Blaine (Miles) Personal Papers, 1913-2009

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Summary

Title:
Miles Blaine Personal Papers
Dates:
1913-2009
Abstract:
Miles Blaine (1913-2009) was a long time San Diego resident and photographer for SDASM. His collection features 860+ photographs from 1935 to 1952, related to aviation and a growing San Diego. He began to volunteer at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1977 and continued to do so until he passed away March 10, 2009. This collection documents his life in aviation. Most of the collection comprises of images he took.
Extent:
1.3 Cubic feet 3 Boxes
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Background

Scope and content:

Three boxes, 15”x5”x10”, collection contains 850+ photos and images collected and taken by Miles Blaine, they document his life in aviation, as well as San Diego history. Photos range approximately from 1935-1952, with many images from the mid-1940s. The collection also features three book publications about the OX-5 Aviation Pioneers.

Biographical / historical:

Miles Blaine (1913-2009) was a long time San Diego resident and photographer for SDASM. His collection features 860+ photographs from 1935 to 1952, related to aviation and a growing San Diego. He began to volunteer at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1977 and continued to do so until he passed away March 10, 2009.

Blaine was born November 17, 1913, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of seven and moved with his family to San Diego, CA, in 1927. A member of the first graduating class of Hoover High School, Blaine had his first ride in an airplane with Ryan pilot Bob Kerlinger in a Great Lakes 2T-1A at Lindbergh Field. He also learned to fly in San Diego at Peik’s Airport with instructor Arnold H. “Tex” Peik, starting out in an OX-5 American Eagle aircraft, and then switching to a Waco 10 after a student had totaled the American Eagle before he could finish his hours. Blaine then soloed in the Waco 10 in 1936 and continued flying for many years until he was 90 years old.

He worked for several years in civil service as an aircraft machinist at the Naval Air Station, North Island, and also for Consolidated and Lockheed aircraft companies. He was a member of the Consair Flyers Club, Inc., which helped to organize the aviation groups OX-5 Aviation Pioneers and Silver Wings in 1940. He was an avid photographer and gathered many aerial photos of early San Diego development as well as various other photographs of people, aircraft, and automobiles. One of Blaine’s fond memories was of Arnold Peik climbing out onto the wing of the Waco 10. He had only 3 hours of solo time and was unsure of what to do, since he had never flown a wing-walker before.

Acquisition information:
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum without restrictions.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Alan Renga
Date Prepared:
10/16/2014
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-11-03T11:14-0500

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291
archives@sdasm.org
Website