Collection Guide
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Dillon, Albert W. (Second World War papers, photographs, and correspondence)
2019.068.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Albert W. Dillon Second World War papers, photographs and correspondence
source:
Stewart, Patricia Dillon
Creator:
Dillon, Albert Wesley, Lieutenant Colonel, 1905-1980
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.068.w.r
Physical Description:
0.15 Linear Feet
(4 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943-1963
Date (bulk): 1943-1946
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, papers and correspondence relating to the service of LtCol. Albert Wesley Dillon, USAAF
during the Second World War. The papers include military records, promotions and citations, and retirement papers, and more.
Also included is some ephemera collected while overseas in Iran and Guam, as well as biographical information provided by
the donor.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 151
Container: 8-11
Container: 1-4
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Albert Wesley Dillon Family, via Patricia Dillon Stewart.
This collection is arranged according to its original order.
- Series 1, Military records
- Series 2, Photographs
- Series 3, Deployment to Iran
- Series 4, Deployment to Guam
Lieutenant Colonel Albert "Al" Wesley "Pat" Dillon, United States Army Air Force (12/15/1905 - 05/21/1980) was born in Bison,
Oklahoma and was educated in a one-room school before living with another family in Enid, Oklahoma to attend four years of
high school from 1918-1922. Dillon then went on to attend Oklahoma A and M, where he began going by "Pat" and participated
in the ROTC program, and soon after became a teacher. He later attended the University of Oklahoma and married Anna May McPhail
of Walsenburg, Colorado where he taught for a short time. They had four children.
Dillon joined the Army Air Force in 1942 and was stationed at Big Spring, Texas where he qualified as a bombardier. He was
later grounded and became an instructor at Big Spring where he and his wife bought a home. In early 1945 he was asked to deploy
to Iran to train bombardiers overseas, and in October was asked again to deploy to train new bombardiers, this time in Guam.
He returned home in February 1946 and was almost immediately discharged with the rank of Captain, soon after earning the rank
of Major. He worked with the Veterans Administration and held several other jobs in Texas and was reactivated for a short
time in 1958, during which time he suffered a heart attack. From 1946 until 1966, he served as a liaison officer for the US
Air Force Academy and finally retired from the reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. He retired from civilian jobs in 1969 and
died in Irving, Texas in 1980 at the age of 74. More complete information, including family information pertaining to his
sons and daughter were provided by the donor and arranged with the military records.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Albert W. Dillon Second World War papers, photographs and correspondence
(2019.068.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains photographs, papers and correspondence relating to the service of LtCol. Albert Wesley Dillon, USAAF
during the Second World War. The papers include military records, promotions and citations, retirement papers, and more. Also
included is some ephemera collected while overseas in Iran and Guam, as well as biographical information provided by the donor.
Three photographs were kept loose from the rest of the collection, and are contained with Folder 1, military records. These
include one black and white portrait of LtCol. Dillon in uniform in 1963, one black and white of Dillon smiling as the liaison
officer of the US Air Force Academy with a cadet, and one black and white of Dillon with his family. The family photo was
shot in 1944 and is contained in a decorative sleeve, with names and small biographies of each family member inserted, including
Dillon, his wife Anna May, his sons Bill, Larry and Bob, and his daughter Patricia.
Also included in that folder, not part of any series, is biographical information provided by the donor.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States -- Army -- Air Forces -- Bombardier
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Christmas
World War (1939-1945) -- Marine Corps
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific campaign -- Guam
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Photographs
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
Airplanes, Military -- Maintenance and repair
Military education
Military aircraft.
Military training camps
Stewart, Patricia Dillon