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Institute on WWII and the Human Experience
Collection ID: 02.01.0130

Alan May papers, 1944

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Location of this collection:
Institute on WWII and the Human Experience
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
Terms of Access:
Permission to publish, exhibit, or broadcast works from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience must be requested and granted in writing by the director of the Institute. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Institute on World War II as the owner of the physical items and the copyright holder. Possession of a copy of an item does not constitute permission to publish, exhibit, or broadcast it. The Institute on World War II and the Human Experience reserves the right to refuse permission to individuals and publishers who have not complied with its policies. Permission fees must be paid before images are provided. Please contact the director of the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience for current publication and duplication rates.
Preferred citation:
May, Alan, papers. Institute on World War II and the Human Experience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_01_0130.

Collection description

Summary

Extent:
1 folders
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:
May, Alan, papers. Institute on World War II and the Human Experience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_01_0130.

Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access:

This collection is open to all researchers.

Terms Of Use:

Permission to publish, exhibit, or broadcast works from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience must be requested and granted in writing by the director of the Institute. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Institute on World War II as the owner of the physical items and the copyright holder. Possession of a copy of an item does not constitute permission to publish, exhibit, or broadcast it. The Institute on World War II and the Human Experience reserves the right to refuse permission to individuals and publishers who have not complied with its policies. Permission fees must be paid before images are provided. Please contact the director of the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience for current publication and duplication rates.

Background

Scope and Content:

Alan May served as a gunner on a B-24 Bomber with the 451st Bomb Group during World War II in Italy and was shot down during a mission to Ploesti, Romania, and became a POW.  May was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Included in this collection is a footnoted manuscript diary of missions.

Biographical / Historical:

Staff Sgt. Alan May (age 22) was an armorer gunner in the 15th Air Force Flying B-24's in the 451st Bomber Group out of Gioia Del Colle on the East coast of southern Italy. May flew bombing raids over Italy, Germany, and Austria and was shot down and captured on his 11th mission over Romania. May was discharged on September 15, 1945, at Mitchell Field in Hempstead, NY as Technical Sergeant.  May's basic training preceded writing of his diary. He was inducted at Camp Dix, NJ.  He received pre-flight training, flight training, and gunnery school at Maxwell Field, AL, Harlingen TX, and Fairmont, NE. May served in North Africa and Italy.

Acquisition information:

Alan May

donation

Collection inventory