Personal Narrative 3D Object Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Edward Gottlieb Zahler Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 85th Airdrome Squadron; 8th Air Force
- Location of Service: New Jersey; Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; North Carolina; Philippines; New Guinea; Ie-Shima (Ryukyu Islands); Australia; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/112362
The oldest of eight siblings, Edward Gottlieb Zahler enlisted in the Army Air Forces following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and served in the Pacific Theater as a flight engineer with the 8th Air Force. His Veterans History Project collection includes 91 letters written to his younger sister Lillian. While his correspondence is light-hearted--full of brotherly teasing, movie recommendations, and funny anecdotes about military life--his letters evidence mutual affection and concern. They also portray the challenges of a family with multiple members in service. As the war dragged on, Zahler became increasingly concerned about the fate of his kid brother Donald, who had enlisted in the Army Air Forces with him and was serving with the 91st Bomb Group in the European Theater. Lillian Zahler donated both of her brothers' collections to the Veterans History Project in 2018.
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About this Item
Title
- Edward Gottlieb Zahler Collection
Names
- Porter, Lillian
- Zahler, Edward Gottlieb
Home State
- Georgia
Headings
- - Zahler, Edward Gottlieb
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 85th Airdrome Squadron; 8th Air Force
- Location of Service: New Jersey; Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; North Carolina; Philippines; New Guinea; Ie-Shima (Ryukyu Islands); Australia; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1942-1946
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a flight engineer.
Materials
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2007)
- Manuscript: Clippings [5 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1942-2001)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [92 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1942-1999)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [15 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1943-2016)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1994-09-26)
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [2 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1944-1994)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [3 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1944-1946)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [8 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1942-2007)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [57 items] -- Photograph (collected 1942-1983)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [1 item] -- Photograph (collected 2007)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [18 items] -- Photograph (collected 1942-1946)
- Photograph: Duplicate [5 items] -- Photograph (collected 1942-2007)
- Artifact: Artifact [18 items] -- (collected 1942-1946)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/112362
Cite as
- Edward Gottlieb Zahler Collection (AFC/2001/001/112362), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Australia
- Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
- Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Ie-Shima (Ryukyu Islands)
- New Guinea
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Pacific Theater
- Philippines