Aerial Photography at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library

Contact Information for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library

Courtney Hicks Hodges Papers: Photographs, 1909 - 1965

This series consists of photographs relating to the military career of General Courtney Hicks Hodges. The largest volume of images document Hodges' career during World War II and are divided into two segments. First are the photographs documenting the activities of the Third Army and the Southern Defense Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas and the Louisiana Maneuver area. This group of photographs includes a picture of Technical Sergeant Gene Autry riding in a Washington Day celebration parade in Laredo, Texas. There are Army Air Forces photographs from the 1920s. These include aerial photographs of biplanes in flight, a TC-5 airship, and aerial photographs of army installations and bombing maneuvers.

Elwood R. Quesada Papers: Photographs, 1920 - 1963

This series consists mostly of civilian and military aircraft photographs compiled by Elwood R. Quesada during his career with the U.S. military and the Federal Aviation Administration. There are also a small number of family photographs. Some of the earliest photographs depict early aircraft and aviators. These images are undated but appear to include aircraft prior to World War I. The major subjects in the military aviation images include early Army Air Corps training, the record setting flight of the "Question Mark" in 1929, aerial views of bombing and other operations, Allied forces landing at Omaha Beach, destruction in Normandy, the Battle of the Ardennes, missions of the Ninth Air Force, parades for military heroes, and the first test flight of the "Jet Commander 1121." Persons depicted in the photographs include Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carl Spaatz, George S. Patton, Henry Harley (Hap) Arnold, Henry Ford, Omar Nelson Bradley, Ira Eaker, and Leland S. Hobbs. The Federal Aviation Agency photographs involve the investigation of two aircraft accidents. Both took place in 1960; the first in California and the second near Toledo, Ohio.

John J. Walsh Papers: Photographs, 1943 - 1945

The photographs in this series were copied from an album belonging to John J. Walsh, covering the years 1943 to 1945 when Captain, later Major, Walsh was assigned to Headquarters, VII Corps, United States Army. In December 1943, Captain Walsh was appointed aide-de-camp to Major General J. Lawton Collins, Commanding General, VII Corps. He served in this capacity until he was released from Army service in 1945. The photos follow the progression of Headquarters, VII Corps from Normandy, France, through Belgium and into Germany. The collection features photos of numerous important U.S. Army generals and several Allied leaders, as well as some activities of U.S. Army ground troops in Europe. Scenes of destruction in European towns also figure prominently. Specific records types included in the series are photographs, portraits, group portraits, and aerial photographs. The finding aid for the series is available at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

Lewis H. Brereton Papers: Photographs, 1918 - 1966

This series consists of photographs compiled by General Lewis H. Brereton during his military career. Most of the photographs were taken during World War II, including some low-altitude aerial photographs of Allied bombing raids at unidentified locations in Europe.

Ruth M. Briggs Papers: Photographs, 1942 - 1945

Ruth M. Briggs compiled this series of photographs while serving as secretary to Chief of Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Walter Bedell Smith, during World War II. It contains photographs of the facilities and personnel attached to the Allied Force Headquarters and to the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force. There are photographs of the Combined Chiefs of Staff engaged in planning for the Normandy Invasion. A significant portion of the series includes photographs of military action, including the North African campaign, the Sicilian campaign, and locations elsewhere in Italy. There are photographs of troops in transports and discharging from landing craft. There are also images of aerial reconnaissance and bombing missions. Photographs of captured German and Italian troops and equipment are also included. There are a few images of V-1 bombs in flight.

William G. Draper Papers: Aviation Photographs, 1949 - 1961

This series consists primarily of photographs relating to William Draper's role as pilot and Air Force Aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Many of the photographs were taken on official presidential trips and include images of the President, persons traveling with him, and the airfields used by the aircraft. There are also photographs of airplanes and helicopters used for the President, including pictures of their construction, technical images of the aircraft, and pictures of the interior of the airplanes. Additional aviation images include a series of aerial photographs of Washington, D.C. There is also a group of portrait photographs of military aides to the President.