Register of the W. Langhorne Bond papers
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Konzak
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2007
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: W. Langhorne Bond papers
Date (inclusive): 1930-1998
Collection Number: 2005C58
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5 manuscript boxes
(2.0 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The papers describe China during the period surrounding World War II and the Chinese Revolution. The documents, including
correspondence, reports, writings, printed matter, personal documents, and photographs, contain descriptions, observations,
and insights about political events in East Asia especially during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II. A majority of the
material is documentation about the China National Aviation Corporation.
Creator:
Bond, W. Langhorne, 1893-1985
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Acquisition Information
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2005.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], W. Langhorne Bond Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Biography Note
| 1893 November 12 |
Born William Langhorne in Petersburg, Virginia, son of Thomas Baker Bond, a tobacco buyer, and Mary Potter Langhorne |
| 1917 |
Enlisted in World War I, serving in the army in France for the duration of the war |
| 1929 |
Started working for Curtiss-Wright Corporation |
| 1931 |
Accepted the position of Operations Manager for the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), in Shanghai |
| 1933 |
When Pan American Airways purchased Curtiss-Wright interests in CNAC, Bond became a Pan American employee |
| 1935 May 15 |
Married Katherine (Kitsi) Dunlop in Shanghai |
| 1937 |
When fighting broke out between Japan and China, Pan American withdrew from active operations in China during the United States
policy of political neutrality. Bond became a CNAC employee to ensure the continued operations of CNAC as a Chinese civilian
air transport company. After the war, he returned to work for Pan American
|
| 1937-1942 |
CNAC continued to be active through the war despite evacuations from the main operating bases of Shanghai, Hankow and Hong
Kong
|
| 1941 |
Pioneered the "Hump" route between China and India, an essential air link to China during World War II |
| 1947 |
Promoted to vice president, Orient by Pan American Airlines |
| 1949 |
After the fall of the Nationalist Chinese government, CNAC assets were sold to China for the Civil Air Transport |
| 1950 |
Retired to his farm in Warrenton, Virginia |
| 1985 July 16 |
Died, Ponte Vedra, Florida |
| 2001 |
Author,
Wings for an Embattled China, ed. James E. Ellis, Lehigh University Press, 2001. Posthumously published autobiography and history of the CNAC
|
Scope and Content of Collection
Acquired by the Hoover Institution in 2005, the W. Langhorne Bond papers describe China during the period surrounding World
War II and the Chinese Revolution. The documents contain descriptions, observations, and insights about political events in
East Asia during the time. A majority of the material is documentation of the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC).
CNAC was first established as a cooperative company by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation and the Chinese Government. The American
interest in the company, known as China Federal Airways, was purchased by Pan American Airways in 1933. Bond, known to most
as "Bondy," began as operations manager for the company in 1931 and continued to work for the company until his retirement
from the post of Pan American's vice president, Orient in 1950.
CNAC provided passenger, freight, and mail services to the Chinese Nationalist government. The small but effective airline
was active during World War II, even as the Japanese took over large segments of China. The materials in the collection document
events such as the evacuation of Hong Kong and a CNAC plane shot down by the Japanese. Bond also pioneered the "Hump" route
over the Himalayas from China to India in 1941, which brought necessary supplies to the Chinese during the war. Prints in
the Photographs document the first flight over the "Hump."
Materials documenting the operations of CNAC may be found in the Correspondence series. Of note is correspondence between
Bond and other Pan American employees including H. M. Bixby, a Pan American vice president in China and the Philippines, and
S. E. Morgan, a corporation general purchasing agent in New York. However, most CNAC correspondence before 1937 was lost when
moved from Shanghai to Hankow after the outbreak of war with the Japanese. Additional information on the overall history of
CNAC may be found in materials the Writings series, as well as the CNAC Files.
Images of the CNAC Staff, airplanes, airports, the Bond family, and travel in China during the 1930s and 1940s are found in
the Photographs.
Wings for an Embattled China, By W. Langhorne Bond, ed. James E. Ellis, published by Lehigh University Press in 2001 is an autobiography of Bond and overall
history of CNAC.
Throughout the collection description, the Romanization of Chinese place names have been kept as they were spelled by Bond
in the 1930s and 1940s.
