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David E. Bail Jr. papers, 1938-1949, Date accessioned: 2012-06-14

 

Summary

Creator:
Bail Jr., David E., 1921-1943
Mozo, Grace Bail
Extent:
.25 Linear Feet 1/4 box containing 7 folders
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], David E. Bail, Jr. papers, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_12_0025

Background

Scope and content:

This collection relates to Lieutenant David E. Bail Jr. who serves as a bombardier with the 335th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group in England during World War II. He attended University of Florida and enlisted in Spring of 1942. He flew two missions over France before he was shot down over Hanover, Germany on July 26, 1943 and killed in action. This collection contains seven folders includes Bail's personal letters to his family from December, 1941 up to his death, letters from the War Department to Bail's family first declaring him MIA, then later confirming him KIA, two photographs of Bail and his crew, and a letter from his sister to Bail's parents recounting her interview with Bail's one-time tail-gunner.

Biographical / historical:

David E. Bail was born on July 19, 1921 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was nicknamed "Sonny." He attended University of Florida and enlisted in Spring of 1942. Bail completed bombardier school and basic training at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas and air crew training at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was assigned to crew 35C, 326th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group with the Eighth Air Force and was stationed in England. He flew two missions over France before he was shot down over Hannover, Germany and killed in action on July 26, 1943. The B-17F, 42-3264, crashed near Bremen, west of River Elbe; Missing Air Crew Report 193. His collection consists of correspondence from Sonny to his parents and his sister, Grace "Sissy" Bail, from 1941-1943. These letters contain Bail's reactions to Pearl Harbor and the War as a student at the University of Florida, Bail's description of Air Corps Bombadier training, the scenery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his trip to England via Bangor, Maine. Later letters came from the field in England and from Bail's permanent squadron assignment in England. His letters from England from May through July 1943 describe military censorship of letters, problems with receiving mail, boredom, traveling to London on days off, entertainment (such as a 4th of July celebration and baseball games), and flying training. The letters also contain inquiries of home, asking parents to send a camera and candy, and reminisces of home.



Custodial history:

Received from Grace Bail Mozo, sister of David E. Bail Jr. Gift, 2012

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open to all researchers.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], David E. Bail, Jr. papers, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_12_0025

Location of this collection:
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee
FL
32306-2047
USA