Elwood R. Quesada Papers
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Elwood Richard Quesada (1904-1993) span the years 1927-1960 and consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, drawings, speeches, charts, Quesada’s personnel file, and other material.
The bulk of the collection consists of material compiled by units under the IX Fighter Command and IX Tactical Air Command at the end of World War II to reflect the contributions of each unit to the war effort. The correspondence includes letters written and received by Quesada during his deployment to North Africa and Europe, 1943-1945. Other correspondence relates to the unification of the armed forces, the B-36 investigation, and Quesada's deployment to the Pacific in 1951 as commander of Joint Task Force-3 during a series of atomic tests on the Pacific atoll of Eniwetok.
Included in the collection is Quesada's personnel "201" file; documents relating to operations and training during World War II; speeches and statements by Quesada, including speeches given while he was administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; and items relating to the Untied States Air Force Board of Review for Tactical Operations.
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1960
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Elwood R. Quesada are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Elwood R. Quesada is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1904, Apr. 13
- Born, Washington, D.C.
- 1923 - 1924
- Attended University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
- 1924 - 1925
- Army Air Service
- 1927
- Commissioned as an officer in the Army Air Corps
- 1927 - 1928
- Engineering officer, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.
- 1927 - 1928
- Attended Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
- 1928 - 1930
- Aide to Major General James Fechet
- 1930 - 1932
- Assistant military attaché, Cuba
- 1932
- Promoted to first lieutenant
- 1935
- Promoted to captain
- 1937 - 1938
- Flight commanding officer, 1st Bomb Squadron, Mitchel Field, N.Y.
- 1938 - 1940
- Technical advisor to the Argentine air force
- 1940 - 1941
- Assigned to intelligence in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps
- 1941 - 1942
- Commanding officer of the 33rd Pursuit Group, Mitchel Field, N.Y.
- 1942
- Promoted to lieutenant colonel
- 1942
- Promoted to brigadier general
- 1943
- Commanding officer, 1st Air Defense Wing and 12th Fighter Command, North Africa
- 1943
- Commanding general, IX Fighter Command, England
- 1944
- Promoted to major general
- 1945
- Returned to the United States as assistant chief of air staff for intelligence
- 1947
- Promoted to lieutenant general
- 1949 - 1951
- Commander of Joint Task Force-3
- 1951
- Retired from the United States Air Force
- 1958 - 1961
- Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
- 1993, Feb. 9
- Died, Washington, D.C.
Extent
2,450 items
7 containers
2.8 linear feet
Abstract
Air force officer and public official. Correspondence, memoranda, speeches and statements, reports, drawings, press releases, and other material pertaining primarily to Quesada's career as a United States Air Force officer and as director of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material or topic.
Catalog Record
Provenance
The papers of Elwood R. Quesada, air force officer and public official, were given to the Library of Congress by Quesada in 1954 and 1960.
Other Repositories
Additional Quesada papers are at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.
Processing History
The papers of Elwood R. Quesada were arranged and described in 1957 and an addition was made in 1963. The collection was reprocessed and the finding aid revised in 2004.
Source
- Quesada, Elwood R. (Elwood Richard), 1904-1993 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Quesada, Elwood R. (Elwood Richard), 1904-1993. (Person)
- United States. Air Force. Board of Review for Tactical Operations. (Organization)
- United States. Air Force. IX Fighter Command. (Organization)
- United States. Air Force. IX Tactical Air Command. (Organization)
- United States. Federal Aviation Administration. (Organization)
- United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Task Force-3. (Organization)
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- B-36 bomber.
- Nuclear weapons--Testing.
- World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American.
- World War, 1939-1945--Africa, North.
- World War, 1939-1945--Europe.
Uniform Title
- Title
- Elwood R. Quesada Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Richard B. Bickel and Grover BattsRevised and expanded by Patrick Kerwin with the assistance of Cheryl Adams and Lia Apodaca
- Date
- 2005
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
(202) 707-5387