Two-months, 11 exchanges. UN Archives NY office. Moving, extensive data

From: Gaye Lyn

Sent: Monday, 28 October, 2019 5:11 PM

To: Arms

Subject: Fwd: Research Inquiry re: UNRRA 1945 Commercial Firm – Veterans

Air Express – S-1301-0000-0794

 

Dear Archive Librarian,

 

I have been referred by Tara Craig of Columbia University’s Rare Book &

Manuscript Library. She says their collection of United Nations Relief

and Rehabilitation Administration Records, 1943-1949

<findingaids.cul.columbia.edu/ead/nnc-rb/ldpd_4078516/summary>consists

only of microfilm copies of original documents housed at the United

Nations. Tara suggests my research inquiry (below) is best directed to

the staff of the United Nations Archives. I’m looking for research

guidance from within your archive for these two references or any

related items:

 

Title VI; 6.4 (Executive Office Subject File) film # GC-14 (Agreements

and Contracts), alphabetically contains an entry for “Veteran Air

Express.”

In a 1946 UNRRA Folder Commercial Firms – Veterans Air Express –

S-1301-0000-0794

Veterans Air Express and “sister” company Veterans Air Line were

founded in 1945 by my Father, Saunie Gravely. The air line procured a

contract with the UNRRA and completed six European relief deliveries in

our DC-4s: Five trips carrying 55,000 – 60,000 poultry hatching eggs

per flight to Prague (April, May & June 1946) and Warsaw (two in May

1946), and one delivery of young dairy cow breeding stock to Athens

(September 1946).

 

 

 

I’ve been researching Veterans Air since April 2015, and I am extremely

interested in learning more details of the UNRRA contract.

 

Unfortunately, my search among online digitized records for specific

details has not be successful or been confusing. I write today to ask if

any of the elements I list below are likely to be available online

(initially) with your assistance — i.e. website navigation and/or help

determining correct categorization? Or would the information be

available via a Research Appointment and physical visit.

 

Here are my quests:

 

Of particular importance to the research would be any records on the

historic first flight into Warsaw on 11 May 1946 which required

over-flight permission from the Russians in Berlin. This Veterans Air

flight for UNRRA was the first-ever civilian aircraft allowed behind the

Iron Curtain. A map showing the 20-mile restricted flight corridor

assigned to Veterans Air by the Russians would be an incredible “find.”

Of even greater value would be locating the official missing manifest of

the men who crewed that Warsaw flight — or any reference to individual

crew members or the UNRRA Observer. U.S. Customs and Immigration

required such a manifest for each of the flights to & from the United

States and the UNRRA destinations. However, this 11 May Warsaw manifest

is the only one missing to date. (First attachment is the manifest for

the first Prague flight 23 April 1946 as evidence of its content.)

Correspondence or communication between UNRRA administrators or UNRRA

Observers (named below) and Veterans Air personnel regarding the cargo,

its handling and safety like en route temperature control while airborne

and on the ground during fuel stops and overnight stays, etc. These

Observers’ names come from the Crew Manifests I found.

Eugene Katz, Jackson Heights, NY. Prague, 22 April, 1946.

Albert Stabler, Washington DC. Prague, 2 May, 1946

Roy M. Lynnes, USA. Prague, 8 June, 1946.

Joseph Hess , USA. Athens, 25 August, 1946.

Any associated photography or press coverage.

A copy of any documents or applications through which Veterans Air

Express sought and won the UNRRA contract. Or description of the

application process and criteria. My objective is to understand how

Veterans Air Express was chosen.

A copy of the signed Veterans Air contract.

Media in the U.S.and Czechoslovakia gave invaluable coverage with images

— a few of which I have attached here. One of the attached articles was

exquisitely well written by the UNRRA Observer Don M. Turnbull,

Secretary of the International Baby Chick Association, who accompanied

the second Warsaw flight on 20 May 1946. Turnbull’s article appeared on

the front page of The Weekly Kansas City Star on 5 June 1946 entitled

Drops Into Poland To Find Eerie World of Armed Men. (Attachment #3 is a

cut & paste full version for easier reading. The front-page newspaper

clip above is just a tease.)

