Halden Adrion collection of World War II letters and photographs
Scope and Contents
Letters are from Adrion written to Elsie Evans, a one time resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, while she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and stayed at Cheley Camps in Colorado where she worked during the summers. Also included are letters written by Evans to Adrion during the summer of 1943, and letters from Mrs. Adrion to Evans. There are also photographs from 1944 which show Adrion and Evans.
The letters portray army life at camps in the United States during World War II. The letters center mainly on Adrion's daily experiences and contain his viewpoint on many topics such as duty and education to name a few. Letters while on active service provide a glimpse at combat life but mainly focus on Adrion's daily experiences and thoughts. Another important component to the letters is Halden's relationship with Elsie, which portrays the rigors of an extended courtship during the war.
Dates
- 1940-1987
Creator
- Adrion, Halden (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Halden Adrion, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, served as a bomber pilot during World War II, from April of 1943 till his death over Japan on May 26, 1945. After graduating from high school, Adrion attended the University of Michigan from the fall of 1942 till March of 1943 when he was called up for duty. He had enlisted in the Army Reserve on December 14, 1942.
Adrion was stationed first in Scottfield, Illinois and then was transferred to Ft. McClellan, Alabama where he stayed till September of 1943. Next he attended Army Air Corps training sessions at Kent State University in Ohio until January of 1944. He was then stationed at Lowry Field in Colorado where he underwent more flight training. A succession of transfers eventually led to San Francisco in December of 1944. At this point he was put on active combat duty, flying bombing missions against Japanese targets. Adrion was presumed shot down over Japanese air space on May 26, 1945 and officially classified as killed in action on June 1, 1946 by the War Department. He received the Air Medal and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.
Extent
1.3 Linear Feet (Three boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Halden Adrion, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, served as a bomber pilot during World War II. This collection consists primarily of letters written by Halden Adrion before and during his service as a bomber pilot in World War II (1940-1945) to his girlfriend and eventual fiancée, Elsie Evans. Also included are some letters from Evans to Adrion, along with a few other miscellaneous items of correspondence. The letters describe army life for Adrion, particularly the life of an Army Air Corps cadet and also his hopes and plans for the future. Adrion was presumed shot down over Japanese air space on May 26, 1945 and officially classified as killed in action on June 1, 1946 by the War Department. He received the Air Medal and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. The correspondence between Mrs. Mildred Adrion to Elsie Evans, 1942-1987, extend the collection well beyond the war years which form the bulk.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Elsie Evans Pierce, accession number 1996.011
- Title
- Finding aid for the Halden Adrion collection of World War II letters and photographs
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jeff Detweiler
- Date
- February 1997
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org