The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Allan Francis Bonnalie Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10224
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2019
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Allan Francis Bonnalie Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10224
Physical Description:
1 Cubic Feet
The collection contains materials related to Allan F. Bonnalie’s life and career in aeronautics. Included are log books,
correspondence, maps and charts, blueprints, scrapbooks, Bonnalie’s service records in World War I (1918-1921), certificates
and military orders, manuscripts of writings by Bonnalie, and journals kept while traveling to Afghanistan, Bolivia, Yugoslavia,
Mexico, and around the United States. Also included are records of his work with Southern Pacific and the Panama-Pacific
International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915.
The collection is contained in four (4) archival boxes: one 15-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 10”; two 12-1/2” x 16-1/2” x 10-1/2”; one
12” x 7” x 10-1/2”.
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: The collection contains materials related to Allan F. Bonnalie’s life and career in aeronautics. Included are log books,
correspondence, maps and charts, blueprints, scrapbooks, Bonnalie’s service records in World War I (1918-1921), certificates
and military orders, manuscripts of writings by Bonnalie, and journals kept while traveling to Afghanistan, Bolivia, Yugoslavia,
Mexico, and around the United States. Also included are records of his work with Southern Pacific and the Panama-Pacific
International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915.
Physical Description: The collection is contained in four (4) archival boxes: one 15-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 10”; two 12-1/2” x 16-1/2” x 10-1/2”; one
12” x 7” x 10-1/2”.
Biographical / Historical
Allan Francis Bonnalie was born September 29, 1893, in Denver, Colorado. His parents later moved to San Francisco, California,
where he completed his schooling.
During this period, he became interested in the new science of flight, and while in high school became a member of the newly
formed Polytechnic High School Aero Club. It consisted of about ten members, and together they built a biplane glider having
a Farman-type box tail, undercarriage, ailerons and elevator, but no rudder. Control surfaces were not very effective, so
shifting of the operator’s body was also necessary in flight. When completed, the club glider was taken to the Twin Peaks
vicinity of San Francisco where a suitable hill was available for flying experiments. Bonnalie made his first flight there
on November 1, 1911.
The club then decided to build a powered plane. Following Curtiss design features, they were assisted by a local Japanese
reserve military officer, S. Doi, who owned a curio shop on Van Ness Avenue. A 2-cylinder opposed air-cooled 25-30 HP Detroit
aero motor was installed. Bonnalie made the first flight tests of the plane but being both overweight and underpowered, it
was capable of only limited straightaway hops. When the plane was completed, Doi packed it up and shipped it to Japan where
it became one of the first planes in that country.
Following this, Bonnalie obtained additional flying experience in a locally owned Farman-type plane powered by a Ford automobile
engine. Prior to World War I, Bonnalie worked with a partner in the design and building of five airplanes, including a flying
boat.
In 1916, Bonnalie worked for the Gorham Engineering Company. In April 1917, he made application for enlistment in the Aviation
Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army but was rejected due to being underweight. Later, he was accepted to the School of Military
Aeronautics, University of California at Berkeley, where Waldo Waterman taught an 8-week course, among others.
On completion of the course, he joined ground school graduates from other schools and, on August 13, 1917, they sailed from
New York for overseas assignment, arriving in Liverpool. The group was sent to Oxford University for further training. In
May 1918, Bonnalie was assigned to the 211th Squadron, Royal Air Force. While with the RAF, the British awarded him with
the Distinguished Service Order, the highest decoration presented to an American officer at the time. He was also awarded
the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Cross.
After the Armistice, Bonnalie was attached to the staff of the 2nd Army Air Service under Col. Frank P. Lahm and Col. John
F. Curry. This unit provided courier service to Coblenz, Germany, occupied by U.S. troops. This assignment included considerable
training in navigational and instrument flying.
In May 1919, Bonnalie returned to the United States, resigned his commission as First Lieutenant and resumed civilian life.
