Charles W. Kerwood Collection
Scope and Content
This collection contains photographs, poems, documents, and material related to Charles W. Kerwood’s career as a combat pilot. The Charles W. Kerwood Collection is housed in one half-size manuscript box and one photo print box totaling 0.9 linear ft.
The collection arrived in good condition and was initially processed with only a container list as description. Due to a change of the content management system, further description proved to be necessary. After the first revision, more materials were discovered, and the entire collection was reprocessed with a new arrangement. The archivist identified eleven series with the first series being the Biographical Information Series, which contains biographical sketches by the War Department, an excerpt from the U.S. Air Force Biographical Dictionary, a photocopy of a flag designed by Kerwood, an efficiency report, correspondence regarding Kerwood’s promotion to Colonel, and a Certificate of Service United States Army.
The second series is the Publications about Kerwood Series, which contains articles, clippings, and narratives: “An Old Pal of Mine” by Charles Watkins, “A Bird(man) named Kerwood” by Flint O. DuPre, and “Retread Bounces Back” by Birt Darling.
The third series is the World War I Series, which contains a diploma issued to Kerwood certifying permission to fly airplanes; a narrative briefly describing the structure of the L’Escadrille Lafayette Flying Corps including a chart of total enlistments, number of accidents, killed or wounded, victory list and transfers to other units; correspondence announcing a meeting, minutes of the L’Escadrille Lafayette Flying Corps Association meeting, correspondence to Kerwood announcing the world premiere of the motion picture Lafayette Escadrille, radio message from Ambassador of France to the United State Herve Alphand to the association regarding the fortieth anniversary of the unit, and a medical record listing the injuries Kerwood suffered in the line of duty.
The fourth series is the Publications by Kerwood Series, which contains articles authored by Kerwood: "The Forum: Power in the Air," "Where are the Heroes?," "Service with the British: A Guide Book for AAF Officers," and “Fireproof and Heatproof flying suites and Helmets.”
The fifth series is the Correspondence Series, which contain letters from the The Sun to Kerwood regarding connecting the journalist with aviators in Puerto Rico.
The sixth series is the Photographs Series, which contains images from Kerwood during his military career in World War I and World War II and in civilian life, a slide of the Mémorial de L’Escadrille Lafayette at Villeneuve-l’Etang, and a photograph of the L’Escadrille Lafayette Flying Corps guidon designed by Kerwood. The Moroccan stereograph images about the Rif expedition are currently missing.
The seventh series is the Ephemera Series, which contains stationery from the International League of Aviators, American Section Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs, L'Escadrille Lafayette Flying Corps Association; a sketch “Col. ‘Chuck’ Kerwood- Fruitsalad and All!,” a signed poster Evolution depicting the development of the groomed soldier in uniform to a figure with wolf features, and a note from Mrs. Charles W. Kerwood.
The eighth series is the Trophies Series, which contains a narrative and correspondence about the Harmon International Trophies and a listing of winners.
The ninth series is the Poems Series, which contains a poem about Kerwood titled, “The Battle of Paris” by Scotty Campbell and one about the Lafayette memorial, To the Mémorial de L’Escadrille Lafayette at Villeneuve-l’Etang by Richard Le Gallienne.
The tenth series is the University of Wyoming Series, which contains the finding aid of the Charles W. Kerwood materials housed at the University of Wyoming.
The eleventh series is the Memorabilia Series, which contains a wooden stereoscope manufactured by the Keystone Company, Meadville, PA, to view the stereoscope images from series six.
Dates
- 1917 - 1978
- Majority of material found within 1917 - 1962
Creator
- Kerwood, Charles W., Mr., Col. (Charles Wayne), 1897-1976 (Creator, Person)
Language of Materials
Collection is in English and French.
Conditions Governing Access
Materials in this collection are open for research.
Literary Rights Statement
Permission to publish material from this collection in any form, current or future, must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Biographical Sketch
Charles Wayne “Chuck” Kerwood was born on August 1, 1897, in Chicago, Illinois. Kerwood graduated from the Senior Officers Course of the American Air Forces Applied Tactics, the War Department Industrial College. He studied at the Grenoble University in France and New York University.
He married Ms. Catherine Smiley of Washington, D.C. The couple had a son, Wayne Kerwood.
In 1916, at the age of nineteen, Kerwood took civilian flying lessons at the Curtiss Flying School at Newport News, Virginia, after which he started his military career in 1918, serving for the French Foreign Legion, where he received further flight training on a Blériot at the French Army Blériot School.
During World War I, he was deployed to the L’Escadrille Lafayette Flying Corps. Kerwood was wounded several times and fell prisoner to the German forces. He was discharged with the rank of Colonel.
After World War I, Kerwood was a barnstormer known for his aerial acrobatics and parachute jumps. He was also a test-pilot. Between the world wars, he served in Russia and the Balkans. He also commanded the Greek Royal Air Force in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) and lead a Volunteer American Squadron in support of the French-Spanish Campaign against the Berber Tribes of the North African Rif (1920-1926).
Following these engagements, Kerwood was appointed Special Investigator for the United State Senate’s Aircraft Safety Committee, where he surveyed airfields in South America and gave recommendations for the Santos Dumont Airport in Brazil.
Next to his military and civil career, Kerwood authored numerous articles and pamphlets, namely Service with the British a guidebook for officers serving abroad.
During World War II, Kerwood participated in the Sicilian and North African campaigns, the latter with then Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle. For a short period of time, he served in the Pacific Theater under the Commander in Chief of the United State Army Forces.
