Large Archive of Photographs and Service Records from Air Force Engineer Involved in Jet Age and Space Race Testing

Australia; Tullahoma, TN; Spain; Edwards, CA; et alibi, 1967.

Large group photographs and related materials from celebrated Air Force engineer, Colonel John T. Trotter (1912-1995).  Trotter, a native of Tyler, TX, was commissioned in the Army Air Corps and served with the 808th Engineers during WWII in Australia and New Guinea, constructing air fields for use by Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Campaign. He later was stationed at Air Force headquarters at the Pentagon.  He served as base commander at the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tullahoma, TN from 1950-1957.  Trotter was a pioneer in the early development (truncated) of this important DOD flight test facility, reviewing the original plans, designs, and criteria and ultimately awarding the first contracts that started construction in 1950.  The bulk of this archive documents his time at the AEDC.

After the AEDC, Trotter served as base engineer at Torrejon Air Force Base in Spain where he was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1959.  He finished his career at Edwards Air Force Base in California, retiring in 1967. The materials document Trotter's personal life, service, and extraordinary career, spanning three decades.

The archive includes:


1.  Small photo of Trotter and his wife, Jean, on their wedding day in 1937.

2.  Service papers including:
- Transcripts from Sherman (TX) Public Schools (1929) and Texas A&M (1933)
- Certificate of Capacity and promotion letters from the Officers' Reserve Corps, U.S. Army, 1937.
- Extended active duty orders and letters from 1941; schedules and lists for 6th instructor course for Engineer Reserve Officers, 1941; GPO War Department Publication, "Station Lists and Statement Showing Rank, Duties, and Addresses of the Officers of the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army," stamped Restricted and dated in 1941
-  Copies of Citation Orders from June, 1943
- Separation records, papers, certificates, etc. from 1946 including form letter from the White House with Truman (stamped?) signature; military record and report of separation certificate of service; letters of appreciation from the War Department and others; letters of commendation; senior officers course photograph; honorable discharge emblem and letter; military bars pin; special Orders No. 126; and others.

3.  Group of roughly 65 black and white photographs (and several duplicates), 8x10" of Trotter's time at the AEDC, most 1955-1957, including with generals and other officers, engineers, at conferences, parties, meetings, giving awards, in front of aircraft, facilities at Arnold, and others.  A few are captioned on versos or with attached papers.  Individuals pictured include: Captain Gale B. Anstine, Brigadier General Carl Trippi; Major General John W. Sessums, Major General Troup Miller, General John Dale Ryan, Lt. General Leon W. Johnson and other NATO military committee members.  

4.  Original watercolor on board by a Jim Gray, titled "Completion Date AEDC Facilities: Maybe Someday" depicting Trotter asleep on a book.

5.  20+ 8x10" photographs (and several duplicates), and 20 smaller photographs from Trotter's time at Edwards Air Force Base, mainly showing his retirement celebration and living quarters. 

6.  Retirement documents including letter of Appreciation and Certificate of retirement, both signed by H.B. Manson, Major General USAF; US Army Artillery and Missile School "Diploma" for the class of "36-67."  

7.  A handful of miscellaneous publications including High Mach, published by the AEDC, December, 1956 with a piece on Trotter; Conversational Spanish for the Army Air Forces; The Alert Strip, publication of the Torrejon Air Base, October 21, 1960; and The Mediterranean Courier, March 24/31, 1961, published in Casablanca, Morocco; 2 newspapers from 1966 with memorials of General Irving L. Branch (Edwards Air Force Base).

8.  A piece of metal and screw off of an aircraft, and lenses from aviation goggles.
 
9.  Roughly 15-20 photographs of various sizes of Colonel Trotter over the years.

10.  Roughly 8-10 photographs of various sizes of Jean Trotter and other family members, including a few large glamour photos of a daughter. 

11.  Set of 18, 3x4" black and white photos showing travel, various interiors of cathedrals, monkeys, the Eiffel Tower, friends, etc., likely from the Trotters' time in Spain.


In all, this is an excellent archive, with substantial detail on an interesting WWII service record to the engineering aspects of USAF testing in the 50's and 60's.  Of course, the materials also provide a picture of the personal life of Colonel Trotter who by all accounts was a tremendous individual of great character.




. (Inventory #: 6616)