 

Beyond treasure is video footage of the Veterans Air DC-4 being

off-loaded in Prague. It was obtained from the Steven Spielberg Film and

Video Archive, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum . The YouTube

footage is available on my website if time permits for you to watch:

veteransair.org/prague-veterans-air-crew-arrives-1946/

 

Any assistance or suggestions on my next step or best course of action

to obtain any of the above details will be greatly appreciated.

 

Sincerest regards,

 

Gaye Lyn

 

Gaye

Gaye Lyn Gravely

Current day Researcher

Saunie Gravely, Founder, 1945

Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line

w: VeteransAir.org

 

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On 10/29/2019 10:55 AM, Arms wrote:

 

Dear Gaye,

 

Thank you for contacting the UN Archives office in New York.

 

For records held at the UN Archives, please consult our website

<search.archives.un.org/> to access finding aids

<archives.un.org/content/finding-aids-0> and our search engine

<search.archives.un.org/>. Also of use may be our A-Z Site Index

<www.un.org/en/sections/about-website/z-site-index/>. You can

also start your research with the UN Yearbook

<unyearbook.un.org/> which provides a detailed overview of the

Organization’s activities including all major General Assembly, Security

Council and Economic and Social Council resolutions. For United Nations

official documents and publications, voting records, and citations to

speeches, please consult UNBISNET <unbisnet.un.org/> and UN

Digital Library <digitallibrary.un.org/?ln=en>. For Audio and

Visual materials, you can contact the UN Audiovisual Library

<www.unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/>. You may find this chart

<www.un.org/en/pdfs/18-00159e_un_system_chart_17x11_4c_en_web.pdf>helpful

in terms of an overall look at the UN structure.

 

After doing some preliminary research and have found two folders on

“Veteran Air Express.” They are labeled “Commercial Firms – Veterans

Air Express” (

search.archives.un.org/commercial-firms-veterans-air-express)

which is the second reference on your list and “Veterans Air Express Co.

– Agreement no 92” (

search.archives.un.org/veterans-air-express-co-agreement-no-92).

I have not been able to locate the first reference.

 

The UNRRA records are broken down into missions and some of what you are

looking for may possibly be available in the Polish mission records (for

the Warsaw flight) or in the Czechoslovak mission records (for the

Prague flight). This is a link for the UNRRA finding aid

search.archives.un.org/united-nations-relief-and-rehabilitation-administration-unrra-1943-1946

<search.archives.un.org/united-nations-relief-and-rehabilitation-administration-unrra-1943-1946>.

If you see anything in the finding aid please reach out if you would

like to see them or the two folders I indicated.

 

While some of our holdings are digitized and available on the web, the

majority of our records are available by visiting our reading room in

Manhattan or occasionally in Queens. I have attached our Reading Room

Guidelines, Registration Form and Request Form that you should send back

to me if you plan to make a visit. As our reading room often is full

please send back the 2 forms as soon as possible. I will finalize your

reservation and send you directions to the archives as soon as I receive

the 2 forms back.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

 

Best regards,

 

Alex

 

——————————————————————————–

 

From: Gaye Lyn

Sent: Friday, 15 November, 2019 3:40 PM

To: Arms

Subject: Follow Up: UNRRA AG-018-016 CZECHOSLOVAKIA and 1945 Commercial

Firm -Veterans Air Express – S-1301-0000-0794

 

Dear Alex,

 

For today, I will concentrate on UNRRA sub-fonds for AG-018-016

CZECHOSLOVAKIA . With your assistance, I hope to get a much better

grasp on the search sequence, then the possible contents of the files,

and if the contents are accessible for in-person research.

 

Here is an example that interests me…a screen grab directly from the

website. Shipping documents for Poland . Might this box possibly

contain physical reference to specific goods delivered to Poland? And

if my interpretation of “Shipping Documents” is correct, would those

records be “searchable” in person for anything about Veterans Air two

deliveries of fertilized poultry eggs to Warsaw: First delivery 11 to

13 May 1946 and Second delivery 25 to 27 May 1946?

 

And/or would the 2nd and 3rd listing below possibly have CONTRACT

details (including dates or destinations) for the same two Warsaw

Veterans Air deliveries?

 

 

 

And/or … last example … might any of the three listings below,

particularly the 1st or 2nd one, possibly contain CONTRACT QUALIFICATION

DETAILS pertinent to Veterans Air? Or is this more likely a 30,000-ft

overview…not specific enough?

 

 

 

Thank you, Alex. Hoping I’ve done something fruitful. And very

appreciative to you for some input.

Best regards,

Gaye Lyn

 

Gaye

Gaye Lyn Gravely

Current day Researcher

Saunie Gravely, Founder, 1945

Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line

w: VeteransAir.org

——————————————————————————–

 

On 11/18/2019 7:14 AM, Arms wrote:

 

Dear Gaye,

 

These records may contain the information you are looking for but

unfortunately we are unable to look through them ourselves. As a

courtesy we can scan between 3-5 folders for you, depending on their

size, and send them to you if that will help with your search.

 

Best regards,

 

Alex

 

——————————————————————————–

 

From: Gaye Lyn

Sent: Tuesday, 19 November, 2019 2:22 PM

To: Arms

Subject: Re: Follow Up: UNRRA AG-018-016 CZECHOSLOVAKIA and 1945

Commercial Firm -Veterans Air Express – S-1301-0000-0794

 

Dear Alex,

 

Yesterday and today I’ve tried to identify folders of interest that

actually have content. I clicked on REPORTS in many sections and always

got this response: There are no relevant reports for this item. So

perhaps Folder contents have not been digitized…and thus your offer to

scan contents for me?

 

I’ve decided to just dive in and give you these four references and see

what surfaces – all are AG-018-026 POLAND MISSION except for #4 as

Noted:

 

Sub-Fond Series S-1400*: Dept of Supply / Distribution Division /

Correspondence & Reports

S-1390-0000-0149 Dept of Supply / Correspondence – Agri Rehab –

Shipments … Page 3857

S-1390-0000-0102 Dept of Supply / Correspondence / Supply Accounting &

Stats Procurement in Poland – Shipping Documents … Page 3853

S-0527-1056 Central Registry – Subject Files / S-1390-0000-0116 Dept of

Supply / Correspondence – Agri Rehab / Hatchery … Please exclude this

Folder if it does not relate to either Poland or Czechoslovakia

Hatcheries … Page 3855

 

Just curious, Alex. In this screen grab below, should I have been able

to somehow (or somewhere else in the database) “drill down” further to

see if Series S-1401 or 1400 had content? My digging “success” to date

is inconsistent and not always “traceable.” In order for me to make an

informed decision about visiting the Archive and submitting the form you

sent me, I need to learn more – and I fully understand that you cannot

possibly look through these materials for me. As it is, I’m extremely

grateful for your assistance and courtesy to this point. So I need to

get better at this process.

 

 

 

Again, many thanks.

Gaye

 

Gaye

Gaye Lyn Gravely

Current day Researcher

Saunie Gravely, Founder, 1945

Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line

w: VeteransAir.org

——————————————————————————–

On 11/19/2019 1:22 PM, Arms wrote:

 

Dear Gaye,

 

Yes, if you’re seeing that message than that folder has not been

digitized yet. Series S-1400 has over 100 folders so could you please

indicate which one you would like scanned. You can see the folders

stacked here: search.archives.un.org/supply-headquarters. If you

are viewing the pdf version of the finding aid, as I think you are from

your screenshot, series S-1400 begins on page 3879 and S-1401 begins on

3885. You are only looking at the header information for the Poland

Mission. Folder level records start once you scroll down a bit.

 

As soon as you let me know which folder from S-1400 you would like, I

will put in a digitization request.

 

Best regards,

 

Alex

 

——————————————————————————–

 

From: Gaye Lyn

Sent: Tuesday, 19 November, 2019 4:54 PM

To: Arms

Subject: Re: Follow Up: UNRRA AG-018-016 CZECHOSLOVAKIA and 1945

Commercial Firm -Veterans Air Express – S-1301-0000-0794

 

Alex, hello.

 

Those page #s and suggestion to “scroll down a bit” were a big help.

Thanks very!

