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Summary Information
Fritz E. Wolf Papers, Photographs, and Moving Images
1939-1945
WVM Mss 1625
1.0 linear ft. (2 archives boxes, 1 flat box, and 1 oversized flat folder) of papers and, 0.5 linear ft. (1 archives box and 1 flat box) of photographs and, 0.9 linear ft. (3 flat boxes) of scrapbooks and, 0.3 linear ft. (1 film reel, 3 VHS cassette tapes, and 6 DVDs) of moving images.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
Papers, photographs, and moving images pertaining to the service of Fritz E. Wolf, a Shawano, Wisconsin resident who served as a pilot with the United States Navy, and also served as a pilot with the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) during World War II. Manuscripts in the collection cover his Navy service, participation as a member of the Flying Tigers, and his service in the Naval Reserve. Included with his Flying Tigers service are certificates, correspondence home, personal diary, flight logs, various service papers, and various documents pertaining to the group as a whole. Correspondence is comprised of telegrams and letters Wolf send and received while in Burma. Telegrams sent by Wolf to his family inform them that he is safe and all is well. Particularly interesting is a telegram to his family informing them that he had his first successful downing of an enemy aircraft. Letters from Wolf describe the scenery around his base and the local population, and also how he missed his family and wanted to see them soon. Of particular interest is a letter Wolf received thanking him for his service, but also includes detailed drawings of a Flying Tiger aircraft attacking Japan on the envelope. The personal diary includes entries describing his daily activities as a pilot with the Flying Tigers and being a squadron leader, with a particular interesting entry pertaining to his attack on a Japanese bomber (December 20, 1941). Military papers include his release from active duty in the Navy, various documents relating to the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company and his authorization to fly aircraft in Burma, and his discharge from the Flying Tigers. Certificates and commendations include a Sixth Grade Cloud Banner issued by the Chinese government, Wolf's honorable discharge certificate, and various honors he received when he returned to Wisconsin. Materials relating to his activities as a veteran of the Flying Tigers include materials pertaining to the organization of a Flying Tigers veteran organization, classification of the members as military veterans, and requests from Wolf for compensation for his service. Also included are two flight logs, various identification cards, loose envelopes, and various magazine articles pertaining to the Flying Tigers. Navy service manuscripts include certificates, military papers, and other related materials. Certificates and commendations include his commission, various promotions, and materials pertaining to being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. Military papers relate to Wolf's service and training prior to and reenlistment after serving with the Flying Tigers, assignments as a flight trainer and grouped with a squadron of replacement pilots, his service and flight records from the USS Yorktown and USS Hornet, and his return stateside. Also included are various identification cards; a flight log; and ephemeral materials, such as unit history for VBF-3, a poem about the USS Yorktown, and a document about the premier of the “Fighting Lady.” Manuscripts pertaining to his Naval Reserve and veteran activities includes promotions, certificates, training materials from officer school, and various military papers. Photographs pertain to both his Flying Tiger and Navy service, along with a few portrait images from his time in the Naval Reserve. Flying Tiger photographs include images of the unit's commanding officer, General Chennault and roster photographs of all the members of the AVG, along with various tourist photographs and postcards from his time in Burma. There are also several photographs documenting his return home to Shawano, and a photograph of a ceremony in Milwaukee honoring him for his service. Navy service photographs feature images prior to and after his service with the Flying Tigers. Images from his early Navy service include flight training, Wolf in uniform, and various group photographs. Later Navy service include images of Wolf and other pilots posing together and posing near F6-Hellcat aircraft, a group photograph of aviators posing next to a large list of air group victories, and two aerial images of an attack on an unidentified base. Additional oversized portrait photographs of Wolf, two that are colorized, are also included. Scrapbooks are generally newspaper clippings and include two kept by Wolf's step-mother while serving with the Flying Tigers, and one assembled by his son, Richard. The two scrapbooks kept by his step-mother include newspaper articles describing the activities of the Flying Tigers in Burma, articles directly relating to Wolf and his service, his return home to Shawano, and a few clippings about his reenlistment in the Navy after his return home. The third scrapbook is comprised of newspaper clippings covering Wolf's enrollment in college, his Flying Tigers service, homecoming, various raids on Japan he participated in while in the Navy, and the death of General Chennault. Moving images include footage from Wolf's return home to Shawano, a public presentation by Wolf at an airshow in 1991, and an interview with Wolf's son, Richard, which discusses his father's service.
English
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