U.S. Air Force

Mounted pen used by President Harry S. Truman to sign Senate Bill 1267. The bill authorized a unitary plan for construction of transonic and supersonic wind tunnel facilities and the establishment of an Air Engineering Development Center. This is from an album of images detailing the accomplishments of the first 20 years of the Arnold Engineering Development Center, sent to former president Truman by General Jessup D. Lowe.

President Harry S. Truman and Eleanor Pool Arnold share smiles next to a plaque during the dedication of Arnold Engineering Development Center near Tullahoma, TN. The AEDC was named for General Henry "Hap" Arnold, the first General of the Air Force, and is a facility with wind tunnels dedicated to testing air and space technology. This photo is from an album of images detailing the accomplishments of the first 20 years of the AEDC, sent to former president Truman by General Jessup D. Lowe.

Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul H. Griffith is shown at the Municipal Airport, Reading, Pennsylvania, with others not identified. Griffith is the fourth from the left.

James E. Webb, NASA head, is shown on the far right, with others, during a trip to the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee.

11x13 color mounted to an overall size of 16x19 showing the United States Air Force Thunderbird jets in formation. Inscribed and signed on the mat, "To President Harry S. Truman - with admiration and sincere best wishes. The U.S.A.F. "Thunderbirds" April 1960." Each member of the team has then signed their name. Original is in oversize file.

W. Stuart Symington, former Assistant Secretary of War for Air (1946-47) is shown taking the oath of office as Secretary of the Air Force from Chief Justice Fred Vinson. Left to right are: Mr. Symington, Secretary of the Army Kenneth C. Royall; Secretary of Defense James N. Forrestal; Chief Justice Fred Vinson; and Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan.

Portrait of John A. McCone, Under Secretary of the Air Force.

Portrait of W. Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force who later became a Senator from Missouri.

Portrait of Thomas K. Finletter, Secretary of the Air Force from 1950-53.

Paul H. Griffith, Assistant Secretary of Defense, presents the Legion of Merit to Colonel Sidney S. Rubenstein during a Pentagon ceremony on October 20, 1950.