Arrangement
Arranged in five series: Biographical File, Correspondence, Writings, China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) Files, Photographs,
and Printed Materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations
Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945
Aeronautics -- China
World War, 1939-1945 -- China
World War, 1939-1945 -- Transportation
China National Aviation Corporation
Pan American Airways Corporation
Biographical File
1936-1982, undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes identification cards, clippings, and articles. Arranged by document type, then chronologically.
box 1, folder 1
Biography and identification cards
undated, 1936-1940
box 1, folder 2
Clippings
1947, 1982, undated
box 1, folder 3
"New Horizons," article on evacuation of Hong Kong
1942
Correspondence
1929-1984
Scope and Contents note
Includes both personal and CNAC business correspondence, containing descriptions of life, business and politics in China,
particularly during World War II. Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.
box 1, folder 5
American Consular Service
1937-1945
box 1, folder 15-17
China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC)
1929-1949
box 1, folder 18
Soong Ching Ling
1942, 1950
box 1, folder 19
Leary, William (Bill)
1969-1979
box 2, folder 4
Neumann, Gerhard
1971, 1983
box 2, folder 5
Pan American Airways
1937-1950
box 2, folder 6
United States Armed Forces
1937, 1942
box 2, folder 7
United States Embassy, Chungking and Hankow
1938-1939
Writings
1965 1972, undated
Scope and Contents note
Consists of histories of the CNAC. Arranged chronologically by date of publication.
box 2, folder 8
CNAC Chronology
undated
Scope and Contents note
Typescript
box 2, folder 9
History of the CNAC
undated
Scope and Contents note
Typescript
box 2, folder 10
Operating History of the CNAC
undated
Scope and Contents note
Typescript
box 2, folder 11
Wings for an Embattled China, Chapter 6
undated
Scope and Contents note
Typescript
box 2, folder 12
Handwritten chapter drafts
undated
box 2, folder 13
Deposition, John Costello v. Pan American World Airways
1965
Scope and Contents note
Concerning the 1949 evacuations of refugees
box 2, folder 14
Wings over Asia; A brief history of CNAC, by CNAC Foundation
1972
Scope and Contents note
Printed copy
China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) Files
1930-1947
Scope and Contents note
Brochures, contracts and reports describing CNAC operations. Arranged by document type. Additional information on the company
may be found in the Correspondence and Writings series.
box 2, folder 16
Ministry of Communications and Directorate of Posts, National Government, Republic of China
1930
box 2, folder 17
Pan American Airways
circa 1933
box 2, folder 18
National Government, Republic of China
1933
box 2, folder 19
National Government, Republic of China, American Armed Forces
1947
box 2, folder 20
Report on air freight service to China
1941
Photographs
1935-1949, undated
Scope and Contents note
Photographic prints of Bond, his family, homes, travels, and CNAC operations. Photographs identify CNAC planes, airports,
routes, and events. Arranged by subject.
box 3, folder 1
W. L. Bond and Kitsi Bond
undated, 1938, 1945
box 3, folder 2
Groups with W. L. and Kitsi Bond
undated, 1938, 1942
box 3, folder 3
Shanghai apartment, 2030 Joffre
1935
box 3, folder 4
Shanghai house, 279 Route Charles Culty
1937
Scope and Contents note
Includes baby Langhorne
box 3, folder 5
Repulse Bay cottage, Hong Kong
1938
box 3, folder 6
Chinese scenes
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Unidentified
box 3, folder 7
Photographic post cards
undated
box 3, folder 13
Great Wall of China trip from Peking
1935
box 3, folder 15
Hangchow Bore
undated, 1936
box 5, folder 3
En Route to Hong Kong, Repulse Bay Hotel
1940
box 5, folder 4
Airplanes
undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes CNAC staff and a Sikorsky helicopter
box 5, folder 5
Airports: Lunghwa, Shanghai, and Kai Tak, Hong Kong
undated
box 5, folder 7
New office, Peking
undated
box 5, folder 8
Airplanes, street scenes, and damage photographed by Captain Higgins
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Printed 35mm film proofs
box 5, folder 10
Airplane piloted by Captain H. L. Woods shot down by Japanese
1938
box 5, folder 11
First survey flight over the "Hump" from Linking, China to Dinjin, India
1941
box 5, folder 12
Twentieth anniversary staff photo
1949
Printed Materials
1935-1998, undated
Scope and Contents note
Clippings and published materials. Arranged chronologically.
box 4, folder 1
General brochures and pamphlets
undated
box 4, folder 2
Curtiss-Wright Corporation brochure featuring CNAC
undated.
Scope and Contents note
In Chinese
box 4, folder 3
Pan American Airways Flying Clipper Ships map
undated
box 4, folder 4
A Pictorial Map of Peiping
undated
box 4, folder 5-9
Clippings
1935-1953, undated
box 4, folder 10
Peking Utility Book, Peking International Women's Club
1934-1935
box 4, folder 11
Handbook of the American University Club, Shanghai
1935
box 4, folder 12
Who's Who in China, 5th edition, The China Weekly Review
1936
box 4, folder 13
War Messages and Other Selections, Madame Chiang Kai-shek
1938
Scope and Contents note
Inscribed by author
box 4, folder 14
"Inside Story of a Japanese Peace Overture to China during the Second World War," Chin-chao Liang, published in
Cheung Chi Journal
1974
Scope and Contents note
Typescript
box 4, folder 15
Clipper newsletter, Pan Am Historical Foundation
1997-1998
