National Air and Space Museum Archives
Theodore E. Boyd World War I Collection
Boyd, Theodore E.
NASM.2013.0016
Archival Resource Key
0.84 Cubic feet
1 legal document box; 1 flat box
1916-1983
The Theodore E. Boyd World War I collection consists of material documenting Theodore E. Boyd's World War I career. The bulk of the collection covers the World War I era, 1917 to 1919, but materials before and after those dates are also present. Materials include: correspondence, written both during the war to family and friends; photographs; military orders, mostly in English, a few in French; flight logs; identity card; Honorable Discharge and Distinguished Service Cross certificates; memoirs of his war experiences, both written for publication and to his family; and post war veterans rosters.
The majority of the materials are in English; however, some of the military orders and training materials are in French.
Theodore E. Boyd World War I Collection
Biographical Note
During World War I, Theodore E. Boyd served with the 88th Aero Squadron (Attached), 7th Field Artillery, Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). Second Lieutenant Boyd was an observer and served in France until he was injured on September 14, 1918, when during a flight near Conflans, France, he was wounded in both legs, his left foot, and right elbow by explosive bullets. For his bravery during this flight, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Due to his injures, his service ended and he was honorably discharged. After the war, Boyd went to medical school and taught physiology for 24 years at Loyola University in Chicago. In 1947, Boyd joined the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis where for twenty years he served as Assistant Director, and then Director, of the Research Department.
Timeline
Theodore E. Boyd Timeline
1893 December 14
Theodore Elliott Boyd born in Ashland City, Tennessee.
1910
Boyd forced to give up a West Point appointment because of varicose veins and a bad scar.
1917 May
Reported to Reserve Officers' Training Camp, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
1917 August 15
Honorably discharged from Ft. Oglehthorpe to accept commission as Second Lieutenant Field Artillery Section Officers Reserve Corps.
1917 August 22
Ordered to report to General Superintendent, Army Transport Services, New York City, for assignment to first available transportation to France. Left Tennessee August 23.
1917 September 9
Left New York. Landed at Liverpool on September 23, Le Havre on September 25.
1917 October 1
Entered Artillery School at Saumur
1918 January 14
Report to Aviation School, Tours
1918 February 19
Transferred to First Corps School, Gondrecourt, for advanced instruction.
1918 April 6
Dispatched for duty with French 40th Observation Squadron in Champagne.
1918 May 20
Ordered from Chalons-sur-Marne to the AEF 88th Squadron in Amanty (Meuse).
1918 June 6
Ordered to Cazeux for course in machine gun instruction.
1918 July 1
Returned to the 88th Squadron at Ourches (Meuse).
1918 August 9
Protected a photographic miessio nbetween the Vesle and Aisne. Cited for gallantry in action and entitled to wear a silver star on the Victory medal.
1918 September 9-12
On leave in Paris.
1918 September 14
"[Lt. Theodore Boyd was charged with the] protection of an aerial photo mission over the city of Conflans, in which six machines were schedule to fly in combat formation. This officer, three of the escorting plans having failed to join the formation, proceeded on his mission notwithstanding. At a point, roughly 3 km NW fo Conflans, he engaged in combat with five enemy pursuit machines of the Pfalz type. He was wounded in both legs, the left foot, and right elbow by explosive bullets. In spite of his wounds, he succeeded, by a remarkable display of courage and tenacity, in keeping up the fire of his guns until the attacking planes were put to flight. During the return to the Allied lines, Lieut. Boyd, although faint with pain and loss of blood, assisted his pilot, whose machine was disabled and coming down under control, in choosing the shortest route to safety."-Captain Kenneth P. Littauer, recommendation for Distinguished Service Cross
1918 November 11
Ordered to proceed from Savenay to the port of Brest for transport to the United States (left Brest November 18).
1918 November 29
Landed at Newport News, Virginia.
1918 December 6
Arrived at Fort McPherson, Georgia, for convalescense.
1919 May 6
Lieutenant Theodore E. Boyd honorably discharged from the United States Army.
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged into three series: Series 1, World War I; Series 2, Memoirs; and Series 3, Post War Rosters.
The collection did not have any particular order when received by the NASM Archives. Archivists have organized the documents by topic then by date.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of material documenting Theodore E. Boyd's World War I career: correspondence, written both during the war to family and friends; photographs; military orders, mostly in English, a few in French; flight logs; identity card; Honorable Discharge and Distinguished Service Cross certificates; memoirs of his war experiences, both written for publication and to his family; and post war veterans rosters.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access.
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Preferred Citation
Theodore E. Boyd World War I Collection, Accession 2013-0016, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Pat Piper, gift, 2012.