 

I’m sticking with #2, 3 & 4 of my earlier list & added their page #s.

As for S-1400 (#1) I’m was undecided between 0068 Agri Rehab and 0059

Distribution since I’ve no idea what either subject encompasses…then

selected 0059 Distribution.

 

S-1400-0000-0059 Warsaw and Bialystok District F / Distribution … Page

3882

S-1390-0000-0149 Dept of Supply / Correspondence – Agri Rehab –

Shipments … Page 3857

S-1390-0000-0102 Dept of Supply / Correspondence / Supply Accounting &

Stats Procurement in Poland – Shipping Documents … Page 3853

S-1390-0000-0116 Dept of Supply / Correspondence – Agri Rehab / Hatchery

… This is the Poland Mission … Page 3855

 

Good hunting!!

 

Gaye

Gaye Lyn Gravely

Current day Researcher

Saunie Gravely, Founder, 1945

Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line

w: VeteransAir.org

 

——————————————————————————–

On 11/26/2019 6:48 AM, Arms wrote:

 

Dear Gaye,

 

Your requested files has been scanned and you can download them from

this link

<drive.google.com/open?id=1ucbnFEyxKKR_QBK_uVAqhU6aOlk6dH6T>.

Unfortunately one of the files you requested turned out to be

mislabeled; instead of “agricultural rehabilitation – shipments” it

ended up being “industrial rehabilitation” so I left it out of the

scanned list. The rest of the folders turned out to be rather large so I

hope you will be able to find something there.

 

Our citation guidelines can be found here: Public Reference Services

<archives.un.org/content/public-reference-services-0>. Please

let us know as soon as possible whether you encounter any issues

accessing the file or have successfully downloaded the file.

 

If we don’t hear from you, the files will be made available until

December 20 th. After that time, it will no longer be accessible.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Best regards,

 

Alex

 

——————————————————————————–

 

From: Gaye Lyn

Sent: Tuesday, 26 November, 2019 1:11 PM

To: Arms

Subject: Re: Follow Up: UNRRA AG-018-016 CZECHOSLOVAKIA and 1945

Commercial Firm -Veterans Air Express – S-1301-0000-0794

 

Dear Alex,

 

Tomorrow is my birthday — and you delivered quite a present! I never

expected this amount of detail and have spent the last 3 hours scrolling

page by page through the UNRRA PDFs in the order they were delivered.

The 7th one [S-1390-0000-0116-00001UC] contains documents naming

Veterans Airline. On pg. 77 it details our 1st flight to Warsaw with

dates and Captain Jakeman’s name…a very valuable confirmation of my

records. It does not, understandably, list the crew…at least not yet.

I want desparately to continue, however, at this tantalizing point, I

must stop, after reporting in as you requested.

 

Obviously, I’m able to both access and open the PDFs.

I’ve learned that “shipping” is a very literal term. It means by ocean

ships. So a high percentage of contents do not pertain.

However, I’ve gained a first-hand perspective of the degree of

difficulty this entire UNRRA endeavor presented in terms of what, when,

and how any and all goods were provided (or not).

I must put the documents on hold at this time 🙁 which frustrates me no

end…but “my other life” must take priority today thru Thanksgiving.

 

Given the above, does the December 20th deadline still apply? And am I

at liberty to either print out or scan some of the material as long as I

carefully comply with your citation guidelines (which I have not yet

reviewed)?

 

Alex, thank you!! As stated, this is beyond my expectations. The

information has already both clarified and refuted some things I thought

I knew. It’s essential to my objective of proper, detailed research.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the Archive staff.

 

Kindest regards,

Gaye Lyn

Gaye Lyn Gravely

Current day Researcher

Saunie Gravely, Founder, 1945

Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line

w: VeteransAir.org

 

——————————————————————————–

 

On 11/26/2019 12:30 PM, Arms wrote:

 

Dear Gaye,

Happy Birthday!!! I am glad to hear that you have been able to find some

pertinent information about Veterans Airline in the digitized files.

You can download/print the files and use them however you see fit. I

will leave the files up until the end of the year to give you enough

time to transfer them to your computer.

Thank you for the well-wishes and have a happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Best,

Alex

——————————————————————————–