Charles E. McGee papers

Finding aid prepared by Bianca Lisek and Alysia Thind, Student Processing Assistants.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2015
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Charles E. McGee papers
Date (inclusive): 1942-2009, undated
Date (bulk): 1950-1970
Collection Number: MS 272
Creator: McGee, Charles E.
Extent: 1.51 linear feet (4 boxes)
Repository: Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: This collection contains memorandums, special orders, correspondence, administrative records, and other material pertaining to Charles E. McGee, retired Colonel from the United States Air Force who compiled nearly 30 years of service and a record of 409 aerial fighter combat missions. Includes personnel, financial, and flight records documenting McGee's military career. A photograph of McGee and his military dress jacket are also included.
Languages: The collection is in English.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [date if possible]. Charles E. McGee papers (MS 272). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Charles E. McGee, 2015, and Monica Smith, 2023.

Processing History

Processed by Alysia Thind and Bianca Lisek, Student Processing Assistants, 2015.
Processing of the Charles E. McGee papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts Curator.

Biographical Note

Charles E. McGee was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 7, 1919. His father was a social worker, minister, and teacher, causing their family to move around often during his childhood. In 1942, McGee was in the process of obtaining his degree in engineering at the University of Illinois. However, soon after World War II began McGee enlisted in the United States Army and began his service on October 26, 1942. After graduating from flight school McGee was stationed in Italy where he proceeded to fly 136 missions during World War II. He returned to Tuskegee, Alabama in 1944 where he took post as a twin engine instructor. By the end the 1950, the Korean War had broken out and McGee was now flying planes out of the Philippines, where he was stationed as a Base Operations Officer. He flew 100 low level bombing and strafing missions during the Korean War. In 1953, he graduated from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base. A few years later McGee was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, causing his wife and three children to relocate with him across the United States and abroad throughout the next several years. In 1967, when the Vietnam War broke out, McGee was once again deployed and flew 173 missions. In 1969, McGee was promoted to the rank of Colonel and on January 31, 1973 he retired from the United States Air Force compiling nearly 30 years of service and a record of 409 aerial fighter combat missions.

Collection Scope and Contents

This collection contains memorandums, special orders, correspondence, administrative records, and other material pertaining to Charles E. McGee's military service, and more generally to the Tuskegee Airmen. Includes personnel, financial, and flight records documenting McGee's nearly thirty year career in the United States military. A photograph of McGee and his military dress jacket are also included.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series as follows:
  • Series 1. Military documents, 1942-1973
  • Series 2. Administrative records, 1968-2009
  • Series 3. Photographs and artifacts, undated

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Squadron, 99th
United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Group, 332nd
World War, 1939-1945

Genres and Forms of Materials

Correspondence
Documents
Financial records


 

Series 1. Military documents 1942-1973

Series Scope and Contents

The series contains military documents including memorandums, special orders, correspondence, and other material pertaining to Charles E. McGee's military service.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 1, Folder 1

Memorandums, special orders, correspondence, and enlistment records for Charles E. McGee 1942-1945

Box 1, Folder 2

Memorandums, special orders, correspondence 1942-1948

Box 1, Folders 3-4

Memorandums, special orders, correspondence 1948-1953

Physical Description: 2 folders
Box 1, Folder 5

Memorandums, special orders, correspondence, and personnel orders for Charles E. McGee 1953-1958

Box 2, Folder 1

Memorandums, special orders, correspondence, and personnel orders for Charles E. McGee 1958-1963

Box 2, Folder 2

Personnel and flight orders for Charles E. McGee 1963-1965

Box 2, Folder 3

Special orders and correspondence as well as personnel and flight orders for Charles E. McGee 1966-1968

Box 2, Folder 4

Special orders and correspondence as well as personnel and temporary orders for Charles E. McGee 1964-1971

Box 2, Folder 5

Correspondence and notes of Charles E. McGee 1972-1999

 

Series 2. Administrative records 1968-2009

Series Scope and Contents

The series contains administrative records including both military and personal financial records as well as McGee's flight records over the course of his military service.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 3, Folder 1

Flight records 1943-1970

Box 3, Folder 2

Flight records 1953-1969

Box 3, Folder 3

Master Pilot Log 1942-1947

Box 3, Folder 4

Financial records 1968-1973

Box 3, Folder 5

Financial records 1973-1994

Box 3, Folder 7

Pilot licenses 1945, 1973

 

Series 3. Photographs and artifacts circa 1942-1973

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains a photograph of Charles E. McGee and his military dress jacket.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 2, Folder 6

Photograph of Charles E. McGee in uniform (headshot) circa 1942-1973

Box 4

Military dress jacket of Charles E. McGee (white) circa 1942-1973