Elmer L. Munsell Collection

This collection contains personal papers, ephemera, correspondence, personal business records, flight logbooks, flight time records, business records for various employments held my Munsell, newsletters, clippings, manuals, moving film, photographs, maps, ephemera, and memorabilia that were created and/or collected by Elmer L. Munsell during his work with Civil Air Transport (CAT) and Air America, Inc. The Elmer L. Munsell Collection is housed in four manuscript boxes, five film cans, and one flat-file folder, totaling 5.2 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. During an assessment for an application for an NEH grant, the collection was identified for further processing and description.

The curator identified seven series with the first series being the Personal Papers Series, which contains a personal narrative by Munsell regarding his personal information, him being introduced to Civil Air Transport, his experiences in Thailand, Nepal, and Laos, the reasons of his termination from Air America, and his various flight operations he participated in; United States passports issued to him, various identification cards from Air America, the Far East Pilots Association, Bangkok Christian Hospital, membership card to “The Captain,” a Thai identification card, and a club card to “Club Rendezvous.”

Brochure, correspondence, receipts, financial statements, and note about Munsell engaging in a personal business venture with the Concrete Masonry, Ltd. in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; correspondence, notes, financial statements by Siamerican Securities Ltd. regarding sales of stocks; memorandum with J. H. Minet and Co., Ltd. insurer regarding loss of license, brochure “Workers’ Information Unemployment Insurance in the District of Columbia,” medical records, correspondence with FAA regarding airman medical certification, and radio grams; and flight time records.

The second series is the Employment History Series, which is further organized into four subseries: 1. Civil Air Transport (CAT), 2. Air Asia, 3. Air Ventures, Inc., and 4. Air America, Inc.

Subseries 1. contains correspondence regarding that Munsell is flying to Tokyo-Taipei as an employee of CAT.

Subseries 2. contains correspondence regarding an offer of employment in the position of Senior First Officer/Helicopter and correspondence regarding travel arrangements.

Subseries 3. contains correspondence Munsell’s employment with Air Ventures, Inc. and being on approved leave by Air America, Inc.; correspondence regarding company approved leave for Munsell and Jerome A. McEntee; bill of sale for Munsell’s 1928 Buick and other personal property while in Nepal; correspondence Air Ventures, Inc. regarding medical costs; and correspondence regarding Munsell’s possible employment with Continental Airlines.

Munsell’s reference letters for his employees (Mahli) Cheer Bahadur and Chiatia Narayannas (cook); memorandum of personal household effects; Munsell’s time sheet with Air Ventures, Inc.; Information memorandum for all Air Ventures, Inc. personnel Aubuchon, Munsell, and Bell regarding their departure from Nepal; employment agreement between Air Ventures, Inc. and Munsell; and correspondence between Godfrey A. Rockefeller and Munsell regarding the latter’s possible return to Air America, Inc.

Subseries 4. contains Munsell’s membership card for the Far East Pilots Association; correspondence, statement of final settlements regarding Munsell’s withdrawal from Air America’s Retirement Plan; travel orders; flight crew monthly reports with listings of payment; crewmember duty report work sheets; and memoranda, notes, inter-office routing slip regarding letter of commendation.

Payroll documents, correspondence regarding purchases of “coolseats,” correspondence regarding tax rules, correspondence regarding crew sign in/out procedures at Udorn, Thailand; Pilot Information Bulletin regarding pilot safety; rate table for loss of license insurance; information about CAD/Transfer pump equipment and cockpit check list; correspondence regarding Munsell’s approval of medical certification issued by FAA; Air America, Inc. retirement plan; minutes of the Board of Directors Far East Pilots Association, Udorn, Thailand; correspondence regarding Munsell’s leave of absence from Air America, Inc.; memorandum IRS and Loss of License Insurance; rough draft of pilot expenses; listings of aircrew members including seniority listing; and mailing listings.

