Philip and Alma Oliver Papers
Series I: World War II Materials, 1941 September-1945 September 27 -- Series I consists of a military orders notebook, U.S. Marine Corps documents including Oliver's discharge papers, photographs of Oliver and fellow Marines, and a MAG-25 patch.
Series II: MAG-25 and SCAT Reunion Materials, 1954 September-1998 November -- Series II contains newspaper clippings, reunion booklets, a MAG-25 squadron insignia photograph, and scrapbooks consisting of reunion ephemera, correspondence, and The New Ton-Tooter newsletters.
Series III: Oversize, 1939 June-1943 April -- Series III contains aviation maps Oliver used while serving as an air crew chief in the Pacific front during World War II.
Dates
- 1939 June-1998 November
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (4 boxes (1 quarter, 2 flat, 1 oversize))
Abstract
The Philip and Alma Oliver WWII Papers contain materials from Master Technical Sergeant Philip M. Oliver's service with Marine Air Group 25 and the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command in the Pacific theater during World War II. It also contains materials from MAG-25 and SCAT reunions.
Biographical/Historical Note
Master Technical Sargeant Philip McAfee Oliver was born February 18, 1923 in Morristown, Tenn. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 23, 1941 in Nashville to serve four years. After boot camp training at Parris Island, SC and transferring to Quantico, Va., he trained as an aviation machinist at the Chicago Technical and Vocational School. After graduating from training, he transferred to the West Coast where he trained with the VMJ-152 air squadron at Camp Kearney, California, alongside flight and ground crews that were to be sent to the Pacific warfront. He transferred to the VMJ-153 squadron, part of Marine Air Group 25 (MAG-25), and eventually became its check crew leader.
Oliver served overseas beginning in June 1943 as the flying crew chief on routine flights. These flights included Espiritu Santo; Efate; Guadalcanal; Auckland, New Zealand via Norfolk Islands; Sidney, Australia; and other locations throughout the Pacific. He was then assigned to the 1st Marine Division as crew chief for the personal plane of Major General William H. Rupertus. Oliver served as transportation sergeant and flew co-pilot on the personal plane. He participated in the consolidation of the Northern Solomon Islands, New Georgia, and the Peleliu Islands.
In December 1944, Oliver rotated back to the United States. He reported to Marine Air Group 35 in El Centro, Ca. in January 1945. He trained in airplane and engine mechanics at the Curtis Tech Institute and after graduating from training became the squadron's engineering chief. He oversaw design modifications and changing, testing and evaluating aircraft.
Oliver became part of the first group from the West Coast to be honorably discharged after World War II. When he was discharged from active duty on September 27, 1945 in San Diego, his final rank was Master Technical Sergeant and he was authorized to wear aircrewmen's wings.
Beginning in 1956, Oliver and his wife, Alma, attended reunions for Marines who were part of the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT) and MAG-25 during WWII. The annual reunions took place in locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Arrangement
The collection consists of four boxes. The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series I: World War II Materials, 1941 September-1945 September 27
- Series II: MAG-25 and SCAT Reunion Materials, 1954 September-1998 November
- Series III: Oversize, 1939 June-1943 April 15
Previous Citation
Materials in this collection were originally cited as part of MS.2112. It was then listed as CSWS.WWII.3.0011 until receiving its current number. All materials from the previous collection are contained within this collection.
Acquisition Note
This collection was donated by Philip and Alma Oliver to Special Collections via the Center for the Study of War and Society.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository