Summary Information
Eugene L. Sasman Papers and Photographs
1942-1945
WVM Mss 694
0.8 linear ft. (2 archives boxes) of papers and 0.8 linear ft. (1 folder and 2 flat boxes) of photographs.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
Papers and photographs of Eugene L. Sasman, a staff sergeant liaison pilot who flew photography and tracking missions for the Army Air Force from stateside air bases during World War II. The collection consists almost entirely of the letters that Sasman wrote home to his parents during his almost four years of service. These letters describe his daily activities, excitement at flying planes, impressions of Army life, and recreational activities at numerous air bases throughout the country, particularly Alexandria Army Air Field in Louisiana and fields in California and Texas. They provide insight into the operations and function of the stateside Army Air Force. Also included are Sasman's pilot logbooks from the war years, programs from two airbases at which he served, and other ephemeral items. Photographs include two scrapbooks filled with identified photographs of fellow pilots and air bases and other ephemeral items that Sasman sent home to his mother, Nina, for the express purpose of keeping in a scrapbook.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00694 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Eugene Leo Sasman was born in Neenah, Wisconsin on June 2, 1922. His family moved soon after to Madison, where he attended local schools and graduated from Madison West in 1940. A student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he enlisted into the Army Air Corps in March 1942 and trained at Santa Ana and Santa Maria, California. He served stateside during the war as a liaison pilot doing photography, search and rescue, and tracking missions. His service included stints in Texas (July-November 1943) and Alexandria Army Air Field in Lousiana (December 1943-April 1945). Sasman was discharged in December 1945 and returned to college. After graduating, he worked as a salesman around the Midwest before marrying Marion Snow in 1949 and settling in Madison, where the couple had three children.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Eugene L. Sasman are divided into two series: Papers and Photographs.
Papers (1942-1945) consist almost entirely of the letters that Sasman wrote home to his parents during his stateside service. From his initial training in 1942 through the final days of his enlistment in 1945 Sasman described his daily activities, excitement at flying planes, impressions of Army life, and recreational activities at numerous air fields throughout the country. He asked for news of home and advice on various matters from his parents and acknowledged receiving both. The letters provide insight to a pilot who served stateside for almost four years. Other materials include some ephemeral items sent home with the letters, Sasman's pilot logbooks kept during the war years, and annual programs from two of the air fields at which he served.
Photographs (1942-1945) include two scrapbooks filled with photographs and ephemera that Sasman sent home to his parents for the express purpose of keeping in a scrapbook, which his mother compiled. Identified photos are of Sasman, his fellow pilots, the bases he served at, and recreational activities. The scrapbooks also contain some written orders, postcards, newspaper clippings, and other military ephemera. Loose photographs consist of four shots of Sasman in uniform.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Eugene Sasman, Madison, WI, 2001. Accession Number: TR1192 and TR1270. This collection was organized as a result of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission project grant (2003-075).
Processed by Russell Horton in 2004
Contents List
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Series: Papers
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Biographical data, undated
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Subseries: Correspondence
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From Euguene Sasman to Louis and Nina Sasman (parents)
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Box
1
Folder
2-9
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June 1942-July 1944
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Box
2
Folder
1-6
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August 1944-November 1945
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Ephemera, 1944-1945
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Box
2
Folder
8-9
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Pilot logbooks, 1942-1945
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Subseries: Programs
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Alexandria Army Air Field, 1945
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Hancock College of Aeronautics, 1942
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Series: Photographs
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Ph
11
Folder
35
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Eugene Sasman [4] , 1942-1945
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Subseries: Scrapbooks
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Box
3
Folder
1
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1942-1944
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Box
4
Folder
1
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1945
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