Army

A classic World War I song from famed composer Irving Berlin, this sheet music is part of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music held in the National Air and Space Museum Library.  The cover includes a photograph of comedian and singer Eddie Cantor, who performed the song in the Ziegfeld Follies.  An excellent example of Americana from the early 20th century.

This Boeing Aircraft Company produced this 1943 manual of the B-17F model heavy bomber, which was issued to U.S. Army Air Force personnel assigned to fly and service this iconic World War II aircraft. There are extensively detailed illustrations and instruction pages with technical information on all parts of the aircraft. It is in surprisingly excellent condition.

Léo Dex was the pseudonym of the brillant and distinguished aeronautical engineer Edouard-Léopold-Joseph Deburaux, who was commander of a company of hot-air balloonists attached to the French Army’s First Corps of Engineers. Under his given name, he wrote many books and papers on the possible uses of hot-air balloons for exploration and warfare. His grand experiment in balloon exploration—sending hot-air balloons across the Sahara from Tunisia to the region of Timbuktu—ended in failure, and he died shortly thereafter.