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William J. McCusker III collection, 1937-2004, Date acquired: 2017-07-07, bulk 1943-1945

 

Summary

Creator:
McCusker, William J. III, 1922-2007
Extent:
1.5 Linear Feet 3 half boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], William J. McCusker III collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-17-2013

Background

Scope and content:

This collection relates to William J. McCusker III who served as a C-47 pilot with the 18th Troop Carrier Squadron during World War II.  The collection includes letters, documents, photographs, flight records, certificates, pilot manuals, and pilot training class yearbooks. The collection also contains handwritten notebooks kept by William J. McCusker III during his service as a police officer with the New York Police Department.

Biographical / historical:

William J. McCusker III was born February 27, 1922 in Bronx, NY. He attended Evander Childs High School, Bronx, NY and Manhattan College. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 25, 1943  and completed pilot's training.  He flew C-47 transport planes with the 18th Troop Carrier Squadron in North Africa, Sicily, India, Burma, and Southern France. He flew missions that supported partisans in Northern Italy from January to May 1945.  He was discharged from active service on January 18, 1947 with the rank of Major. He continued to serve and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves. McCusker III also flew the following aircraft: PT-17, BT-63, AT-11, AT-9, T-28, C-45,  and C-46. Because of the number of missions flown, he was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. McCusker III was a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge, VFW, International Police Association, Orlando Chapter of 10-13 Club, China-Burma- India Veterans Organization, and a lifelong member of the Elks Lodge of Winter Park. After the war, Bill served for 20 years as a New York City Police Officer, badge #4500,  with the 1st Precinct before moving his family to Florida in 1971.  William McCusker III passed away on September 26, 2007 in Orlando, FL.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Note written by William McCusker IV

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated by William J. McCusker IV, son of William J. McCusker III. The colletion was acquired by the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience on July 7, 2017.
Custodial history:

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], William J. McCusker III collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-17-2013

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