The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Marc Mitscher Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10099
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Business Number: (619) 234-8291
Fax Number: (619) 233-4525
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Marc A. Mitscher Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10099
Physical Description:
1.6 Cubic Feet
This is a four box collection. Three boxes measure 15 ½ x 10 ¼ x 5 inches. The fourth box is oversized and measures 15 ½ x
12 ¼ x 5 inches. The majority of the collection contains photographs, but there are some documents and personal papers relating
to Mitscher from the early 1900s to his death in 1947. Much of the focus is his early-aviation career and his WWII service
as Captain and Admiral in the US Navy.
Date (bulk): 1887-1947
Abstract: Admiral Marc Mitscher had long and distinguished career in the US Navy as both aviator and ship commander. Mitscher's strategies
were crucial to the Allied forces during WWII.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
For copyright and use restrictions please consult the library director.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection of materials was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Marc Mitscher Personal Papers, Archives, San Diego Air & Space Museum
Biographical / Historical
Admiral Marc Mitscher had long and distinguished career in the US Navy as both aviator and ship commander. Mitscher's strategies
were crucial to the Allied forces during WWII.
Admiral Marc Andrew Mitscher was born in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1910, Mitscher
reported for aviation training aboard the USS North Carolina, one of the first ships to carry aircraft. He was designated
Naval Aviator #33 on June 2, 1916. Over the next two decades, Mitscher advanced through varied assignments, including Bureau
of Aeronautics and on two US Aircraft Carriers. He continued to advance the science of aeronautics through his leadership
in the development of mass flights over water and techniques of carrier-based aviation.
Mitscher assumed command of the USS Hornet in October 1941. On April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and his squadron launched
the raid on Tokyo from the deck of the Hornet. Mitscher had enormous strategic success with Naval Aviation commands from the
Solomons to the Central and Western Pacific, culminating in the leadership of Task Force 58.
Mitscher died February 3, 1947, while in command of the Atlantic Fleet.
Scope and Contents
Description: This is a four box collection. Three boxes measure 15 ½ x 10 ¼ x 5 inches. The fourth box is oversized and measures
15 ½ x 12 ¼ x 5 inches.
Content notes: The majority of the collection contains photographs, but there are some documents and personal papers relating
to Mitscher from the early 1900s to his death in 1947. Much of the focus is his early-aviation career and his WWII service
as Captain and Admiral in the US Navy.
There are five oversized items in the Oversized Materials Special Collection (OMSC_00001). Three of them are panoramic photographs
(00836, 00837, 00838). One of them is a map (00739). The last is a shellback certificate (00358).
Admiral Mitscher's insignia is in curatorial possession, and it is on display in the Museum's World War II gallery.
Related Materials
Mitscher Bio File;
Oral History call number AS-VT-1845
Al-160: Doolittle Raid images.
Hall of Fame Special Collection
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States Navy
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Area
World War, 1939-1945
USS Hornet (CV-12)
Tokyo (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1942
Naval Aviation
Folder 1 – Family Pre-Naval Academy
Physical Description: This folder contains two Photographs – one of Mitscher in uniform, another picture of brother and sister.
Folder 2 – Naval Academy
Physical Description: This folder contains six photographs of training evaluations, Mitscher in uniform, and Mitscher's class photograph.
Folder 3 – NAS Pensacola Flight Training 1915 – January, 1916 00009-00028
Physical Description: This folder contains pictures of a modified Curtis model D or E (?), training photographs and miscellaneous photographs of
trainer planes.
Folder 4 – USS Huntington, 1917
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of catapult launch, recovery, catapult, crew, and aircraft.
Folder 5 – NAS Montak Long Island, 1917-1918
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of Base and Curtiss NC flying boat.
Folder 6 – NAS Miami, March, 1918-1919
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of ships, flying boats, and aerial view of a base and planes.
Folder 7 – NC-4 Transatlantic Flight, NC-1 Mitscher Flight
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the NC-4's successful transatlantic flight and of the failed NC-1 Mitscher flight.
Folder 8 – CO Fleet Air Squad San Diego, 1922 I
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of Jennies and RV-4's, inspections of flight line, crashes, camps, and an aerial photograph
of North Island.
Folder 9 – CO Fleet Air Squad San Diego, 1922 II
Physical Description: This folder contains additional photographs of Pacific Air Force Base, Doughty Field #2, Long Beach, CA.
Folder 10 – Air Races 1922-1925
Physical Description: This folder contains various photographs of planes, officials, and pilots.
Folder 11 – NAS Anacostia, 1922-1926
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the EM-2 Seaplane, Naval Aircraft factory TR-3, and target practice attacks on the USS
Arkansas.
Folder 12 – USS Wright Chief of Staff, VP-10, Mexico Flight, 1933
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the flight to Acapulco, the return flight, and various aerial and ground photographs,
as well as pilot and crew pictures.
