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White (Henry) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10155
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Henry James White Personal Papers
creator:
White, Henry J.
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10155
Physical Description:
0.58 Cubic Feet
13” x 15.5 x 5"
Date (inclusive): 1892-1962
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Commander Henry James White (1892-1962) was a naval aviator, linguist, translator, inventor, flight instructor and Commander
of Naval Air Station Ream Field.
Language of Material: English
He was born on October 7, 1892 in Catonsville, MD. He was educated at St. George’s school in Newport, RI. Appointed to the
Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, he qualified as a pilot at just 19 years of age. His earliest license was signed by Orville
Wright. He served in the Navy from 1916 to 1920 and again from 1940 to 1945. He was also a United States Naval seaplane pilot.
He instructed the famed Charles Lindbergh in seaplane operations. He was the test pilot for Sikorsky’s giant amphibian which
weighed about 9,000 pounds. He set an unofficial altitude record with passenger load when he flew to a height of 18,500 feet
with nine people on board. He was also the test pilot for the self-landing plane, which was a success in his demonstrations
to the public.
Commander White was a linguist and served as a Naval Air Attache in Berlin in the 1940’s. He last served the military as Commander
of Ream Field in San Diego, California. He was the translator for Dr. Wernher von Braun for the books “The Mars Project” and
“Life on Mars” and wrote fluently in German to Dr. von Braun in many of his letters. His inventions included devices for
improvement of spark plugs and propellers.
Commander White was a salesman and flight instructor for Lockheed, Mack Truck and Socony Vacuum and as a test pilot and sales
manager for the Sikorsky Company. He retired in 1945.
Commander White died on May 31, 1962, and was survived by his wife, Kathleen, son Henry J. White, Jr., brother Walter W. White,
and a sister Mrs. Norman Schaff.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
One box, 13” x 15.5 x 5”, of Commander Henry J. White includes the personal and business letters written in both English and
German. Also included are certificates and civilian identification such as a driver’s license, pilot’s licenses, mechanics
licenses and National Aeronautical Association badges as well as various manuscripts and a scrapbook. There are also newspaper
clippings and maps in written in German, English, and Spanish.
Naval Air Stations Subject Files.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sikorsky helicopters
Lockheed Aircraft
Ream Field (NAS Imperial Beach)
White, Henry J.
von Braum, Wernher
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus)
Sikorsky, Igor Ivan