2014-2019 marks the centennial Anniversary of World War I. To commemorate this event the Special Collections and Archives of Wright State University has gathered materials related to World War I from its collections. This series contains many letters, diaries, photographs, and other ephemera from Ohio natives. The creators of these materials give the user a glimpse at the impact of World War I from a unique and individual perspective. Though these materials often record factual data, a closer inspection will often reveal content of a more personal nature.
The World War I Collections include materials from the following series:
Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Photographs (MS-152)
The 91st Observation Squadron Photographs (MS-293)
Palmer Coombs WWI Materials: Diaries and Papers (MS-293)
Fred F. Marshall Papers (MS-53)
World War I Glass Plate Stereoviews (MS-457)
War Camp Community Service Song Sheet (SC-174)
For more information on these collections, please visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives. For more information about the Centennial Anniversary of World War I please visit The United States World War One Centennial Commission.
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Parts production at Plant 3 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company manufacture aircraft parts at Plant 3, circa 1918. The photograph shows Dayton-Wright employees working with different machines and power tools including a drill press. A "No Smoking" sign hangs from the ceiling. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 3."
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Parts production at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company for the Kettering Bug
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company making parts for the production of the Kettering Bug, circa 1918.
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Production schedule charts for the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company for June and July, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows two production charts hanging on a wall at a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory. The first chart, marked as June, shows the month and days on the x-axis and production numbers ranging from 200 to 540 on the y-axis. The solid line shows the schedule and the days are represented by the circles. The broken line shows the actual production and the weeks are represented by the circles. Near the 200 and 300 levels of the y-axis the phrases, "metal parts shortage quit dragging your feet" and "Gained a little Lets Go!" are written. Near the 400 level mark of the y-axis two phrases are written, "Two poor days, Who's to blame?" and "Overcome the lag, All set?" The 540 mark is labeled, "Whoopee! Gained our objective Don't Rest." The second chart is for July and has the same layout as the June chart. This chart's production numbers range from 520 to 1000. Short phrases again are written at various points along the chart. Near the 600 mark the words "Slipped down some - Regain it." are written. The 700 and 800 marks are labeled, "Four weak days - Did you Fail?" and "Stampings and screw machine parts Boys, we must have them." And lastly near 1,000, "Plant 3 helped some, Let her out a notch" is written. The bottom portion of a clock is visible at the top of the photograph.
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Production schedule poster hanging in the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The main focus of the photograph is a production poster hanging above an office in a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory, circa 1918. The poster shows a De Havilland DH-4 slowly climbing up into a sky headed for Berlin. Hash marks show numbers up to 4,000 and dates of expected production deadlines. The title of the poster is "Christmas Greetings to Berlin." On the poster cities in Europe are highlighted and anti-aircraft bursts surround the DH-4. The DH-4 is set just above 2,000 at October 8, 1918. Below the poster Dayton-Wright employees work in a small office.
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Propeller production at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company July 17, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic print shows two male employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company shaping propellers from wood. The men use a machine to smooth out the propeller blades. The title of the negative is "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Propeller Dept. July 17-18." and labeled 22.
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Propeller production at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows propeller production at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2, circa 1918. The propeller is in a machine where the employee of Dayton-Wright shapes the wood to the specified design. The machine is belt driven by pulleys on the ceiling. The employee is wearing a long coat and a hat and stands near the piece he is working on. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 2."
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Propeller Stock Department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2 July 18, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the Propeller Stock Department at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2. Propellers are seen on carts and stacked on racks throughout the room. The propellers are in various states of production; from bare wood to being painted. A sign in the background reads "No Smoking" and another sign states, "Avoid Infections - Keep Cuts and Scratches Clean". Written on one propeller is "Test Propeller No 65 Return to Motor Assembly". The negative is titled "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Propeller Stock Dept. - Plant 2. July 18-18." and labeled 24.
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Rejected De Havilland DH-4 landing gear at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Wheel Assembly
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Rib Assembly in Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company on July 1, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows two groups of women in the foreground assembling the ribbing for the wings on two tables using various tools. In the background more employees work. The title given by the photographer is "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Plant-1 - Rib Assembly - July 1-18." The negative is labeled 29.
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Side view of a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The side view of a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company is the subject of the photograph taken circa 1918. The aircraft does not have the wings attached and is only visible from the rear of the Liberty Engine to the front of the second cockpit. The image offers a good view of the landing gear. The radiator header tank is clearly seen on the upper portion of the wing above the pilot. Twin Marlin guns can be seen at the first cockpit. The aircraft is numbered 32312. The negative is titled "Dayton Wright Airplane."
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Silhouette of the De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph is of a silhouette drawing of the De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. The silhouette shows the top, side, and front view of the DH-4 with a scale. The negative is labeled as 31304.
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Skeleton of the elevator for a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The skeleton of the elevator of a De Havilland DH-4 hangs in front of a white backdrop in the photograph taken circa 1918. The negative is labeled D57.
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Skeleton of the tail section of the fuselage of the De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the skeleton of the tail section of the fuselage of a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. The tail is set in front of a white backdrop. Small boxes that are marked as Ordnance for U.S. Government are visible to the side of the tail.
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Standard J-1 training aircraft at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic print shows aircraft wings supported on sawhorses in a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory, circa 1918. In the background several Standard J-1 training aircraft are visible. The J-1 training airplanes are completely finished and have numbers painted on the side. The numbers on the aircraft from left to right are: 1662, 1663, 1660, 1659, and 1658. The negative is labeled D49.
