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Ames Site Selection
1939
Box 2, Folder 1
122.33 Closed Research Authorizations
Box 2, Folder 2
122.33 (A4) Inv. Full Span Flaps on Consolidated XB-32 Model
Box 2, Folder 3
122.33 Ames Research Authorizations (Misc.)
Box 2, Folder 4
122.33 (A-15) Balanced Control Services
Box 2, Folder 5
122.33 (A-26) Ice Prevention on Boeing B-17F by means of heated
surfaces
Box 2, Folder 6
122.33 (A-41) Duct Design and Characteristics of Ryan XFR-1
Box 2, Folder 7
122.33 (A-99) Wind Tunnel Investigation of Aerodynamic Characteristics of
North American XP-82 Airplane
Box 3, Folder 1
122.33 (A-143) YP-80 Airplane
Box 3, Folder 2
122.33 (A-117) Thermal Ice Prevention Requirements of Lockheed P-38 Airplane
at High Speeds
Box 3, Folder 3
122.33 (A-69) Device for Reducing Forces on an Airplane Control
Stick
Box 3, Folder 4
122.33 (A-184) Fundamental Study of Wing Leading Edge Inlets
Box 3, Folder 5
122.33 (A-164) Investigation of Compressibility Effects on Overhang-Type
Control Balance
RG255.4.1
Records of the Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
1939-1967
Physical Description: Boxes 1 - 6, 6A
Scope and Content Note
Most of the materials in this set of records are located at the Pacific Region branch
of the National Archives, with guides available online:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf7g5005jm and
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf5779n7mk. Materials at the Pacific Region
branch include central correspondence, 1938-58; central coded correspondence; 1951-67;
central research correspondence, 1943-65; central files, 1941-65. Report unit files,
1947-77. Research and development reports, 1957, and project authorizations, 1941-59.
Life Science Building dedication ceremony, 1968. Records of the Unitary Plan Design
Group, 1950-55. Records of the Research Instrumentation Branch, 1941-56. Records of the
Photographic Branch, 1945-55. Minutes and reports of the Automatic Stabilization and
Control Subcommittee and the Research Advisory Committee on Control, Guidance, and
Navigation, 1954-64. Records relating to the NASA Research and Technology Advisory
Subcommittee on Aircraft Operating Problems, 1961-69. Historical files, 1941-72. These
materials also include sound recordings of the activities at Ames Aeronautical
Laboratory, 1942-45.
Some materials, however, are located at Archives II in College Park, Maryland. Listed
below are the textual records of the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory that can be found at
Archives II. They include correspondence, reports, historical files, and news clippings,
and they date between 1938-1958. Also found in these materials is the dedicatory remarks
by Dr. W.F. Durand at the official opening of the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory in June
1944. The Don C. Wiley reports were written by Wiley, an Aviation Information Specialist
at Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, from the Public Affairs Office. They include weekly
reports, correspondence, and brief reports known as Major Information Activities. Daniel
S. Wentz II took over duties from Wiley and continued generating reports on a weekly
basis.
Box 1, Folder 2
20-3 Aeronautical Research Facilities, Special Survey Committee
on
Box 1, Folder 3
22-1 Field Station General
1941
Box 1, Folder 4
22-1 Ames Laboratory
1938-1940
Box 1, Folder 6
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory
1940
Box 2, Folder 3
Editorials/Clippings on Sunnyvale Selection
Box 3, Folder 3
Ames Newspaper Clippings
1951
Box 3, Folder 4
Ames TV Show, Science in Action
1951
Box 3, Folder 12
Ames Wind Tunnel, Life Magazine Article
Box 4, Folder 2
Wiley, July-December
1949
Box 4, Folder 5
Wiley, June-December
1950
Box 5, Folder 3
Wiley, July-December
1951
Box 5, Folder 7
Wentz, July-December
1952
Box 5, Folder 8
Ames Correspondence, January-June
1953
Box 5, Folder 9
Ames Correspondence, July-December
1953
Box 5, Folder 10
Ames Correspondence, January-June
1954
Box 5, Folder 11
Ames Correspondence, July-December
1954
Box 6, Folder 1
Special to AeroDigest on Ames Inspection,
1950
Box 6, Folder 2
Ames 1952 Inspection, Press Releases
1952
Box 6, Folder 3
Releases, Ames Inspection
1955
Box 6, Folder 5
Photographs of Light Gas Gun
Box 6, Folder 6
Ames 1958 Triennial Inspection, Dr. Dryden
1958
Box 6A, Folder 1
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Bluebook
1940-1946
Box 6A, Folder 2
Ames Dedication Photographs
RG255.12
Still Pictures, General: Photographs of NACA Research Facilities and Activities
1938-1958
Physical Description: Boxes 10 - 14
Scope and Content Note
RG255.12 contains over 50,000 photographic prints, negatives, transparencies, lantern
slides, posters and lithographs. Topics covered relate to aeronautics and astronautics,
including activities, facilities, equipment, aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, the lunar
surface, astronauts, ceremonies, and conferences.
The photographs in RG255-RF document the NACA Research Facilities and Activities from
1938 to 1958, including photographs of the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, which can be
found in boxes 10 through 14 and are listed below.
The photographs in RG255-RFA document the NACA's and NASA's Aeronautical Research
Facilities from 1928 through 1963. Photographs of the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory
(known as the Ames Research Center after 1958) are listed below, following Box 15.
Box 10, Folder 109
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory
Box 10, Folder 112
First Flight of O-47A Airplane
Box 10, Folder 113
Dedication of Ames Aeronautical Laboratory
1944
Box 11, Folder 117
Flight Research, Lab and Hangar
Box 12, Folder 124
6x6 inch Heat Transfer Tunnel
Box 13, Folder 130
Low Turbulence 12 foot Pressure Tunnel
Box 13, Folder 133
8x8 foot Supersonic Tunnel
Box 13, Folder 134
10x14 inch Supersonic Tunnel
Box 13, Folder 135
1x3 foot Supersonic Tunnel
Box 13, Folder 135A
1x3 foot Supersonic Tunnel
Box 14, Folder 140
2x2 foot Transonic Tunnel
Box 14, Folder 142
Labs and Research Facilities
Box 14, Folder 145
Electric Analogue for Aerodynamic Studies
Box 14, Folder 148
Atmosphere Energy Simulator
Box 14, Folder 151
Hypervelocity Ballistic Range
Box 14, Folder 153
Porous Leading-Edge Construction
Box 14, Folder 155
Technical Services Building
Box 15, Folder 1
Aerial View Ames Facility
Box 15, Folder 2
Ground Views/exterior and interior
Box 15, Folder 3
NACA Exhibit, San Francisco Junior Jaycees Air Fair
Box 15, Folder 18
Airspeed Installations/F-86A-5
Box 15, Folder 28
Supersonic Flight (graphic)
