William D. Cotton Persian Gulf Command Photograph Album
This collection is an album of World War II photographs taken by William D. Cotton. He was stationed in Iran as part of the Persian Gulf Command from 1943-1945. The photographs document his tour in Iran as well as travels to surrounding areas including Iraq and Palestine. Along with photos of his fellow officers, there are depictions of local culture, carnivals, beach parties, and trips he took with friends and colleagues. During his leave, he also visited Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt.
Dates
- 1942 November 8-circa 1945 October
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite, and a minimum of 2 business days are needed to retrieve these items for use. Researchers interested in consulting any of the collections are advised to contact Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 quarter box)
Abstract
This collection is an album of World War II photographs taken by William D. Cotton. He was stationed in Iran as part of the Persian Gulf Command from 1943-1945. The photographs document his tour in Iran as well as travels to surrounding areas including Iraq and Palestine. Along with photos of his fellow officers, there are depictions of local culture, carnivals, and trips he took with friends and colleagues.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Persian Gulf Command was a United States Army service command established in December 1943 to assure the supply of U.S. lend-lease war material to the Soviet Union. Its history originated in September 1941, when the U.S. Military Iranian Mission led by Engineer Officer COL Raymond A. Wheeler was established to facilitate lend-lease supply to the U.S.S.R. Between 1942 and 1945, the United States helped to equip Russia with 192 thousand trucks and thousands of aircraft, combat vehicles, tanks, weapons, ammunition and petroleum products. Before the construction of the aircraft assembly plant at Abadan, Iran, the United States Army Air Force flew A-20 medium bombers across the Atlantic to Abadan, where they were turned over to Russian flyers. Army engineers transformed the camel paths into a highway for trucks and improved the railroad with its more than 200 tunnels so trains could carry tanks and tons of other heavy equipment over the mountains.
No biographical information on William D. Cotton could be found.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased this collection in August 1992.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository