Norbert Small and the Curtiss Jenny

brian karli · 26 October 2006, 07:36 PM

A good friend of mine, David Small, gave me some old photographs of his uncle standing in front of a Curtiss Jenny and a DH4. He asked me if there was any way to find out more about him because he only told a few stories to his daughters and that was years ago. Here's what he knows: Norbert Small was based at Amarillo Field in Texas and reached the rank of Sergent. He passed away in 1966.

Uncle Norbert (2)-05.jpg

This is a JN4H with a Hisso engine. The inscription on the back of the photo read "Ship #38291"

N Small photo.jpg, File0082-02.jpg

I tried contacting NPRC in St. Louis, but unfortunately, a tragic fire in the '70's burned 80 percent of all the pre-1920's records.

Dave found his uncle's old VA card which listed his active duty date of 2/16/1915 and his discharge date of 6/4/1920. His service serial number was 1 064 306

That's all we know. Dave also had a neat letter from Norbert to his wife on Kelly Field stationary!

Anyone out there know a way to find more information about Norbert Small?

Enjoy the pictures...if anything. Click on them to get more details

Brian

ONEALM · 27 October 2006, 08:51 AM

Hi Brian -

I have not been able to locate much regarding Norbert Small's WW I service, but did locate the following which the family may already know.

Born 6 April 1884 in Hanover, Pa.

1920 Census found him at Kelly Field Texas, SGt. 1Cl
1930 Census found him in Mt. Pleasant Twp, Pa, married to Lucinda and raising 4 daughters. He was a farmer at the time.

During WW II he registered for the draft living in Adams, Pa. Self -employed farmer. 5'3" tall and 150 lbs. Had the small finger on his left hand amputated.

Thats about all I could dig up.....
Mike

brian karli · 1 November 2006, 09:45 AM

Thank you Mike, for the information. We're still trying to dig up any service records, but I'm afraid it was burned in the archives fire in St. Louis.

I also found out that WW1 Service Records can be found at the Old Army and Civil Records Branch (NWCTB) 700 Pennsylvanbia Ave. Washington DC 20408-0001 (for anyone else interested in finding another source). I will write them shortly.

Also, documentation on the personnell serving in the Air Service during this time can be found in Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service 1917-1919 entry 644, Records Group 120. This document hasd been scanned into microfilm by the National Archives and can be viewed in the Microfilm Research Room. I hope my travels take me to Washington DC so I can see this film!

Has anyone tried these sources in the past?

Brian