Housed alphabetically in seven large three-ring binders, the signed items are loose in plastic sleeves.
Truly remarkable collection of signed material from over 500 of the American pilots who helped win World War II for the Allies, each having shot down at least five enemy aircraft. Gathered by Greg Dortch over a period of about thirty years, the collection would be absolutely impossible to duplicate today. Mr. Dortch met or wrote to nearly all of these fliers, and received letters in return, signed photographs, articles and autobiographical statements signed by the writers, and much more. Some of the letters are quite detailed, and reflect the relationships Mr. Dortch was able to build with these American heroes. A sampling of the material: General John Alison, an Ace with six kills with the 23rd Fighter Group of the China Air Task Force under Claire Chennault, sends in a signed picture with an inscription, handwritten responses on two letters sent by Mr. Dortch, and three signed articles he wrote. * Col. Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson, credited with 16¼ victories in the European Theatre, and later seeing service in Korea and Vietnam, contributes five letters (one of them handwritten the others typed), one original photograph inscribed and signed, for reproduction photographs signed, a signed article, two signed cards, etc. * Rudolph Augarten, who shot down only two in WWII but four more in the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, sent two handwritten letters, a signed photograph, two signed newspaper articles and one signed photocopy of an article, and a photocopy of his application to the American Fighter Aces Association, which describes his being shot down over Germany, captured after a month, then escaping after eight days. * Don Blakesee, who resigned from the Army Air Corps Reserves in mid-1940 to join the Canadian Air Force, then back to the USAAF in September 1942, favored Mr. Dortch with ten signed photographs or reproduced photographs, one typed letter, one handwritten letter, and a handwritten note. * John Franklin Bolt, one of only seven American fliers to shoot down five or more enemy aircraft in both World War II and the Korean conflict, ending up with 15½ victories confirmed, has two signed publicity cards. * Robert C. Curtis, who bagged 14 enemy planes flying Spitfires and Mustangs over North Africa and Italy, sends a signed biographical essay, two handwritten notes and an endorsed check. * Robert M. "Bob" DeHaven, 14 victories in the Pacific, most of them flying P-40's, later a test pilot and personal pilot to Howard Hughes, contributes four signed photographs and a short handwritten note. * Urban Drew, who downed two Me 262 jet fighters in a single mission flying a P-51, gave sixteen signed photographs or reproduced photographs, signed checks, a handwritten letter, etc. * Walker M. Mahurin, 24¼ victories in WWII and Korean, sends in four signed photographs or reproductions, two handwritten letters and one typed letter. * David M. McCampbell, 34 victories flying a Hellcat in the Pacific Theatre, two signed photo reproductions and a signed color trading card. * Joseph J. Foss, 26 confirmed victories flying a Wildcat for the Marines, three signed photographs and a signed program. *And many many more. Not only is this an unbelievable gathering of autographs of American Aces, but the archive also tells the story of the Greg Dortch Aviation Collection, revealing his contacts with the hundreds of fliers which enabled him to collect the countless signed book in his library. A complete list of the Aces who have signed, and the number of signed items from each, is available on request.