He went into mechanical engineering work, spending about eight years at Southern Pacific Railroad in San Francisco.
In 1925, he joined the Naval Reserves as a Lieutenant, and commanded Reserve Squadrons until the beginning of World War II.
By the time of Pearl Harbor, Bonnalie had advanced in the Naval Reserves to Lieutenant Commander, Production Division, Bureau
of Aeronautics, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. He retired in 1953 as a Rear Admiral USNR.
While with the railroad, Bonnalie encouraged them to bid on a Government airmail contract from San Francisco to Chicago. However,
his effort was turned down and Boeing Air Transport was the successful bidder. Still interested, he joined Boeing in 1929.
Shortly after he joined Boeing, it became United Air Lines and he assisted in their training program and also became Assistant
Head of their flight department. He was later promoted to President and General Manager of United in Mexico, known as LAMSA.
Bonnalie retired from United Air Lines in 1958.
Allan Bonnalie held Commercial Pilot Certificate No. 30819 Aircraft Class I, was a member of the Early Birds, and an Associate
Fellow of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences. He passed away at age 89 on January 29, 1983.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Museum.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United Airlines
Bonnalie, Allan Francis
Waterman, Waldo Dean
Folder 1 -- Pilots System Board of Adjustment
Folder 2 -- Harold F. Arnold et.al. vs. United Airlines, Inc., et.al.
Physical Description: 1. Legal Documents: Order to Show Cause, Summons, and Complaint.
Folder 3 -- Miscellaneous
Physical Description: 1. Chart, 1951 Air Carrier Accidents, September 25, 1951 (1 page). 2. Document, "Lectures on Bomb Sighting," April 23, 1917,
R.N. Air Department (3 pgs). 3. Document, "The Bristol Cherub Series III Engine for Light Aircraft."
Folder 4 -- United Airlines Inflight Irregularities Reports
Folder 5 -- Scrapbook
Physical Description: 1. Scrapbook/diary of time spent in Mexico with LAMSA, the United Airlines subsidiary, 1946-1952.
SERIES I: Documents (Cont)
Folder 1 -- United Airlines Miscellaneous Documents
Physical Description: 1. UAL Department of Safety Accident and Injury Report, 1955. 2. Memo, Report from Office of Aviation Safety, September 25,
1951. 3. Booklet, "Mr. Pilot, You're in Business," UAL Flight Safety, June 15, 1950. 4. UAL Executive Calendar, 1958. 5. UAL
Annual Report, 1957.
Folder 2 -- United Airlines Administrative Personnel Evaluation Reports
Folder 3 -- United Airlines Official Seniority Lists
Folder 4 -- United Airlines Manpower
Folder 5 -- Lineas Aereas Mexicanas, S.A. (LAMSA) UAL's Mexico subsidiary) Stationery
Folder 6 -- Lineas Aereas Mexicanan, S.A. (LAMSA) Operating Statistics
Folder 7 -- International Cooperation Administration (ICA) Travel Vouchers
Folder 8 -- International Cooperation Administration (ICA) Correspondence
Folder 9 -- International Cooperation Administration (ICA) Reports
Folder 10 -- International Cooperation Administration (ICA), marked "see special file;" correspondence and reports
Folder 11 -- Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), Rocky Mountain Region - documents and correspondence
Folder 11 -- Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), Rocky Mountain Region - documents and correspondence
Folder 13 -- Historical and Research Data, #2 of 2
Folder 14 -- Meeting and Speech Material
Folder 15 -- Miscellaneous Correspondence (includes personal)
Folder 16 -- A. F. Bonnalie - Personal
Folder 17 -- Bonnalie - Personal
Folder 18 -- Publications - Subscriptions
Folder 19 -- Allan Bonnalie Biographies
Folder 20 -- Two Travel Scrapbooks - Mexico 1946-1952
Series II: Pilot's Log Books in one folder
1. Pilot's Flying Log Book, Allan F. Bonnalie, 1st Lieut, U.S. Air Service, October 27, 1917 - January 29, 1919.
2. Aviators Flight Log Book, A. F. Bonnalie, Lieutenant AV(G), July 31, 1928 - September 13, 1931.
3. Aviators Flight Log Book, A. F. Bonnalie, Lieut A-F, October 9, 1931 - November 25, 1935.
4. Aviators Flight Log Book, A. F. Bonnalie, L.Cmdr A-O, December 2, 1935 - December 16, 1938.
5. Aviators Flight Log Book, A. F. Bonnalie, Comdr USNR, January 1939 - July 23, 1943.
6. Aviators Flight Log Book, A. F. Bonnalie, Commander USNR, October 11, 1943 - April 10, 1945.
Series III: Blueprints
The following blueprints were prepared by Ateliers d'Aviation -- Louis Breguet, unless otherwise noted:
Folder 2 -- Blueprints, #1 of 5
Physical Description: 1. Avion type XIV A2 and XIV B2; Plan #2117; 1917; description: fuselage. 2. Avion type XIV A2 and XIV B2; Plan #2261; August
2, 1917; description: tubes montants du chassis d'atterissage. 3. Avion type 14 A2; Plan #2370; June 7, 1917; description:
compensateur. 4. Avion type 14 A2 Liberte; Plan #14116; June 15, 1918; description: tuyauterie de refoulement. 5. Avion type
14 A2 Liberty/17 C2; Plan #14125; April 20, 1918; description: enrouleurs de volet. 6. Avion type 14 A2 et B2; Plan #14503;
May 18, 1918. 7. Avion type 14 A2 Liberty; Plan #14761; May 30, 1918; description: support du mecanisme de syncronisation.
8. Avion type 14 A2 Liberty; Plan #14782; June 5, 1918. 9. Avion type 14 A2 Liberty; Plan #14819; June 7, 1918; description:
ossalure du capotage. 10. Avion type 14 A2 Liberty; Plan #15006; June 13, 1918; description: radiateur. 11. Avion type 14
A2 Liberty; Plan #15007; June 13, 1918; description: radiator detail. 12. Avion type 14 A2 Liberty; Plan #15008; June 14,
1918; description: capot radiateur. 13. Avion type 14 A2 - B2 Moteur Liberty; Plan #15033; June 15, 1918. 14. Avion type 14
A2/B2 Liberty; Plan #15033; September 17, 1918.
Folder 3 -- Blueprints #2 of 5
Physical Description: 1. Avion type 14 A2 Liberty; Plan #15075; June 15, 1918. 2. Avion type 14 A2/14 B2/17C2; Plan #15340; July 1918; description:
volant de commande. 3. Avion type 14 A2 - B2 Liberty; Plan #16607/16655; August 29, 1918; description: ensemble circulation
essence. 4. Avion type 14 A2 - B2 Liberty; Plan #16745; September 6, 1918; description: reservoir d'huile de 24 litres. 5. Avion
type A2 Liberty; Plan #16890/16891; September 16, 1918; description: renfort de capot. 6. Avion type XIV B2; Plan #2.145;
March 8, 1917. 7. Avion type XIV B.2; Plan #2150; March 7, 1917; description: montants e'ailes. 8. Avion type 14 B2; Plan
#2187. 9. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #10228; July 24, 1917; description: ensemble de montage des commandes a cables divergents.
10. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #12229; December 21, 1919; description: reservoir decrochable de 220 litres. 11. Avion type 14
B2; Plan #12444; January 16, 1918; description: modification du fond de capot sous reservoir. 12. Avion type 14 B2; Plan
#13144/13496; February 6, 1918. 13. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #13152; February 27, 1918. 14. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #13219/13220;
May 3, 1918. 15. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #13245/13498; June 29, 1918; description: neryure special.