Processing Note
Arranged and described by Elizabeth Borja, 2014.
Encoded by Elizabeth Borja, 2015.
Correspondence
Photographs
Aeronautics
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations
United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces
World War I
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1916-1921
Arrangement
Materials are organized by type of material (military orders, photographs, correspondence, etc.) and then in chronological order.
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials from Theodore E. Boyd's service in World War I. Civil and military records include civil service exam results, materials from Reserve Officers' Training Camp, orders to various training schools in France, his flight logs (carnet de vols) and instructional materials from Aviation Military Escadrille 40 and Cazeaux, receipts from leave, the telegram sent to his family regarding his wounding in action, and his honorable discharge documents. Also included are photocopies of the recommendations and observation reports that detail his actions for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross, as well as the certificate. The series also contains Boyd's World War I correspondence with his mother and fellow airmen, particularly Kenneth Littauer, and a letter home published in what is presumed a local newspaper.
Civil Service Exam Results
Archival Resource Key
1916
1
1
Civil Service Exam Results
Military Records and Orders
Archival Resource Key
1917
1
2
Military Records and Orders
Military Records and Orders
Archival Resource Key
1918
1
3
Military Records and Orders
Miltary Records and Orders
Archival Resource Key
1919
1
4
Miltary Records and Orders
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Identity Card
Archival Resource Key
circa 1918
1
5
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Identity Card
Flight Logs (Carnets de Vols)
Archival Resource Key
1918 April-June
1
6
Flight Logs (Carnets de Vols)
Instructional Materials
Archival Resource Key
1918
1
7
Instructional Materials
Notes for an Artillery Adjustment
Archival Resource Key
1918 August
1
8
Notes for an Artillery Adjustment
Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1918-1919
1
9
Photographs
Receipts
Archival Resource Key
1918-1919
1
10
Receipts
Distinguished Service Cross Recommendations and Observer Notes (photocopies)
Archival Resource Key
1918 May-October
1
11
Distinguished Service Cross Recommendations and Observer Notes (photocopies)
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
Archival Resource Key
1918 October 11
2
1
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
Citation for Distinguished and Exceptional Gallantry
Archival Resource Key
1919 March 27
2
2
Citation for Distinguished and Exceptional Gallantry
AEF and War Department Publications, Awards and Citations
Archival Resource Key
1919
1
12
AEF and War Department Publications, Awards and Citations
88th Aero Squadron Letterhead
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
13
88th Aero Squadron Letterhead
Correspondence, Friends and Family
Archival Resource Key
1917-1919
1
14
Correspondence, Friends and Family
Correspondence, Kenneth Littauer
Archival Resource Key
1918-1921
1
15
Correspondence, Kenneth Littauer
Letter to Alfred Williams published in newspaper
Archival Resource Key
1918
1
16
Letter to Alfred Williams published in newspaper
Memoirs
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1918-1983
bulk 1972-1983
Scope and Contents
This series contains Theodore E. Boyd's memoirs of his World War I experiences. His diary was lost in France, so these were written at a later date. Materials include a timeline, the story of his officer training school at Fort Oglethorpe, a rememberance of the day he was shot down, and a newspaper article in which he remembers the war. From 1972 to 1983, Boyd wrote frequent letters to his children and grandchildren, describing his war experiences. One set of these letters is numbered, the other is not.
Arrangement
These materials are arranged chronologically when possibile.
Handwritten Memoirs and Rosters
Archival Resource Key
1919, undated
1
17
Handwritten Memoirs and Rosters
"Aces and Deuces," Memoir of the Events of 1918 September 14
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
18
"Aces and Deuces," Memoir of the Events of 1918 September 14
"Notes on an Extinct Species"
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
19
"Notes on an Extinct Species"
Memoirs and Correspondence Sent to Family, numbered 1-31
Archival Resource Key
1973-1974
1
20
Memoirs and Correspondence Sent to Family, numbered 1-31
Memoirs and Correspondence Sent to Family, unnumbered
Archival Resource Key
1972-1983
1
21
Memoirs and Correspondence Sent to Family, unnumbered
Correspondence, Chesly Carter
Archival Resource Key
1982
1
22
Correspondence, Chesly Carter
Post War Rosters
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1918-1982
Scope and Contents
This series contains post war rosters for the 88th Aero Squadron and the World War I Overseas Flyers.
Arrangement
The series is arranged chronologically.
Roster, 88th Aero Squadron
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
23
Roster, 88th Aero Squadron
World War I Overseas Flyers, Official Roster
Archival Resource Key
1982
1
24
World War I Overseas Flyers, Official Roster