20 November 1944

The Northeast Nursery School

Typed document

Title: Graduation Exercise 44-J

Program for the graduation held at the Tuskegee Army Air Field on November 20, 1944. Lists graduates on second page. Third page is schedule of events including performances by the TAAF Glee Club, directed by James Williams. The fourth page lists the Honor Graduates.

GLC09587.216

14 July 1945

Tuskegee Army Air Field (Tuskegee, Alabama)

Pamphlet

Title: Hawks Cry

Vol IV, No. 12 issue of Hawks Cry, a student newspaper at the Tuskegee Army Air Field. Front page features an article about "Roger," a musical co-written by James T. Williams which, according to the article, stimulated the sale of half a million war bonds in Virginia. "TAAF Crier" on page nine mentions that Mr. and Mrs. James T. Williams had a baby girl. The back page contains space for filling out an address form to send a copy to someone else. The form has been addressed to "Miss E. Geraldine Williams" (James T. Williams' sister). The return address on the form is that of "Lt. J.T. Williams…

GLC09587.218

23 October 1945

Pamphlet

Title: A&R Class 36 Presents Bloomer Girl

A program for the production of the musical comedy "Bloomer Girl" by "A&R Class 36," performed at "W + L Gym". "Lt. Williams" played the role of Alexander. First page contains the title and production logo. Third page is a title page and lists creators. Fourth page lists the cast. Fifth and sixth pages list scenes and production staff. Seventh page is blank. Eighth contains a small stamp showing a man and woman dancing. All involved with the production appear to be members of the armed forces.

GLC09587.219

29 June 1945

Tuskegee Army Air Field (Tuskegee, Alabama)

Pamphlet

Title: Tuskegee Army Air Field Presents Roger Musical Extravaganza

A program for "Roger" a "Musical Extravaganza" performed by members of the Tuskegee Army Air Field. James T. Williams is listed as one of the co-writers and Choral Director-Production Supervisor. Page three contains a brief synopsis of the play, which concerns a group of soldiers forced to imitate celebrity USO stars when the real stars don't show up. Page seven contains a description of the Tuskegee Army Air Field. Page eight contains a picture of the TAAF Glee Club including James T. Williams.

GLC09587.238

14 October 1943

Coab, Boyd, fl. 1943

Telegram

Title: to Cordelia Williams

Telegram from Boyd Coab to Cordelia Williams. There are two purple stars stamped in the middle. It says "I regret to inform you of the death of your son 'Leroi S Willliams' 0809260 Air Corps 100th Fighter Squaron 332nd Fighter Group." It says the time of death was 3:30 PM, October 14th as a result of an "aircraft accident while on a regular routine training flight."

GLC09587.402

17 October 1943

Headquarters Detachment Camp Ellis

Telegram

Title: to James T. Williams

Telegram from the members of headquarters detachment Camp Ellis to James T. Williams. They give sympathy "in this hour of sorrow" referring to the death of LeRoi Williams. They say that they stand ready to aid anyway they can and to contact Red Cross for more furlough. Written in pencil is the correct address in Roanoke, Virginia, that the telegram was for as well as what appears to be a return address. There is also a handwritten note.

GLC09587.403

21 October 1943

Office of the Director of Fighter Training

Telegram

Title: to Cordelia Williams

Telegram from the Office of the Director of Fighter Training offering sympathies on the loss of LeRoi Williams written to Cordelia Williams.

GLC09587.404

1941-1945

Polk's Studio

Photograph

Title: [Photograph of LeRoi S. Williams]

Photograph of LeRoi S. Williams in his pilot's uniform with a helmot and goggles on. He is looking off to the left pensively. The photograph is mounted on cardboard in a cardboard frame. At the bottom of the frame is printed "Tuskegee Inst. Ala." Near the bottom right corner is handwritten in pencil, "LeRoi". On the back of the cardboard mount a piece of paper with "Lieut/ Leroi S. Williams" typed on it has been affixed. The back of the cardboard lifts up and a flap can be inserted into a slit in the back to keep it in place. Same as the photograph of LeRoi that appears in GLC09587.130.

GLC09587.416

30 June 1940

Printed document signed

Title: United States of America Civil Aeronautics Authority Washington D.C. Airman Certificate No. 17943-40

Card certifying LeRoi as a private pilot after his graduation from the Hampton Institute. Lists LeRoi's date of birth as 7-30-19 his weight as 145 and his height as 6'. Signed by LeRoi Shelton Williams and Carl L. Christenson who is listed as Ass't. Aero. Inspector. The reverse side is signed and endorsed (name illegible) on 6-28-41 and the endorsement is dated 6-30-41.

GLC09587.012

February 23, - June 28, 1940

U.S. Government Printing Office

Logbook

Title: Civil Aeronautics Authority Washington Student Pilot Log Book

A log book kept by LeRoi Williams' instructors while he did his flight training. Each sheet contains the name of a course and a checklist of the maneuvers completed for each course, along with the times and dates of the flights, the make and model of the plane, signature of the instructor and LeRoi Williams, and instructor's notes. A certificate of Solo Cross-Country Flight was stapled to page 58 (see GLC09587.131.02). Multiple instructors filled out pages. No pages were filled out after page 64. Page 64 contains a stamp from the Civil Aeronautics Authority and a signature.

GLC09587.131.01

20 April 1940

Williams, LeRoi S., 1919-1943

Postcard

Title: to Miss Edna Geraldine Williams

Postcard addressed to Miss Edna Geraldine Williams from her brother LeRoi Williams in which LeRoi describes his first solo flight at the Hampton Institute in Virginia. Front side of the postcard is a stamp and the address. On the reverse is the content of the message.

GLC09587.011

30 June 1940

Printed document signed

Title: Certificate of Competency No. 17943-40

Document certifying LeRoi S. Williams as a Private Pilot , lists the courses and hours required for certification, and signed by Robert N. Niuray (Chairman of Authority), W.E. Carter (Ground School), and Charles W. Barclay (President of Flight School). The flight school is most likely the Hampton Institute, which LeRoi attended around this time.

GLC09587.013

30 June 1940

Printed document signed

Title: Airman's License No. 1794

LeRoi Williams' license to be a Private Aircraft Pilot in the State of Virginia. Expires June 30, 1941. Signed by State Corporation Commission Chairman (illegible). The back lists the rules and regulations surrounding the license (printed). Someone has handwritten below (upside down), Miss Mabel Stultz Box 250 Martinsville, Va. Recieved after his graduation from the Hampton Institute.

GLC09587.014

14 August 1941

Virginia. State Corporation Commission

Printed document signed

Title: Airman Rating Record No. 17493-40

LeRoi Williams' rating record, meant to accompany his certificate of completion of the Private Aircraft Pilot program. His address is listed as 174 W. Queen St., Hampton, Virginia. Signed by Joe H. Staley, Civil Aeronautics Inspector. Stamped with the seal of the U.S. Department of Civil Aeronautics. The back has space intended for the permenant mailing address of holder, but has not been filled in.

GLC09587.015

3 June 1943

Williams, LeRoi S., 1919-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: Letter to the family of LeRoi Williams

Writing from the Tuskegee Institute, LeRoi describes to his family, how his flight training is going, including a recent flight to Chattanooga. On page 5 are diagrams of flying formations he and his classmates are learning. He then tells his mother he hopes she will come to his graduation, promising to pay the expense.

GLC09587.017

27 July 1943

Parrish, Noel F., fl. 1943

Typed document signed

Title: Honorable Discharge for LeRoi S. Williams, Aviation Cadet, 13071318, Aviation Cadet Detachment

Document certifying that LeRoi S. Williams was honorably discharged from the Military Service. Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Noel F. Parrish. The back contains his enlistment record including physical description, some medical information, and qualifications. The back is signed by LeRoi Shelton Williams and 2nd Lieutenant Alexander B. Rose, Unit Pers. Officer.

GLC09587.018

28 July 1943

Typed document

Title: Announcing the Graduation of Class SE-43-G, Tuskegee Army Air Field Tuskegee, Alabama

Graduation program from LeRoi's graduation from the Tuskegee Institute. Lists the names of the graduates and the schedule of events.

GLC09587.019

circa 1919-1943

Note

Title: [Flight plan]

A handwritten flight plan without destinations. The plans are notated by dots and lines, along with several numbers.

GLC09587.059

circa 1919-1943

Note

Title: [Flight plan]

A handwritten flight plan detailing the voyage from Atlanta to Chattanooga and back. On the back of the second page, there are handwritten math equations.

GLC09587.060

Circa 1941-1943

Williams, LeRoi S., 1919-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the family of LeRoi Williams

Letter to his family, in which LeRoi Williams describes being sent to an Army Air Field in Northern Michigan to practice gunnery. He describes the training he's been given and the practice of skip bombing.

GLC09587.061

Circa 1941-1943

Williams, LeRoi S., 1919-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the family of LeRoi Williams

LeRoi Williams writes to his family about his flight training and a recent cross country flight he made at night, from Chattanooga to Atlanta. He says he has enclosed the flight plan he used and describes how to read it.

GLC09587.062

1942

Newspaper clipping

Title: [Vultee "Valiants"]

Newspaper clipping from unknown newspaper. Front is black and white photograph of planes and a man. Caption says: "late in 1943, when Kelly became a training center for instructors, these Vultee 'Valiants' joined its fleet." Handwritten notes say "BT's" in top right and bottom center. Reverse is ad for Rohm & Haas Company, which sells transparent plastic for planes.

GLC09587.066

1941-1945

Newspaper clipping

Title: ["Swoose" plane]

This newspaper clipping is from an unknown newspaper. The front is a black and white photograph of a plane in flight. Caption reads: "designed for use in snow, this novel ski-wheel gear is on North American 'Texan' (AT-6, SNJ). It was dubbed 'Swoose.'" Handwritten in pencil says "AT we don't use the skis" on the bottom center. The reverse is information about a plane called the Fieseler Fi-156K.

GLC09587.067

circa 28 July 1943

Newspaper clipping

Title: 27 Army Pilots

Two newspaper clippings about the graduation of "Le Roi" S. Williams from the "Tuskegee Army Air Field as second lieutenants in the Army Air Forces." The first clipping lists the names and hometowns of all the men who graduated from the Tuskegee Army Air Field institute, LeRoi is mentioned. The second clipping is a black and white photograph of the recent graudates, captioned "27 Army Pilots."

GLC09587.068

circa 14 October 1943

Newspaper clipping

Title: Negro Pilot Dead in Plane Crash

Two newspaper articles are attached to a piece of paper. The first clipping is an article about the plane crash and death of Lt. LeRoi S. Williams. Included is a small black and white photograph of him. The second clipping is about another Lieutenant who had to "bail out of his riddled plane." This clipping is the same as the one in GLC09587.070.

GLC09587.069