Mrs. Arthur Comstock WWII Air Warning Service Certificates
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Scope and Contents
The collection contains two Air Warning Service certificates awarded to Mrs. Arthur Comstock (Mae). The first is a Certificate of Appointment as an Observer at Avon 44 of the General Observer Corps, Aircraft Warning Service, III Fighter Command, U. S. Army Air Forces, dated July 1, 1943; signed by A.H. Gilkeson(?), Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding, and Isaac Molella, Acting Regional Commander. The second is a Certificate of Service, stating that she served in the capacity of Observer in the Aircraft Warning Service, dated June 1, 1944; signed by T. W. Blackburn, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding, and Isaac Molella, Major Signal Corps, Acting Regional Commander, Mobile Air Command.
Dates
- Creation: 1943-1944
Creator
- United States. Aircraft Warning Service (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
Due to the development of long range bombers between World War I and World War II, it became clear that an early warning system was needed to protect the United States from this new threat just before its entry into the world-wide conflict. Rather than take away from the fighting strength of the Army, civilians were asked to volunteer to act as plane spotters.
The Aircraft Warning Service was organized in May 1941 on the east and west coasts of the United States. Many of those who, for whatever reason, could not join the military were recruited to the AWS. This led to a vast majority of women as observers. All observers received extensive training in aircraft recognition.
The AWS was deactivated on May 27, 1944.
Extent
1.4 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Two World War II U. S. Army Air Forces Air Warning Service certificates awarded to Mrs. Arthur Comstock (Mae) for serving in the Ground Observer Corps.
Provenance
gift of Libba Nicholson, 2014
Physical Description
the larger certificate of appointment is rather fragile
General
To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.
Processed by
Martha Bace, 2014
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Mrs. Arthur Comstock WWII Air Warning Service Certificates
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- November 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository