CCSU Veterans History Project

- Oral history interview with Francis J. Vail conducted on 2004 Sept. 4
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Italy; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Airplanes -- American; Bombardier (Motion picture); United States. Air Force -- Aviation mechanics
- Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Francis "Jim" Vail enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September of 1942. He was living in Stafford Springs, CT at the time, and applied to be a pilot. Although, he failed the eye test, he wanted to remain...
- Veterans History Project
- Sergeant Francis James Vail in his Army Air Corps Uniform
- United States. Army Air Corps; Portrait photographs; Veterans -- Connecticut;
- Formal portrait of Francis James Vail, a member of the 41st Air Depot Group, taken circa 1942.
- Veterans History Project
- The airstrip used by the 41st Air Depot Group in Gioia del Colle, Italy
- United States. Army Air Corps; World War, 1939-1945; Airports -- Italy;
- The airstrip used by the 41st Air Depot Group as it was in 1943, in Gioia del Colle, Italy (part of the province of Bari).
- Veterans History Project
- Group photograph of Francis J. Vail and other members of the 41st Air Depot Group.
- United States. Army Air Corps; World War, 1939-1945;Portraits, Group
- Left to Right: front row- Bill Marnell, Phil Moskowitz, unknown soldier. Back row - The first three men were shot down the same day this photo was taken. Francis J. Vail is in the back row first from the right.
- Veterans History Project
- Cover of the book about the 41st Air Depot Group
- United States. Army Air Corps;
- Francis Vail designed the cover for this book.
- Veterans History Project
- The Roman Forum
- Roman Forum (Rome, Italy)
- Taken on Francis Vail’s visit to Rome, Italy during World War II.
- Veterans History Project
- Francis Vail and other Army Air Corps men while in Italy.
- World War, 1939-1945; United States. Army Air Corps; Airmen;
- From left to right: unknown, unknown, George Norcross, Phil Moskowitz, unknown, Francis Vail, Bill Martinell, test pilot. In front - Radio operator from Maine.
- Veterans History Project
- B-24 bomber crash at Gioia del Colle airstrip
- B-24 bomber; Aircraft accidents
- Veterans History Project
- U.S.O. entertainers arriving in Gioia del Colle, Italy
- Haley, Jack, 1899-1979; United Service Organizations (U.S.);
- At left in foreground is Jack Haley shown with other U.S.O. performers at Gioia del Colle, Italy during World War II.
- Veterans History Project
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano
- Taken on Francis Vail’s visit to Rome, Italy during World War II.
- Veterans History Project
- Jack Haley and USO crew members signing a B-17
- B-17 bomber; World War, 1939-1945; Haley, Jack, 1899-1979; United Service Organizations (U.S.);
- Jack Haley is on the right with members of the U.S.O. crew in Gioia del Colle, Italy.
- Veterans History Project
- Jack Haley christening B-17 "Jack Haley's Comet"
- B-17 bomber; World War, 1939-1945;Haley, Jack, 1899-1979;
- Jack Haley christening B-17 bomber that was named for him, in Italy during World War II.
- Veterans History Project
- Sculpture outside of Mussolini's Youth Camp
- Gioventù italiana del littorio; World War, 1939-1945;
- Veterans History Project
- Building where Mussolini's Youth Camp (Gioventù italiana del littorio) was housed
- Gioventù italiana del littorio; World War, 1939-1945; Public buildings -- Italy;
- Mussolini's youth camp shown after the Americans took over.
- Veterans History Project
- Oral history interview with Thelma E. Symonds recorded 2006 Jun. 29
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives; War brides -- Australia; Marriage;
- Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Thelma E. Symonds lived in Rockhampton, Australia, when she met her husband of over sixty years, Stanley Symonds. He was a member of the 41st Signal Company of the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Rockhampton...
- Veterans History Project
- Synopsis of oral history interview with James Vail
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Italy; Airplanes -- American; Bombardier (Motion picture); United States. Air Force -- Aviation mechanics
- Typed synopsis of video interview with James Vail conducted by Eileen Hurst.
- Veterans History Project
- Buildings with smoke rising in Bari, Italy after a German attack
- World War, 1939-1945; Bombing, Aerial;
- The Germans attacked Bari, Italy on December 2, 1943. Over one thousand were killed. This photograph shows the smoke rising from the buildings.
- Veterans History Project
- Destruction after the December 2, 1943 bombing of Bari, Italy
- World War, 1939-1945; Bombing, Aerial; Buildings War damage
- The Germans attacked Bari, Italy on December 2, 1943. Over one thousand were killed. This photograph shows the parts of the destruction afterward.
- Veterans History Project
- Francis J. Vail and other squad members in Africa
- World War, 1939-1945; United States. Army Air Corps; Portraits, Group
- From Left to Right: Sgt. Haven Williams, Francis Vail. The other three soldiers are unknown. Taken in Africa, 1943.
- Veterans History Project
- B-17 Aircraft
- B-17 bomber; Airplanes -- American; World War, 1939-1945;
- B-17 Aircraft in Gioia del Colle, Italy, 1944.
- Veterans History Project