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This collection relates to Francis W. Purdy who served as a Navigator on B-17 bombers with the 347th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group (Heavy), during World War II.  He was stationed in Italy and flew during missions over both Italy and Austria. This collection contains a manuscript memoir written by Purdy which includes pages from training manuals and photographs from Purdy's life.

This collection includes 17 articles, which all pertain to either Francis Yonkin or the 11th Armored Division/3rd Army during World War II as they moved through Europe following the invasion of Normandy during World War II. Also included are 20 photographs, which include some of Francis Yonkin, and also prints of Nazi officers (in Paris at restaurants), and also photographs of tanks and the 11th Armored, as well as stock photographs of General Eisenhower, Churchill, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt (possibly from the Tehran Conference).

The collection contains papers and artifacts pertaining to Frank B. Hodges' experiences during World War II as a Merchant Marine on the SS Jacksonville, SS Philip F. Tomas, SS Kofreski, SS Alcoa Mariner, SS Falmouth, and SS Delrio. The collection contains letters, newspaper articles, photographs, official documents, Veteran Information, Hospital records, Ship Information, a recording of Frank B. Hodges' interview with the BBC, and Hodges' personal papers.

The letters in the Frank E. Murray Collection categorize and depict the adolescent and enlisted experience of aspiring Navy pilots who trained in Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Air Technical Training in Memphis, and flight training in Corpus Christi and Kingsville during the latter half of the Second World War. Brief descriptions of Boot Camp life in Jacksonville, Ground training and radio/radar ordinance in Memphis, and flying in Corpus Christi define the majority of Murray's experience before transferring to San Diego as the war was coming to a close. During Post-War rebuilding, as a part of the Civilian Air Patrol, he flew routine missions around the Pacific transporting personnel and cargo.