Munsell’s reports about two incidents he was involved in: picking up a downed pilot, Don Romes, and dropping food supplies; Munsell’s pay stubs and payroll sheets, crew member duty reports; correspondence regarding the pilot’s strike, listings about pay, and “Agreement Between Air America, Inc. and The Air East Pilots Association;” booklets by Air America, Inc. Employee Insurance Benefit Plan for Eligible Personnel of Air America, Inc. and Its Associated and/or Affiliated Companies, and Compensation and Rules of Employment for U.S. Citizen Pilots of Air America, Inc..

The third series is the Publications Series, which is further organized into three subseries: 1. Air America Log, 2. Clippings, and 3. Manuals.

Subseries 1. contains Air America Log issues.

Subseries 2. contains clippings from the The Bangkok Post about Lao forces engaged at Plain of Jars and Air America, Inc. and San Antonio Express about United States role in Asian affairs.

Subseries 3. contains Beechcraft 18 model two view emergency equipment and exits, listings of power settings for Pratt and Whitney WAS Jr. R985 AN4-AN14B, and student outline Beech Ten-Two P-65/1-IR-001; Bell 204, 204B, and 205A training manuals; C-46 Curtiss Commando checklist and Section 9.60A operators manual; de Havilland C-7A Caribou flight manual; Sikorsky S-58T Operations manual; Sikorsky UH-34D Section 9.60G operators manual; Sikorsky UH-34D, G and J pilot training manual; Sikorsky UH-34D directed study program including information sheet about Willis H. Bird and Co., and Ltd. Share and Note Brokers and Distance/Heading guide for Laos Operations.

Standardization program packet for CH-47 instructor Pilot Course, Part I: Program of Instruction for 2C-F10 CH-47 Instructor Pilot Course, Helicopter Aerodynamics 7D, 7J, 7K, 38, 39, 41, 67, 83, 84, 90-50515-2, Instructing Fundamentals for the Instructor Pilot, Regulations for Army Aircraft, CH-47 Basic Flight Maneuvers, CH-47 Advanced Flight Maneuvers 38/7D-5051-3, and Precautionary Measures, Critical Conditions, and Emergency Procedures, CH-47 38-5055-2, 7D-5055-2.

Standardization program packet for CH-47 instructor Pilot Course, Part II: Introduction and Flight Controls 38-2576-3, Power Plants and Related Systems 38-2577-3, Power Plants and Related Systems 38-2577-3, Fuel, Oil, and Engine Condition Controls System 38-2578-3, Transmission and Rotary Wing Group, 38-2580-2, Flight Control Hydraulic and Stability Augmentation Systems, 38-2582-3, Utility Hydraulic System 38-2583-3, Utility Hydraulic System, 38-2583-3, Electrical System, 38-2585-3, Electrical System, 38-2585-3, Weight and Balance, 38-2588-1, and Flight Training Guide. CH-47 Contact Instructor Pilot Course, 2C-F10.

Directed Study Training Program: Coming Ready of Not your ATR Test. Where do you stand?; Basic Flight Manual and ATC Procedures, Part I Airman’s Information Manual; Federal Aviation Administration publications: Advisory Circular, and Federal Aviation Regulations.

Sikorsky Aircraft Division “Fail Safe Structures,” Programmed Text manuals regarding instrument flight, Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Written Test Guide, and AIP Saigon FIR Section RAC manual.

The fourth series is the Media Series, which is further organized into two subseries: 1. Moving Film and 2. Photographs.

Subseries 1. contains an original film transfer from Thailand and Nepal from 8mm to VHS tape and 8mm film on Laos, Bangkok, Laos L-11, Udorn, and Ice Show.

Subseries 2. contains images of the Plain of Jars (Plaine des Jarres), Elmer L. Munsell in a Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw helicopter, Munsell next to a “Oriental Concrete Block King” in Malaysia, Munsell in Nepal, and notes to Dr. Larry Sall.

The fifth series is the Maps Series, which contains two maps from Nepal “The Great Himalaya Range.”

The sixth series is the Ephemera Series, which contains a 10 Swedish Krona bill.

The seventh series is the Memorabilia Series, which contains bronze figurines. These items are currently missing.