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Thomas J. Merrick World War II papers

Guide to the Thomas J. Merrick World War II papers
1944-1945

Collection number: HMC-0902.
Creator: Merrick, Thomas J. (1921-2004).
Title: Thomas J. Merrick World War II papers.
Dates: 1944-1945.
Volume of collection: 0.02 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Records relating to an airman’s service in the military.

Biographical note:
Thomas J. Merrick was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and served as a crew member on naval aircraft of Patrol Bombing Squadron Forty Three, Air Force, U.S. Pacific fleet. He served in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands from October 1944 to May 1945.  Thomas Merrick died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2004.

Collection description:
The collection consists of the World War II era papers and photographs of Patrol Bombing Squadron Forty Three flight crewman John J. Merrick. The collection contains: Merrick’s aviator’s flight log book; two copies of a Patrol Bombing Squadron Forty Three memorandum; a recommendation given to Merrick by Lt. Commander Huddleston upon his return to civilian life; and three black and white prints. The flight log book, with entries from June 1944 to June 1945, provides the following information for each flight: date, type of machine, number of machine, duration of flight, character of flight, name of pilot, crew number of passengers, and remarks. In the log, the majority of Merrick’s flights were in 5A or PBY5A aircraft, Lt. Clumpner was the primary pilot, and the passengers were from crew number 5. The remarks in the log note the type of mission, destinations, and other information. Pasted into the back of the log book is a list of  items that were issued to Merrick. The February 27, 1945 memorandum certified Merrick as a regularly assigned flight crewman entitled to draw flight clothing. The photographs include a view of ships near an island, probably in the Aleutians, a woman in a bathing suit sitting in a park, and a sailor and two women standing in front of a row house.

Arrangement: The materials in this collection are grouped by type.

Rights note: The Archives does not hold copyright to these items.

Preferred citation: Thomas J. Merrick World War II papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Acquisition note: Archives purchased this collection at internet auction in 2006.

Processing information: This collection was described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2006.

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