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Standard J-1 training aircraft at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company February 23, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic print shows the fuselages of the Standard J-1 training aircraft at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. The fuselages are complete and have the engines installed. Other parts and supplies can be seen in the background. The title of the negative is "Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Feb. 23-18." and labeled D31.
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Star Department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company July 8, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The end of a wing is visible as two female employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company pull off a cover to reveal the Emblem Star for the United States showing a Red, Blue, and White set of circles. The title of the negative reads "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Star Dept. July 8-18."
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Supply storage at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working in a supply storage area of Plant 1, circa 1918. Building materials are seen throughout the image and employees of the company are seen loading the supplies onto wagons and carts. In the background Plant 1 is visible and early automobiles, railroad cars, and horse drawn wagons can be seen. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 1."
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Tail skid of the De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the tail skid of the De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. The tail skid was a steerable unit that attached to the bottom of the fuselage near the tail. The skid was usually made of a single piece of ash or oak and encased in steel that had lightening holes cut into it. The unit would be mounted on a shaft that entered the fuselage and attached to a socket. The socket had two heavy duty springs on a bell crank arm that hooked onto the rudder post. The springs helped absorb the shock of landing and protect the rudder. A large bungee would also be attached to help soften the landings. The negative is labeled as D52.
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Tank on a quick release system at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows a tank with a lid on a quick release mechanism that hangs from the bottom of the fuselage of an aircraft at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918.
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Test of a Liberty Engine made by Ford Motor Company in a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1 July 3, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
A De Havilland DH-4 equipped with a Liberty Engine made by the Ford Motor Company is tested at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1. The photograph shows only the fuselage with no wings attached and the tail section does not have the horizontal stabilizer or elevators connected. The hood is removed so the Liberty Engine is exposed and a Dayton-Wright employee works in the pilots cockpit. A Scarff ring is in place in the second cockpit. In the background piles of building materials are visible near railroad cars and other employees of Dayton-Wright work on DH-4s in a different building. The title of the negative is "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Plant -1. "Ford Motor Test" July 3-18."
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The 1000 De Havilland DH-4 produced by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The 1000 De Havilland DH-4 produced by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company is shown in this photograph taken in circa 1918. In the foreground there is an aircraft in an open field with an unidentified pilot and an unidentified person in the second cockpit. On the side of the plane is a painted sign that reads - "I am ship No. 1000 will leave for France July 31st 4:30 p.m." On the bottom of the wing is the number 1000 painted backwards for easier reading from the ground. The hood is off and the Liberty Engine of the aircraft is exposed. The tail number of the aircraft is 33058. Residential homes can be seen in the background and one of the barns has a painted sign that reads "For best results use Lowes Bros paints."
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The 1001 De Havilland DH-4 airplane built by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company August 1, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The 1001 De Havilland DH-4 built by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company on August 1, 1918 is the center of focus in the photograph. The aircraft has the United States star on the wings. The pilot is unidentified and the person in the second cockpit is unidentified. In the background other DH-4s can be seen in a hangar and construction materials lay on the ground. Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company can be seen working around the buildings. The title of the negative is "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant - 1. Aug. 1-18." and is labeled 61.
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The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company organizational chart 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the organization chart for the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in circa 1918. The chart is labeled with the names of the members of the company and their photographs. In the center at the top is pictured (from left to right) C. F. Kettering, H. E, Talbott Jr., H. E. Talbott, G. M. Williams. The far left of the photograph under the title Engineering is pictured - (from left to right) Orville Wright, J. M. Schoonmaker, H. S. Taylor, J. M. Jacobs, N. S. Clunet, L. C. Luneke, R. V. Hutchinson, H. M. Rinehart. Pictured in the center of the photograph under the title Manufacturing is -(from left to right) H. A. Fitzjohn, E. J. Tingle, F. W. Sutton, C. R. McLaughlin, W. S. Whittaker, F. W. Atkin, H. K. Hamilton, D. M. Dunwoodie, G. P. A. Stape, J. P. Henry, C. P. Nellis, R. J. King, J. L. Primmer, D. G. Calvert, B. J Van Doren, Harvey D. Geyer, J. H. Allen, W. F. Dupre, E. F. Bearce, J. E. Butz, G. Ramsey. Pictured on the left side of the photograph under the title Finance is (from left to right) G. H. Mead, C. J. Sherer, T. P. Gaddis, H. M. Howell, L. R. Scafe.
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The Dayton-Wright Bull Head Biplane at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic print shows the Dayton-Wright Bull Head Biplane at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. The airplane seated two and had an eight cylinder engine. The aircraft resembles the Standard J1 in some aspects of the design. A large number two is painted on the tail. In the background hangars are visible with building materials and horse drawn wagons.
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The Dayton-Wright Honeymoon Express showing the passenger area to the front of the plane on the modified De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic image shows the interior of the second cockpit of the Honeymoon Express up to the front of the airplane at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. The Honeymoon Express was a modified De Havilland DH-4 that could carry three people, one pilot and two passengers. A small canopy could be pulled over the passengers to protect them from the elements. The passenger area was compact but detailed to accommodate the passengers. Small cabinets are placed where the control panel would normally be located. A clock, mirror, and airspeed gauge are also attached to the cabinets. The interior of the pilots cockpit is also visible. In the background residential buildings are visible. Similar image to MS152_122.