Folder 4 -- Blueprints #3 of 5
Physical Description: 1. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #13652; March 27, 1918. 2. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14166; April 22, 1918. 3. Avion type 14 B2; Plan
#14250; May 2, 1918; description: courbe terminante. 4. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14313; May 2, 1918; description: nervure special
d'extremite d'aile. 5. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14315/14392; May 16, 1918; description: terminaison de longeron. 6. Avion
type 14 B2; Plan #14339; May 4, 1918; description: nervure trongues de becrenforce. 7. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14340; May
4, 1918; description: nervure crisson trongues. 8. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14341; May 6, 1918; description: nervure pour termingison.
9. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14342; May 2, 1918. 10. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14344; May 9, 1918; description: nervure d'extremite
de volet. 11. Avion type 14 B2; Plan #14345; May 9, 1918; description: nervure d'extremite de volet. 12. Avion type 14 B2;
Plan #15290; June 26, 1918; description: longeron arriere des jolans supiriers. 13. Avion type 14 B2 Liberty; Plan #15353;
July 3, 1918. 14. Avion type 14 B2 Liberty; Plan #15354; July 25, 1918; description: arbre de la commande. 15. Avion type
14 B2 Liberty; Plan #16673; September 5, 1918; description: pare-brise.
Folder 5 -- Blueprints #4 of 5
Physical Description: 1. Avion type 17 C2; Plan #15338; July 2, 1918; description: roud de commande du volet thermos-regul. 2. Avion type AV; Plan
#2169; 1917; description: plan fixe horizontal. 3. Avion type AV; Plan #2196; March 28, 1917; description: motor. 4. Avion
type AV; Plan #2214; April 4, 1917; description 9344 - tubes entretoise du bati moteur. 5. Avion type AV; Plan #2226; April
5, 1917; description: 7998 scheme de determination des cotes de montage. 6. Blueprint by: Michelin & Cie; Avion type AV;
Plan #12229; October 24, 1918; description: BRE 14 B The following blueprints are miscellaneous designs: 7. Ateliers d'Aviation
Louis Breguet/Michelin & Cie; Plan #2185; 1917; description: 8001 - deux pieces. 8. Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Breguet/Michelin
& Cie; Plan #2413; June 23, 1917; description: train d'atterrissage. 9. Breguet; description: wing designs. 10. Bristol Cherub
Series III, Eng. No. C3000; December 1925; description: 100 hr. A.M. Type Test, Synopsis of Test. 11. Bristol Cherub Series
III, Eng. No. C3000; December 1925; description: 100 hr. A.M. Type Test, average wear on major components. 12. Anderson &
Bonnalie; Plan #C11-1; May 25, 1915; description: Bassi Hydroaeroplane- Flying Boat Type (copy 1 of 2). 13. Anderson & Bonnalie;
Plan #C11-1; May 25, 1915; description: Bassi Hydroaeroplane- Flying Boat Type (copy 2 of 2).2.
Folder 6 -- Blueprints #5 of 5
Physical Description: The following blueprints were prepared by or for Southern Pacific Company: 1. Drawing #5115; February 1926; description: general
arrangement Blair Creosoting Plant. 2. Drawing #5705; February 16, 1927; description: proposed device for greasing rails.
3. Drawing, Curves Showing Penetration of Cresote; compiled by R. H. Rawson; 1916. 4. Drawing #3848, Sheet 61; May 1, 1925;
description: general arrangement creosoting plant. 5. Drawing #3848, Sheet 76; May 20, 1925; description: transverse sections
thru pump room. 6. Drawing #3848, Sheet 80; May 27, 1925; description: general assembly, transverse section West Oakland
Creosote plant. 7. Drawing #Ex.997; April 7, 1928; description: installation drawing NA-UX-2 cars.
