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Chester Marshall Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CSWS-0009

  • Staff Only

This collection is comprised of photographs of the 73rd Bomb Wing, stationed in Saipan during World War II. The photos include images of B-29 bombers as they were sent on raids to Japan, as well as official Air Force photographs, aerial shots, and photographs of the members of the 878th Bomb Squadron. The collection also contains Chester Marshall's personal military documents including orders and memorandums. Two book jackets are also included from his published works about first person human interest stories from members of the military that were a part of the Superfortress assault on Japan in titled, "The Global Twentieth : An Anthology of the 20th AF in WW II" Volumes I and II.

Dates

  • circa 1943-1945, 1985-1988

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

0.1 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection is comprised of photographs of the 73rd Bomb Wing, stationed in Saipan during World War II. The photos include images of B-29 bombers as they were sent on raids to Japan, as well as official Air Force photographs, aerial shots, and photographs of the members of the 878th Bomb Squadron. The collection also contains Chester Marshall's personal military documents including orders and memorandums. Two book jackets are also included from his published works.

Biographical/Historical Note

Chester Marshall was a pilot in the 878th Bomb Squadron, 499th Bomb Group, 73rd Wing. During World War II, he completed 30 missions in the Pacific Theatre, beginning with the B-29 raid on Tokyo on November 24, 1944. Marshall was a part of one of the initial B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadrons. When training was completed the squadron was moved to Isley Field, Saipan, in the Mariana Islands of the Central Pacific Area and assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. It is mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands and the destruction of its war-making capability.

When the war ended, Marshall began a 35 year career in the newspaper and printing business. After his retirement, he wrote several books about his experiences In 1984, he wrote his first book, "Sky Giants Over Japan," which was received with such a good response, he decided to collect the publish first person human interest stories about the Superfortress assault on Japan in "The Global Twentieth: An Anthology of the 20th AF in WW II" Volumes I and II.

Arrangement

This collection is comprised of three folders.

Previous Citation

This collection was originally listed as MS.1764. It was then listed as CSWS.WWII.1.0009 until receiving its current number.

Acquisition Note

This collection was donated through the University of Tennessee's 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

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480