Gorrell's History of AEF Air Service

Does anyone know if Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919 has an index, or if one has been created?

Thanks,

Peggy

[Frank_Olynyk]

Peggy,
The Gorrell Report exists in exactly one copy. It is at the National Archives; I do not know if it is (still) in the Washington building, or has been moved to College Park. Many years ago they microfilmed it; 58 reels of 35 mm. They prepared a microfilm reference booklet for it, which lists the contents of each reel. This was microfilm document M990. You should be able to get a copy of the booklet from the National Archives.

Frank.

[stephenl]

Yes they do exist I made a copy of it a few years back but gave it to member when I met him at his house for the first time. I never got it back from this person. Go on line and do "Nail" search on the National Archives web site. From what I remember it should have all the information there in an outline form roll Letter and and so on.
Good Luck
Steve

Frank and Steve,

Thank you both. I'll give the NARA site a try.

I don't know if "contents" would have sufficient detail. I has hoping for an index in which I might find Call Field or another clue. Preferably mentioned on only 1/58 reels. :)

Best,

Peggy

[stephenl]

From what I remember it only gives squadrons and organizations and such. I do not remember seeing airfields in the index. It would help you though knowing what you were looking, for a person or a specific squadron when going to the squadron and or organizations in the reports you may find information about the airfield in question.
Steve

[Didier Lecoq]

Hello,
if you see something about the camp d'aviation of Tours (Indre-et-Loire, France), I'm verry interested... There was in Tours (Parçay-Meslay exactly) the 2nd Aviation Instrution Center. It's impossible to read The Gorell's History in France (writing at Tours, I believe).
I need many informations :
- a number of trained pilots
- escadrilles present
- names of the aviators who died during their formation (which date) in Tours
You can see here the map of camp d'aviation de Tours when US Air Service is coming :
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/aeroplanedetouraine/eat_delgay.htm
Thanks
DL

[ONEALM]

Peggy -

Heres a few more bits.

From the NY Times 21 July 1918

Call Field, Witchita Falls, Tx. Named for First Lt. Loren H. Call who reported for Aeronautical duty at College Park, Md. 19 Oct 1912. IN the winter of 1912-1913 he an Lt. E.L. Ellington were sent to Palm Beach, Fla. In charge of the Signal Corps Aviation Station at that post. Form Palm Beach, Lt. Call was ordered to Texas City, Tx. And it was there that he was killed in an airplane accident July 8, 1913. His home was in Washington, DC.

From Rick Glasebrooks "American Aviators in the Great War 1914-1918"

Call was declared operational on 1 Dec. 1917 and trained 455 pilots. It’s primary function was Observer training and it is unknown if the term ”pilots” refers to all fliers trained here or just pilots – not including the observers.

All for now,
Mike

Hi Steve,

> it only gives squadrons and organizations and such.

That doesn't sound too good, as the squadron or organization is what I'm trying to find out! I have a lead on someone who has the index, so I'll try that first.

Hi Mike,

> 455 pilots

Here is where my ignorance really comes into play. For instance, I have no idea how many pilots in a squadron. And I've been trying to make sense of the organization (wings and flights and squadrons and groups), but without much success. Putting "A. S. (Aeronautics)" in the "Organization" field on that service record card sure doesn't help. Could they have been more vague?

Hi DL,

Sorry. Not likely that I'll be browsing through the book. I believe that the 58 film reels can be ordered for about $2000. That price may be out of date. Certainly beyond my budget. If I get to the index, I'll try to find out for you which reel might include Tours.

Thanks all,

Peggy

[patrickmallahan]

Peggy,

There is a complete solution to the Gorrell's if you live close enough to one of the National Archive Field Branches. There are, I believe, 12 of them located as follows:Waltham, MA; Bayonne, NJ; Philadephia; East Point, GA; Dayton; Chicago; Kansas City; Fort Worth; Denver; San Bruno, CA; Laguna Niguel, CA and Seattle. Any Branch that doesn't have a copy on hand can borrow one for you to research. You can make copies from the Microfilm at will.

Patrick

[Skippy]

Dear Peg,
You might want to try this link:

www.AU.AF.mil/AU/AFHRA/

This is the USAF's webpage for Historical Studies; while you won't find Gorrell there, you will find Maurer Maurer-- who, if I'm not mistaken, uses The Gorrell Report as his main, primary source in writing about the USAS.

Even more thrilling, IT'S INDEXED!

Specifically, when you go to the above page, click on "Numbered USAF Historical Studies"; when you are there, click on page 3 (three); Maurer Maurer's 4 (four) volume work is #147 (one-forty-seven), and is available for download as a pdf. file (you can view it and even print it out-- it's over 1,000 (one-thousand) pages!-- using Adobe Acrobat).

Again, there are indices for each of the four volumes, so you might just find something helpful in your research; on the other hand, so many times all you can come up with is the # of the aero squadron, but the pilot or whomever is identified as "unidentified". As a Viennese professor of mine once commented, those are the chances that one takes...

So next time you get together with the girls and plot the overthrow of our government, please remember that this important download is completely FREE...