Kerwood was engaged in numerous organizations, for example he was the founding member of the Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs of Paris, the Quiet Birdmen, Commander of the American Legions and the Lafayette Escadrille and Flying Corps Association to name a few.
Charles W. Kerwood passed away on December 16, 1976, at the Sibley Hospital in Washington D.C. after a long illness at the age of seventy-nine. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Catherine Kerwood and his son Wayne Kerwood.
Sources
- Source
- Editorial Staff. "Charles W. Kerwood, 79: Combat Pilot in 4 Wars", "New York Times," accessed online November 1, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/17/archives/charles-w-kerwood-79-combat-pilot-in-4-wars.html
- Source
- “Charles W. Kerwood Collection,” Biographical Sketch War Department, Folder 1, Box 1, Series I, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Source
- “Charles W. Kerwood Collection,” Excerpt of “U.S. Air Force Biographical Dictionary” by Flint O. DuPre, Folder 1, Box 1, Series I, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Source
- “Charles W. Kerwood Collection,” Military Record and Report of Separation Certificate of Service, Folder 1, Box 1, Series I, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Source
- Richardson, Tracy, “Meet Chuck Kerwood,” “Air Trails,” Folder 2, Box 1, Series I, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Extent
0.9 Linear Feet (One half-size manuscript box and one photo print box (5.5x7.5x12.0).)
Abstract
Charles Wayne Kerwood was an American who flew with the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I. He also commanded the Greek Royal Air Force in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), and lead a Volunteer American Squadron in support of the French-Spanish Campaign against the Berber Tribes of the North African Rif (1920-1926).
Series Description
The Charles W. Kerwood Collection is arranged in eleven series:
Series I. Biographical Information
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1941-1945.
Arranged by topic.
Series II. Publications about Kerwood
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1927-1962.
Arranged by topic.
Series III. World War I
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1917-1960.
Arranged by topic.
Series IV. Publications by Kerwood
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1938-1941.
Arranged by topic.
Series V. Correspondence
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1939-1940.
Arranged by topic.
Series VI. Photographs
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1917-1975.
Arranged by topic.
Series VII. Ephemera
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), undated.
Arranged by topic.
Series VIII. Trophies
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1971.
Arranged by topic.
Series IX. Poems
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), undated.
Arranged by topic.
Series X. University of Wyoming
0.1 linear ft. (one folder), 1978.
Arranged by topic.
Series XI. Memorabilia
0.7 linear ft. (one item), undated.
Arranged by topic.
Provenance Statement
The Charles W. Kerwood Collection was donated to the History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by Kae Kerwood on 1979-06-15.
Image ID
It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission from copyright holders of materials to which this institution does not own copyright.
Images in this collection are identified by a unique number that provides information about the format, record group, collection, series, box, folder, and image numbers. Please use this number when ordering reproductions of images from this collection.
Record Group Code
1 = CAT/Air American Archives
2 = Doolittle Archives
3 = Lighter than Air Archives
4 = George H. Williams, Jr., World War I Aviation Library
5 = History of Aviation Archives
6 = University Archives
7 = HAC Stacks
8 = WPRL Stacks
9 = Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Collection
10 = Belsterling Collection
11 = Closed Stacks
12 = Unidentified
13 = Chance Vought Archives
14 = Twirly Birds Archives
Image Format Code
P = Photograph/Postcard
S = Slide
N = Negative
T = Positive Transparency
B = Black and White
C = Color
Example: 5CWK-1-1-PB1
5 = History of Aviation Archives
CWK = Charles W. Kerwood Collection
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
B = Black and White
1 = Image Number
Images archived in plastic image holders may also have a location code in the format: 1/TL. In this example, the number is the sheet number and the letters indicate the top left position on the sheet. Position indicators are T = top, L = left, R = right, M = middle, and B = bottom. Position indicators may be combined to describe the position on the sheet, as shown in this example.
Books/Magazines
Books and magazines were pulled and cataloged to be included into the HAC monograph and magazine collection.
- Air pilots, Military--United States--Biography. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Airplanes, Military Accidents. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Barnstormers (Group of artists) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- France. Armée. Escadrille Lafayette Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- France. Army. Foreign Legion Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Greco-Turkish War, 1921-1922 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- History of Aviation Archives Subject Source: Local sources
- Morocco--History--1912-1956. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Prisoner of war Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rif Revolt, 1921-1926--Campaigns--Morocco Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rif Revolt, 1921-1926. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1914-1918 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1914-1918 Aerial operations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945 Aerial operations, American. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Italy. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Charles W. Kerwood Collection, 1897-1976
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Thomas Allen, PhD, CA.
- Date
- 2018-05-30
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English (eng)
- Edition statement
- First revision by Thomas Allen, PhD, CA. 2018-05-30. Second revision by Patrizia Nava, CA. 2019-01-14. Third revision by Patrizia Nava, CA. 2021-10-05. Fourth revision by Patrizia Nava, CA. 2021-11-01.
Revision Statements
- 2018-05-30: 1st revision was a migration to ArchivesSpace by Thomas Allen, PhD, CA
- 2019-01-14: 2nd revision was an update of the finding aid by Patrizia Nava, CA
- 2021-10-05: 3rd revision was an update of the collection number by Patrizia Nava, CA
- 2021-11-01: 4th revision was a reprocessing of the entire collection with new arrangement and description by Patrizia Nava, CA
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Division, History of Aviation Archives. Repository
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.