This collection contains two memoirs written by Merle Perkins regarding his experiences serving in World War II. The first is entitled “Ordeal of Arms: Air Combat, Europe and the Balkans” (1993) and is over 200 pages of a typed narrative with copies of illustrations and newspaper articles. Also included is a chronological list of missions Perkins flew in the preface of the manuscript. The second writing is entitled “Recollections of Air Combat” (1996) and is over 100 typed pages of poems written by Perkins throughout his wartime service. These two publications specifically cover Perkins’ time in Foggia, Italy in 1944.