William L. Birch Papers
Collection
Identifier: D007-17
Scope and Content
The collection contains photographs collected by William Birch. Items include the Official Government photographs (with captions) of The Doolittle Raid, and two poster/collages of scans of photographs.
Dates
- 1942 - 2000
Language of Materials
Collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
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
William Lloyd Birch was born September 7th, 1917 in Calexico, California. He graduated from Kern County Union High School and entered the Army Air Forces in 1939, at March Field, California. Birch attended Bombsight Maintenance School at Lowry Field, Colorado prior to the Doolittle Raid. Birch was the bombardier with crew number 11, the 11th plane to take off for the Raid. After bombing its targets, and shooting at some patrol boats in Tokyo Bay, crew 11 bailed out of their bomber 200 miles inland over China. They were recovered by friendly forces. Birch attended pilot training school after the raid at Lubbock Field, Texas. He was posted to several stateside assignments and was separated from the service in 1945.
Birch’s decorations included Distinguished Flying Cross, and Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st class. Birch passed away in Temecula, California on November 18th, 2006.
Birch’s decorations included Distinguished Flying Cross, and Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st class. Birch passed away in Temecula, California on November 18th, 2006.
Sources
- Source
- Glines, C.V. 1964. "Doolittle’s Tokyo Raiders." Princeton, NJ: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc.
- Source
- "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association Records," Cole, Richard, Folder 13, Box 23, Series II, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Extent
1.8 Linear Feet (One non-standard box (22.5x15.5x2.0).)
Abstract
The William L. Birch Papers contain photographs of the Doolittle Raid.
Series Description
The William L. Birch Papers are organized into one series of material.
Series I: William L. Birch Photographs 1.8 linear ft. (one non-standard box), 1942-2000.
Arranged chronologically.
Series I: William L. Birch Photographs 1.8 linear ft. (one non-standard box), 1942-2000.
Arranged chronologically.
Provenance Statement
The William L. Birch Papers were donated to the History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by William L. Birch.
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 (HAC)
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: 2WLB-1-1-PC1
2 = Doolittle Archives
WLB = William L. Birch Papers
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
C = Color
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.
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 (HAC)
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: 2WLB-1-1-PC1
2 = Doolittle Archives
WLB = William L. Birch Papers
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
C = Color
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.
- Distinguished Flying Cross (Medal) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Doolittle Archives Subject Source: Local sources
- Doolittle, James Harold, 1896-1993 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Tokyo (Japan) History Bombardment, 1942. 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 Japan. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the William L. Birch Papers, 1917-2006
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Thomas J. Allen
- Date
- 2011-07-18
- 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 Cassandra Zawojek, 2018-06-12.
Revision Statements
- 2018-06-12: 1st revision was a migration to ArchivesSpace by Cassandra Zawojek.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Division, History of Aviation Archives. Repository
Contact:
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
972-883-4590 (Fax)
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
972-883-4590 (Fax)
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.