Series IV: Pamphlets/Books - Miscellaneous
Folder 7 -- Pamphlets/Booklets - Miscellaneous #1 of 2
Physical Description: 1. Magazine page, "Plotting Graphs of Wing Section Data," Flight Magazine, May 15, 1919. 2. Pamphlet, "The 120 hp. Bristol
Lucifer Aircooled Aero Engine," The Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd. 3. Document, "Achievements of the Famous 30/80 h.p. A.D.C.
Cirrus Engine," A.D.C. Aircraft Ltd., 1925. 4. Document, "A Brief Description of the Cirrus Mark II Low-Powered Aero Engine,"
A.D.C. Aircraft, Ltd. 5. Magazine reprint, "The Cirrus Mark II Engine," Flight Magazine, November 11, 1926. 6. Booklet, "The
Triumph of the Cirrus Engine," A.D.C. Aircraft, Ltd. 7. Information cards, "The A.D.C. Cirrus Aero Engine" (3 cards). 8. Booklet,
"Gloster Production Methods," Gloster Aircraft Co., Ltd., Series No. 3, July 11, 1928. 9. Booklet, "Gloster Hele-Shaw Beacham
Variable Pitch Airscrew," Gloster Aircraft Co., Ltd., Series No. 5, October 17, 1928. 10. Report, "Evaluation of C-Band (5.5cm)
Airborne Weather Radar," United Air Lines, Inc., March 1, 1954. 11. Brochure, "An Engineer vs. War," Howard G. Kurtz, Jr.,
Institute for International Order, September 1957. 12. Catalog, "Aeronautical & Marine Books, Charts, Instruments, Supplies,"
Pan American Navigation Service. 13. Telephone directory, International Cooperation Administration, September 1955. 14. Catalog,
"Salable Publications," 1946-1955, International Civil Aviation Organization.
Folder 8 -- Pamphlets/Booklets - Miscellaneous #2 of 2
Physical Description: 1. Catalog, "National Bureau of Economic Research: Organization, Purpose and Publications," 1921 through 1957. 2. Booklet,
"Young Men in Aeronautics: a Twenty-Year Progress Report of the Lawrence B. Sperry Award," 1957. 3. Catalog, "Division of
Research Publications," Harvard Business School, 1956-1957. 4. Poster, "Specifications, 1925 Kenworth Model KS-255." 5. Booklet,
"This is the Airline Pride Built," Continental Airlines. 6. Booklet, "San Francisco Giants Program and Scorecard, Candlestick
Park," 1969. 7. Booklet, "Colorful Colorado: Its Dramatic History," Caroline Bancroft, 1970. 8. Booklet, "TWA Wings for the
World," October 1966. 9. Booklet, "A Report on the 12th Annual International Air Safety Seminar," Nice, France, October 25-29,
1959.
Item 9 -- Book, "Who's Who in World Aviation," American Aviation Publications, Inc., Vol. 2, 1958 (Bonnalie bio on pg. 47).
Folder 10 -- Memorabilia: 3 Small Medals
Folder 1 -- Bee-Hive Magazine (United Aircraft Corporation) (11), Summer 53/Spring 54/Jan 56/Spring 56/Fall 56/Jan 57/Spring
57/Summer 57/Fall 57/Jan 58/Spring 58
Folder 2 -- UAL Mainliner Magazine (1), Oct 58; The Retired Officer (1), Sep-Oct 58
Folder 3 -- The Cockpit Magazine: United Airlines Semi-Monthly Bulletin and Newsletter of the Flight Operations Department
(22), 7-15-57/8-1-57/8-15-57/9-1-57/9-15-57/10-1-57/10-15-57/11-1-57/11-15-57 (2 copies)/12-1-57/12-15-57/Jan 58/Feb 58/Mar
58/Apr 58/May 58/July 58 (2 copies)/Aug 58/Sep 58
Series VII: Photographs and Slides
Folder 4 -- Photographs (digitized)
Folder 5 – Slides (digitized)
Item 6 – Box of slides: photo copies of photographs of planes and facilities at LAMSA in Mexico (poor quality for digitization)
