Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Edwin Daniel Groce Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Service Unit/Ship: 212th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Location of Service: Camp Upton, New York; Miami Beach, Florida; Tyndall Field, Florida; Sheppard Field, Texas; Washington; Santa Ana Army Air Base, California; Ellington Field, Texas; Lincoln, Nebraska; Gowen Field, Idaho
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/116161
Born in the Bronx, Edwin "Eddy" Groce was drafted into the Army in February 1943. Groce traded his studies at New York University for training as an aerial gunner, aircraft mechanic, and navigator. The more than 130 letters in his collection narrate his experiences during this stateside training. Written to his parents and to his brother Raymond, these letters offer a glimpse into Groce's journeys as he crisscrossed the country, training in locations as varied as Santa Ana, California and Miami Beach, Florida. On December 30, 1944, soon after his last visit home to New York and shortly before he was to depart for overseas, Groce was killed when his plane crashed outside of Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho.
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About this Item
Title
- Edwin Daniel Groce Collection
Names
- Groce, Edwin Daniel
- Groce, Nancy
State of Residence at Time of Collection Donation
- New York (State)
Headings
- - Groce, Edwin Daniel
- - 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
- Service Unit/Ship: 212th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Location of Service: Camp Upton, New York; Miami Beach, Florida; Tyndall Field, Florida; Sheppard Field, Texas; Washington; Santa Ana Army Air Base, California; Ellington Field, Texas; Lincoln, Nebraska; Gowen Field, Idaho
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1944
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran trained as an aerial gunner, airplane mechanic, B-24 navigator, and flight officer. He was one of ten Army airmen killed in a weather-related B-24 aircraft crash while training near Gowen Air Field.
Materials
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2019)
- Manuscript: Civilian Papers [2 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1939-1942)
- Manuscript: Clippings [4 items] -- (collected 1943-1944)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [136 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1943-1944)
- Manuscript: Military Papers [9 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1943-1945)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [4 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1944-1945)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [5 items] -- Photographs (collected 1942-1944)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2019-03-01; 2019)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/116161
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Special Format
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Camp Upton, New York
- Ellington Field, Texas
- Gowen Field, Idaho
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Santa Ana Army Air Base, California
- Sheppard Field, Texas
- Tyndall Field, Florida
- Washington