THE HISTORICAL AVIATION ALBUM: VOLUME XVIII (COLLECTOR'S SERIES)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME XVIII

CURTISS B-2 CONDOR BOMBER
by Sears McCorrison and Paul Matt.

CURTISS B-20 CONDOR TRANSPORT

by Sears McCorrison and Paul Matt.

CURTISS F9C-2 SPARROWHAWK
by Harold Andrews

TAYLOR/PIPER CUBS
by Paul R. Matt.

ALFRED V. VERVILLE (biography)
by Paul R. Matt.

Scale Drawings

CURTISS B-2 "Condor"
CURTISS B-20 "Condor".
CURTISS F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk"
TAYLOR E-2 "Cub".
TAYLOR J-2 "Cub".
PIPER J-3 "Cub"
PIPER J-4 "Cub Coupe".

FOREWORD

WE URGE YOU to caption your pictures. Whether they be of a personal, family or individual interest, put some sort of note on the back or border of the print or transparency, even if it's just a date. The names of people in the picture are also important. Over the years we have dealt with hundreds of historic pictures, many dating back eighty years and we never cease to be amazed at the lack of captioning. One of the largest collections of old photos in the United States is the National Archives and yet 90% of the prints procured from them have such weak captioning that further research is always needed to correctly relate the facts behind the photo. It is equally frustrating to see so many miscaptioned, especially the date. The military branches are particularly guilty of misinformation when it comes to photos and their filing numbers are all screwed up. When one orders a picture of an F6F Hellcat and gets a picture of a hotel in Algiers, it becomes rather discouraging.

It isn't necessary to write a short story on or about the picture but your impression of the subject matter should be noted. Those of us who acquired or have taken, even what seemed at the time, insignificant snapshots, should make a note right away. Many in the past have left behind valuable photographs that we use and cherish today but we are here now and in due course we too must pass our photos on for use and enjoyment in the future. Will the next generation know a Piper Cub from an Aeronca if we don't make notations while we can? Most lay persons and indeed many leading editors and publishers still think that any yellow airplane is a Cub.


And that brings up this issue of the Album series. We wanted a couple of good, plain, ordinary pictures of a standard Piper J-3 Cub in the era of production. It was difficult to come up with the few we have presented here. We all know the reason. The Cub was so common, so familiar at local airports that few bothered to photograph one as if the J-3 would be around forever.
In the 1920s and '30s, even the 1940s, few aviation enthusiasts could afford the cost of a camera much less the film and processing. I know I couldn't. When we come across personal pictures that were taken during that era we are elated.


We're not all professional photographers no picture should be rejected because it is a little dark, light, fuzzy or doesn't come up to the standards of Ansel Adams. People in the pictures add life to the subject, helps relate shape, size and dress of the era. There are only a few major private collections of folders or family albums with airplane pictures in airplane pictures around. Most of us have a few file them. Few will ever be published but that does not Idiminish the value or possible importance of the photograph. A picture is proof that such existed, its shape, size and form. They're invaluable when ground to facts. talking or writing about the subject. It gives back
When an event takes place, especially if it is of some significance, there is a tendency to believe that somehow the affair will automatically be re- corded in the history books, everyone all over the world will have known about it and the when, where, whys will be forever remembered. Don't trust to memory. The most casual means something to someone. Caption your pictures.

Paul R. Matt