James W. Hitner Collection

Collection

Identifier: CA192-13

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection contains images, promotional posters, clippings, articles, comic booklets, aircraft flight logs that were collected by James W. Hitner during his career as a pilot with Air America. The James W. Hitner Collection is housed in two boxes of various sizes totaling 1.5 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.

Box 1, Folder 1 contains articles, clippings, seniority listings, and memoranda focusing on the end of the Vietnam War and the United States leaving Vietnam.

Folder 2 contains aircraft flight logs of aircraft Hitner flew with.

Folder 3 contains a comic book dealing with a Tsunami, Lima Site aproach charts, booklet about compensation of U.S. pilots employed with Air America, and an image of a Sikorsky S-58 in flight with Air America markings, tail number XW-PHA.

Folder 4 contains a collection of Joint Operations Graphic Charts for Laos.

Box 2, Item 1 is a framed image of a crashed Lockheed C-130 Hercules at Lima Site 44 Savannah, Laos with a baby elephant standing underneath the wing.

Item 2 is a framed promotional poster for war bonds depicting Gen. Claire Chennault.

Folder 3 contains a different view of the crashed Lockheed C-130 Hercules at Lima Site 44 Savannah. A group of people are standing in front of the aircraft, with James W. Hitner being third from left.

Dates

1944 - 1975
Majority of material found within 1969 - 1975

Creator

Hitner, James W., Mr. (James Wilbur) (Collector, Person)

Language of Materials

Collection is in English and Vietnamese.

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

James Wilbur Hitner was a First Officer at Udorn, Thailand, from September 21, 1966 through November 5, 1973, when he separated from Air America.

Sources

Source: "Jerry Fink Collection," Air America Roster, Folder 1, Box 32, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (One manuscript box and one non-standard box (13x17x3).)

Additional Description

Abstract

James Wilbur Hitner was a First Officer at Udorn, Thailand, from September 21, 1966 through November 5, 1973, when he separated from Air America.

Series Description

The archivist kept the original organization intact without any further arrangement.

Provenance Statement

The James W. Hitner Collection was donated to the History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by James W. Hitner.

Additional Sources

Additional information can be found in the History of Aviation Archives in the following collections:

Civil Air Transport/Air America Archives

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: 1JWH-1-1-PB1

1 = CAT/Air American Archives

JWH= James W. Hitner Collection

= Series Number

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.

Subjects

Aeronautical charts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Air America Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Air pilots Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Air pilots--United States. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
CAT/Air America Archives Subject Source: Local sources
Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Choctaw (Military transport helicopter) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Civil Air Transport Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Hercules (Turboprop transports) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Laos Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Lockheed aircraft Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Savings bonds Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Thailand Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Central Intelligence Agency Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Aerial operations, American. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings