Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Biographical / Historical
Preferred Citation
Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Romney W. Masters Second World War manuscript
Creator:
Masters, Romney Wolfe
source:
Bailey, Robert G.
source:
Bailey, Marilee B.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.681.wc.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1942 May 12 - 1943 January 22
Abstract: This collection contains a journal and written correspondences from Capt. Romney W. Masters, USAAF to his family during the
Second World War. Capt. Masters served with the First American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers."
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 14
Container: 15
Container: 1
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Robert G. Bailey and Marilee B. Bailey.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
Biographical / Historical
Captain Romney Wolfe Masters, United States Army Air Force (b. 1915) was born in Berkeley, California to parents Romney Spencer
Masters and Elizabeth Wolfe Masters. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a degree in civil engineering.
Masters joined General Chennault's volunteer group, the Flying Tigers, to protect the airspace over China. During his travels,
Masters visited many countries across Asia and Africa, including China, India, Vietnam, Nigeria, Liberia, and Egypt.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Romney W. Masters Second World War manuscript (2017.681.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains a manuscript containing a journal and letters detailing the experiences of Capt. Romney W. Masters,
USAAF during the Second World War.
The manuscript narrative is divided into eleven parts:
- 1. His shipment to a new foreign service, taking him from Miami, Florida to Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Brazil, Liberia, Nigeria,
Egypt, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India, and finally China;
- 2. His preperation to join the Flying Tigers, including meeting General Chennault and the rest of the pilots, receiving assignments
and squadrons, his first flights, intercepting alerts, and preventing the destruction of an airfield by the hands of the Japanese;
- 3. The soldiers invovled with the AVG, the exotic nature of China, how the AVG transitioned into the 23rd Composite Group,
bombing runs performed by the Japanese, a spectacular emergency landing performed by Major Alison and Captain Baumler, how
more and more militarized their base became during the course of the war, and how the army slowly took over control of their
squad;
- 4. The Americans' superiority over the Chinese, how China slowly started to become a major world power, the westernization
of the country, his affection for the ancient city of Kunming, the city's history, the city's geography, the various shops
and professions in the city, the inventories of various stores in Kunming, the Chinese currency and the "black market" of
currency exchange, and looting equipment from a defeated group of Japanese;
- 5. His affliction with dengue fever, being sent to India on sick leave, their subsequent flight across "The Hump" (the eastern
ridge of the Himalayan mountains), and his arrival in New Delhi;
- 6. His reporting to the air force base in India, accepting an offer to go hunting with the Maharajah of Balrampur, traveling
to the Maharajah via train, the poor quality of their train compartment, the splendor of the Maharajah's residence, touring
the town and the Maharajah's residence, riding on elephant back, their first hunt in which they hunted chitels and panthers,
returning to the Maharajah's house for a Thanksgiving dinner, a tour of the local sugar plant, power plant, and hospital,
a second hunt at Bonkatwa in which they were joined by the Maharajah, a third hunt for crocodiles, playing tennis with the
Maharajah, and their departure from Balrampur;
- 7. His travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, visiting an old Mogul fort, and his desire to return to China;
- 8. His new mission to escort bombers to Hanoi, returning to China to supply-up, their departure, being fired upon by anti-aircraft
guns and his attempt to return to camp, how other pilots dealt with being shot at, arriving back at Kunming, and their C.O.'s
miraculous emergency landing;
- 9. Issues with the food in China, how the AVG pilots kept themselves entertained, a "dance" that was held for the soldiers,
the liquors they drank, the discontent that came with idleness, domestic problems facing the US, his desire to return home
by Christmas, describing his idol Colonel Johnny Alison, and a miraculous crash-landing and rescue featuring one of the AVG
pilots;
- 10. Breaking in a new engine on a test-flight, comparing aspects of Chinese philosophy to ancient Egyptian, volunteering to
spend time with a Chinese family, his friendship with Colonel Peter Shih, participating in a traditional Chinese dinner, an
excursion to visit the Lolo Nosu people, and his childhood growing up in Canton;
- 11. The fall of France to the Nazis and America joining the war, the campaigns in Japan and China, and issues that might arrive
in the post-war world.
In the letters, Masters writes about his various travels across the world, hoping that life is alright back home, basics about
army life and living in China, his various flights and campaigns, hunting in India, having a dismal Christmas, and updating
them with news from the front. One letter from May 23, 1942, reads, "Dear Mom: I'm well. It's hot. Son"
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bailey, Robert G.
Bailey, Marilee B.
Masters, Romney Spencer
Masters, Elizabeth Wolfe