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Leman L. Babbitt WWI photographs, 1918

 Collection
Identifier: 2012-065

Scope and Contents

9 B/W WWI-era photographic aerial views and ground views of the Gujan air station, compound, hangars, and YMCA club, located in France.

Dates

  • Creation: 1918-11

Language

These materials contain no linguistic content.

Access

This material is open for research use by any registered reader.

Use and Copyright

This material is owned by the University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections. Unpublished manuscripts are under copyright. Therefore, permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from both the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Leman Babbitt graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1913. He received his LTA (lighter than air) Naval Aviator rating in January 1918 and his HTA rating in 1922. During WWI he served at Liverpool, England; Paulliac, France; and Bordeaux, France. He commanded a US station for airships near Gujan-Mestras (located between Meyran and hamlets Ruade) in France. The first sailors arrived on 1 February 1918 and were housed in a sardine cannery. By November 11, 1918, 245 men and 11 officers were under his command. The station was decommissioned 15 January 1919. Babbitt continued to serve until 1938, at which time he retired as a Lt. Commander. He died in 1965.

In addition to others, two more air stations had been designated to operate airships in Europe, Guipavas and Gujan. Gujan LTA (Lighter-than-Air) station was established on 3 February 1918; construction work began on 20 February 1918. Lt. L.L. Babbitt was assigned as commanding officer. The air station was scheduled to operate two dirigibles, but Gujan never had an airship assigned. When the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918, there were three pilots detailed to the Gujan air station.

(This according to the document "Kite Balloons to Airships…the Navy’s Lighter-than-Air Experience" published by the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare) and the Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC.; Roy a. Grossnick, ed.)

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Physical Location

Collection shelved on 3rd floor.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift

Subject

Source

Title
Leman L. Babbitt WWI photographs, 1918
Status
Completed
Author
Milissa Burkart
Date
2012 September
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
McFarlin Library
University of Tulsa
2933 E. 6th St
Tulsa 74104-3123 USA
(918) 631-2496