Folder 13 – USS Saratoga c. 1926, Air Officer, 1934
Physical Description: This folder contains various photographs of the USS Saratoga receiving Air Officer, underway, and ceremony.
Folder 14 – USS Wright VP-10 SD-SF Hilo, Hawaii
Physical Description: This folder contains documents of formation flight from San Francisco to Hawaii, Hilo Bay, San Diego, and a variety of photographs
of ceremonies, officers, and aerial photographs
Folder 1 – USS Wright Alaska
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the USS Wright in Alaska and of her Squadrons, various landscape photographs including
bays and glaciers.
Folder 2 – Commissioning USS Hornet CV-8, 1941
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of a commissioning ceremony and a photograph of a Helldiver(?) on its final approach.
Folder 3 – USS Hornet in Pacific, 1941-1942
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of Vice Admiral Mitscher arriving to present medals, and a letter from Mitscher when he was
relieved in 1944.
Folder 4 – Doolittle Raid from USS Hornet, 1942
Physical Description: This folder contains several photographs of the USS Hornet, the L-8 Blimp, and dozens of aircraft on the Hornet's runway.
Folder 5 – Sec Navy Artemus Gates USS Hornet, 1942
Physical Description: This folder contains several photographs of Admiral Mitscher giving the U.S. Secretary of Navy Artemus Gates a tour of the
USS Hornet.
Folder 6 – Guadalcanal Command, 1943
Physical Description: This folder contains various photographs of Admiral Mitscher, the Guadalcanal base, and group pictures.
Folder 7 – Pacific, 1944
Physical Description: This folder contains miscellaneous photographs of officers, ceremonies, and group photographs.
Folder 8 – Pacific, 1945
Physical Description: This folder contains additional photographs of officers and group photographs.
Folder 9 – USS Lexington CV16, 1944
Physical Description: This folder contains various photographs aboard the USS Lexington, as well as Admiral Mitscher receiving an award from Admiral
Nimitz.
Folder 10 – Hillsborough, Wisconsin, 1945
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of Admiral Mitscher's reception and parade in Hillsborough.
Folder 11 – Japanese Surrender
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the Japanese delegation aboard the USS Portland at Trux Atoll.
Folder 1 – U.S. Tours/Speeches
Physical Description: This folder contains various photographs of Admiral Mitscher in Postwar receptions giving speeches, as well as posing for
publicity.
Folder 2 – Postwar Jacksonville, Florida
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the parade in Jacksonville, as well as Admiral Mitscher signing autographs, and Mitscher's
arrival, reception, and ceremony at NAS Pensacola.
Folder 3 – Truman/Forrest Visit USS Roosevelt, 1946
Physical Description: This folder contains forty photographs of President Harry S. Truman touring the USS Roosevelt with Admiral Mitscher.
Folder 4 – Commander 8th Fleet, 1946-1947
Physical Description: This folder contains a variety of photographs of Admiral Mitscher in command of the 8th Fleet, as well as a fishing trip in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Folder 6 – Portraits
Physical Description: This folder contains several portrait photographs of Admiral Mitscher.
Series II – Assorted Materials
Folder 5 – Death, February, 1947
Physical Description: This folder contains several eulogies and excerpts regarding Admiral Mitscher's life and death. There is one photograph of
a squadron flying in the formation of an "M."
Folder 1 – Task Force 58, June 11, 1944 – August 7, 1944
Physical Description: This folder contains several photographs of operations carried out by Task Force 58. The pictures are aerial photographs of
targets being destroyed.
Folder 2 – Hollandia, April, 1944
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the American operation in Hollandia, New Guinea. The pictures are aerial photographs of
targets being destroyed, as well as air reconnaissance.
Folder 3 – Wakde, April, 1944
Physical Description: This folder contains photographs of the American operation in Wakde, New Guinea. The pictures are aerial photographs of targets
being destroyed, as well as air reconnaissance.
Series III - Biographical Documents
Folder 4 – Biographical Documents
Physical Description: This folder contains several papers praising Mitscher's military service and career, as well as newspaper articles of former
carrier servicemen visiting the USS Lexington to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Series IV – Oversized Photographs
Folder 5 – Oversized Photographs
Physical Description: There are two sets of oversized photographs. One set could not fit in Box 4, and is placed in the Oversized Materials Special
Collection (OMSC_00001). The following pictures are in this box: 00358, 00739, 00836, 00837, 00838.
The other set of oversized photographs are in Box 4. These include pictures of Admiral Mitscher conversing with associates,
portraits of Admiral Mitscher, a crew photograph, Admiral Mitscher preparing to give a speech in front of television cameras,
and a page of the New York Times, May 18, 1919. Five of these photographs are on cardboard, with approximate dimensions 10
½ x 10 ½ inches. The other photographs are approximately 14 x 11 inches.
Item 1 – Book
Physical Description: "Flying Officers of the US Navy" by Marc A. Mitscher (1919).
