Processed by
Paul Brockman
January 2008
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
2 manuscript boxes; 1 oversize folder; 2 folders of photographs |
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COLLECTION |
1940–2007 |
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PROVENANCE: |
David E. Tavel, Indianapolis, Indiana, August and September 2007 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
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RELATED |
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ACCESSION |
2007.0217; 2007.0256 |
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NOTES: |
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David E. Tavel (b. 1920) is a native of Indianapolis who graduated from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in June 1941. Tavel developed a love of flying in 1937 and in October 1941 he was appointed as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Force. Tavel attended Basic Flying School at Enid, Oklahoma from February–April 1942. After completing advanced flight training, he was assigned as a combat pilot flying Consolidated B 24 Liberators in Texas and Idaho as part of the newly formed 15th Air Force. Tavel served with the 456 Heavy Bomb Group 746 Squadron in Stanora, Italy from February 1944 until April 1945. He and his group flew missions in Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia. Tavel and his unit were part of the second raid on the oil refineries at Ploesti in May 1944. Tavel was awarded the Silver Star for the mission on April 22, 1944 to Bucharest, Rumania for his ability to save his plane and crew after sustaining heavy flack damage. In July, 1944 he was promoted to Captain and became deputy group operations officer and in March 1945 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Tavel returned to his optometry practice in Indianapolis but remained active in the Air National Guard as part of the 10th Air Force from the late 1940s until the early 1950s. Tavel has retired from optometry and now spends his time between homes in Indianapolis and Naples, Florida.
Source:
Information in collection.
The collection contains materials relating to his involvement in the Army Air Corps during World War II, 1941–45. Among the items is an unpublished 125 page personal account of his involvement in World War II entitled “Hard to Believe” written in 2007. Also included are many of Tavel’s military papers and related publications such as correspondence, training manuals, personnel records, and the official report recommending him for the Silver Star, 1941–45. There also are photographs of Tavel from pilot training to his crew and snapshots on leave in Foggia, Italy.
Other materials contain information about the 456th Bomb Group and the 15th Air Force including mission and statistical records, operations handbook, and commemorative books, 1944–45.
The collection also contains information regarding Tavel’s time in the Air Force reserve as part of the 10th Air Force. Most of this material consists of published sources, accident reports, training procedures, and various lectures, 1947–50. Many of these items are from the beginning of the Air Force and combining civilian and military pilots.
There is also material in the collection regarding reunion activities of the 456th Bomb Group and related World War II commemorative materials, 1989–2006. These include newsletter, reunions, correspondence and general printed materials about World War II and the B-24 Liberator.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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“Hard to Believe,” 2007 |
Box 1, Folder 1 |
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Cadet Training Records, 1941–42 |
Box 1, Folder 2 |
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Personnel Materials and Orders (“201 file”), 1942–43 |
Box 1, Folder 3 |
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Military Records, 1943–45 |
Box 1, Folder 4 |
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Personnel Records, 1942–46 |
Box 1, Folder 5 |
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Silver Star Award, 18 May 1945 |
Box 1, Folder 6 |
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Photographs, 1942–45 |
Photographs, |
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Photographs, Foggia, Italy, 1943 |
Photographs, |
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Bomb Pins from Missions, 1944–45 |
Artifacts: 2007.0256 |
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Cloth Pilot’s Map, ca. 1944 |
Artifacts: 2007.0256 |
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Manuals and Regulations, 1940–43 |
Box1, Folder 7 |
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Plane Identification, 1942 |
Box 1, Folder 8 |
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B 24 Emergency Operations Handbook, 1943 |
Box 1, Folder 9 |
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456th Bomb Group Mission Records, 1944–45 |
Box 1, Folder 10 |
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456th Bomb Group Statistical Record, 1944–45 |
Box 1, Folder 11 |
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456th Bomb Group Training Procedures, 1945 |
Box 1, Folder 12 |
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456th Bomb Group Commemorative Book, 1945 |
Box 1, Folder 13 |
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456th Bomb Group Newspapers, 26 Aug. 1944; 1 May 1945 |
OM 0465, Folder 1 |
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456th Bomb Group Commemorative Calendar, 1945 |
Box 1, Folder 14 |
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15th Air Force, Summary of Operations, 1943–45 |
Box 1, Folder 15 |
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PIF Revisions, 1945 |
Box 1, Folder 16 |
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Newspaper Clippings, 1942–45 |
Box 1, Folder 17 |
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Consolidation Report, 1947 |
Box 2, Folder 1 |
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Training Film Catalog, 1947 |
Box 2, Folder 2 |
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Air Force Reserve, Accident Publications, 1947–48 |
Box 2, Folder 3 |
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Air Reserve Training Manual, 1947 |
Box 2, Folder 4 |
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10th Air Force, Communications and Operations Manual, 1948 |
Box 2, Folder 5 |
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Air Force Extension Course Catalog, 1949 |
Box 2, Folder 6 |
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Rex Riley Air Safety Investigator, Cartoon Illustrations, 1948 |
OM 0465, Folder 1 |
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10th Air Force Lectures, 1950 |
Box 2, Folder 7 |
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Air Force Training Letter, 1950 |
Box 2, Folder 8 |
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Air Intelligence Review, 1950 |
Box 2, Folder 9 |
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Training Aids Information, 1950 |
Box 2, Folder 10 |
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CAA Pilot Certificates Book, n.d. |
Box 2, Folder 11 |
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“Close Calls”–Reprint from World War II Times, n.d. |
OM 0465, Folder 1 |
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456th Bomb Group Reunions, 1989–2006 |
Box 2, Folder 12 |
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B-24 Club Newsletters, 1994–95 |
Box 2, Folder 13 |
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Distinguished Flying Cross Society, 1995 |
Box 2, Folder 14 |
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456th Bomb Group Reunion Materials, 1989–99 |
Box 2, Folder 15 |
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456th Bomb Group Newsletters, 2000; 2006 |
Box 2, Folder 16 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://opac.indianahistory.org/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0949).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.