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HARRY W. SNYDER : 1942 ORIGINAL, HISTORIC MANUSCRIPT DIARY AND PHOTO ALBUM DETAILING THE BEGINNING OF PAN AMERICAN AIRLINES CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR EFFORT HAND WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY AN ERUDITE AND KEEN EYED AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is a sensational, historically significant manuscript and photographic relic of World War II service with the unusual and unique perspective of a 'blue collar' aviation machinist's mate who was employed by one of America's most important and key strategic resources: Pan American Airlines. Harry W. Snyder Jr. was an aviation machinist's mate for Pan American Airways - Africa, Ltd. He created and compiled an absolutely rare and detailed retelling of his work, service, travels and observations and Harry proves to be a sensational, keen eyed diarist. Adding further depth is a scrapbook filled with fascinating images. Of particular interest to historians and researcher to this vastly important historical niche of strategic resource relationships during WWII will understand Pan American's key involvement creating Pan American Airways - Africa, Ltd. in 1941 between. It flew materials and personnel from Miami to South America across the Atlantic to Africa where it crossed the Sahara Dessert onto the Middle East and British India where it flew over the Himalaya Mountains "The Hump" as it was called into China. Harry is in an inviable position to witness history: the diary riod when the United States was just beginning its African campaign. He begins writing in June as he leaves the states and then spends some brief time in South America. His entries begin June 24, 1942 with a final entry Dec 25, 1942. The diary entries mention the issues with Pan American, and how the lines were often blurred between civilian, and military operations. It seems the company in Africa was going to be taken over by the U.S. Army. He also mentions many plane crashes, or "crack ups" as he called them, some with horrible results. An entry from the diary mentions a fighter plane losing control the pilot bailed out, but his parachute failed to open and he dies on impact. His plane blew up on the runway ammunition exploded into the night. This is just one of the entries there are more crashes, air raids, and practice drills (in case the Germans bombed ) having to carry a gun, native troops with tanks, machine guns etc. Snyder also writes about life in the Africa and the West Coast city of Accra (Capital city of Ghana) the bars and other establishments, nightclubs, prostitutes, native people, soldiers there is so much more. In addition to the diary there is an excellent photo album depicting scenes from Accra showing life among the native people, local soldiers street scenes etc. The album contains 71 photos after his service with Pan Am Harry then joined Navy and earned several medals for his service in WW II. Here are some snippets: June 30, 1942 Flight to South America than Africa. Up at 4:45 am breakfast & than to the airport. Plane checked up or 2 guys took off at 7:55 Flew through storms most of the way sighted boat once during break in storms. Over Brazil & hours of nothing but jungle. Some small huts along Amazon River only signs of life. Almost dark when we landed. Just missed a crash when we had to pull up to miss a boat. Circled again and landed at 5:45 pm Raining when we landed. One mans over night hit went overboard & had to be recovered. Took bus to Grand Hotel in Belium. Pera Everyone speaks Portuguese had trouble getting dinner using Mil Res= to about 0.5 took watch tonight and girls ? Both rode the trolley. This is a funny place to write this because I never forget it anyway. The hotel is lousy ants & lizards all over. Lizards will crawl up and down walls. I wrote to Sally & mom to tell them about the lousy dump censors will probably cut out half of the letters. I will tell them again when I get to Africa. I want to get mosquito nets tomorrow; they will cost 100 Mal I hate to go to bed here as I am afraid of getting jiggers or something worse. There are a lot of us sailors here they told us places to go. They are all liquor dives. Went to the "Wonder Bar" Its a wonder all right that anyone can stand it. Beer women don't like either. Women will hang all over you if you don't chase them. I kept moving around until we left so that could not sit down near me. They are all filthy I cant wait to leave here. July 6, 1942 Africa Assigned to " Equipment" Easy job check flares, pistols rations etc. Start in at 6:30am and finish at 4:00pm landed job today and checked plane out ok'ed by Lawson. Not hard to make the "Wogs" do all the dirty work. Rumors about army taking over are still persistent and I believe this to be true. Maybe here for duration yet. I hope not. Wrote 4 letters tonight saw movie "Ice Follies 39" old but good. Saw a Bristol Bear fighter on field today it as pained black. Sweet looking plane. July 10, 1942 Africa Up at 5:45 ate breakfast than to airport worked on a couple of planes that had to go out and tan took it easy. Came in for dinner and found Tommy Olsen in Rec Hall he just got in late last night. The others are still in Natal. Back to field but nothing to do took it easy all afternoon al the near quitting time got a plane to ready for morning. A native boy killed a deadly viper under the Goodman's & brought it out on the field. Very ugly looking. July 13, 1942 Africa Up into work at 7:00 We started new hours today I felt lousy all day. Very weak & had a stiff neck. Only 3 ships on field for us to check so I was lucky & didn't have to work hard. There were 5 B 24's on field today, but 4 flew out. Two of out ships cracked up over weekend 085 flew out on Sat cracked up at Khatouw- and another ship cracked & burned some other place. Bad weekend for P.A.A. Army took over pilots today they were made Capt's & first Louis, I supposed I will find out were I stand in a couple of weeks. July 17, 1942 Africa Up breakfast & airport lots of work this mourning & found out they were expecting the 40's they had both fire eng. & meat wagon ready & also asbestos suits. However the 40s didn't get here. Ate lunch & got letters from Ma. July 21, 1942 Africa Up and breakfast than airport. Read notes & went to work. Lunch and than back to work a bunch of B-24's have been coming in all day. English show this afternoon. Wrote to Sally & folks. Listened to phonograph & started talking with some B-24 pilots, on their way out to Cairo. Lost a couple B-24s on way one at Roberts went in ocean 2 out of eight alive. I am wondering if I'll ever get home again ever. H. Told me that if we do go home we will be marked and drafted back into service right away if the army wants us. Don't know but what should try for Specialist. But I think I 'll go home if I get a chance. Join the navy if I have no other choice but draft. July 27, 1942 Africa Up breakfast field worked morning on ships going out today and tomorrow- B 24's went out today & night noon time mail in but none for me. Heard rumor that Seattle was bombed but no proof. Back to field & worked until 4:00. A lot of B-25's came in today. Collected the ck after 4:00 pm than down to Barracks & shower. Aug 1, 1942 Africa I have been away over 1 month now here in Accra for almost 1 month. This place is fairly nice the food is not so bad except once in a while when we got goat or something worse. This month has been hectic in that we hear so many rumors etc. It is a fact that the army is taking over but we don't know it what capacity & what our status will be. So there's nothing do to but wait. I never knew before how much mail can mean to a person & am glad for the friends who write me. Aug 2,1942 Africa Up at 8:45 breakfast -my day off so I decided to go to Accra, went in rented a bicycle went to lumberyard - docks - got wet riding than along breakwater saw drummers wet out to Christian log castles saw dungeons went to court building & police station, than native market & than back to Accra saw a chiefs procession. Than got on bus & went back to camp. Aug 31, 1942 Africa This month sure has been a trying one. First were going to severe contracts than are not than were going home & latest rumor had it that we'll stay here either in the army of the U.S. or else in civil service I guess we'll get the real lowdown eventually whew they'll really tell each if us just what we can be if we stay here or if we can ho home at all. Every day brings a new confidential story on the set up and each one as far fetched as the other. Everyone has been broke for about a week already as they are holding up our pay checks for some reason. Rumor still has it that we will get a hell of a strafing here some night. Particularly since they bombed the convoy at Lagos. Well its almost 2 months Ive been in Africa and I'm not crazy about it. The food is getting worse every day and I miss my gal. Hope for better information in the coming month. Sept 13, 1942 Africa An air raid siren woke me at 5:30 up & went out to see the score. Decided it was a practice when nothing showed up than breakfast and work. At 10:00 a couple of Blenkeims Hudsons & Beam fighters staged a raid on the field. Boy what a sight. Zooming lovely above the ground & between the hangers. We all made for the bush saw 100 native troops on maneuvers all clean & on for chop no meal back to field. The whole place is crawling with native troops tanks machine guns everything. Off early so back to camp. No lights no water bad situation. Nov 8, 1942 Africa Up breakfast - wash Heard the American troops landed in French Morocco. All planes are grounded expecting air raid - everyone with a gun must carry it. Cleaned & loaded guns on all planes. Installed bomb racks lunch and back to field. Rumors of all kinds from Italy to Doha etc. Went to 4;00 movie fleets in "Saw it back home with Sally chop and shower than wrote Sally. Total black out tonight keep up until we see where we stand. Funny to be here & yet not know what goes on. People at home probably all know. Bed at 11:00.' HISTORICAL NOTES: Pan American Africa: Pan American Airways-Africa, Limited proved to be one of the Allies' most important strategic resources during World War Two.

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