Original Pre WWII “U.S.S. Saratoga” Marine Corps Photo Album Featuring James Cagney Filming “Devil Dogs of the Air” - 208 Pictures and Documents
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Original Item: Only One Available. I’m sure by now we caught your attention by mentioning James Cagney being featured in the album. In 1934, at the US Naval Base San Diego, “Devil Dogs of the Air (a.k.a. Flying Marines)” a film by Warner Bros, directed by Lloyd Bacon, started their principal photography for the film. One of the featured squadrons stationed there, Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) after returning to San Diego in 1928, had traded in its World War I-era O2B-1s for new Curtiss F8C-1s and F8C-3s, which were soon redesignated OC-1s and OC-2s. Equipped with Vought O3U-6 Corsairs, the squadron continued to operate from San Diego and participated in the annual Fleet Problems, operating from the carriers USS Langley, USS Ranger, and USS Saratoga at different times. Shortly after receiving the F8C/OCs, the squadron, along with VO-10M took part in the filming of the 1929 movie Flight and later, predominantly appeared in the “Devil Dogs of the Air.”
Maneuvers (wargames) by the United States Navy and the USMC are the actual "stars" of the movie. In the film, the USN represented the BLUE Force while the enemy was the BROWN Force.
This album belonged to a Marine by the name of Clifford Lewis Frazier (1163481). Frazier was born on May 20, 1909 and died on March 13, 2000. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on August 12, 1932 and was assigned to an Aviation Unit. From 1932 until 1957, Frazier served in the United States Marine Corps in various Marine Corps Aviation units all across the country from the Westcoast to Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He climbed in rank rather fast as well; promoted to Corporal on February 8, 1933, Sergeant on October 2, 1933 and Gunnery Sergeant on September 1, 1934. Now it is unclear with his further promotions, all we know is that by the time he retired in 1957 he was a Chief Warrant Officer 2. There is a lot more research to be done on CWO2 Frazier and will definitely keep you busy for a while!
This soft leather bound album, which features a painting of the USS Saratoga and an aviation insignia on the front, contains over 200 pictures as well as some certificates and documents.
Some of the pictures featured are 13 pictures while in Panama, 11 Equator crossing with ceremony pictures, VMB-2 group photo with the pilots wearing squadron patches, over 20 pictures of various Naval and Marine Corps aircrafts, pictures of the Pan American China Clipper, possible female starlets and 6 pictures featuring James Cagney and the aircraft “Worlds Greatest Aviator”.
Documents featured in the album is a Recommendation letter written by Captain L.B. Stedman Jr on March 12, 1935. As for what this recommendation was for we do not know. There is a 1935 dated Christmas dinner menu for the San Diego Air Station, 3 equator crossing certificates “Domain of Neptunus Rex”. Also contained in the album is Frazier’s Noncommercial Pilot’s License from the Department of Commerce.
All photos are one-of-a-kind and are just absolutely beautiful. It is incredible seeing personal photos of early military aviation, especially the United States Marine Corps. Most pictures are still in the corner slots but some have lost adhesiveness and there are a few loose pictures in the pages.
This is a welcomed addition into your Aviation collections or if you are a big Cagney fan then this is for you!
United States Marine Corps Aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation is the aircraft arm of the United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps aviation units have a very different mission and operation than their ground counterparts and thus have their own history, traditions, terms, and procedures. Aviation units within the Marine Corps are assigned to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, as the aviation combat element, by providing six functions: assault support, anti air warfare, close air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance. The Corps operates both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft mainly to provide transport and close air support to its ground forces. Other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special-purpose roles. All Marine Corps aviation falls under the influence of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, whose job is to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps in all matters relating to aviation, especially acquisition of new assets, conversions of current aircraft, maintenance, operation, and command.
Marine Corps aviation officially began on 22 May 1912, when First Lieutenant Alfred Austell Cunningham reported to Naval Aviation Camp in Annapolis, Maryland, "for duty in connection with aviation." On 20 August 1912, he became the first Marine aviator when he took off in a Burgess Model H given to him by the Burgess Company in Marblehead Harbor , Massachusetts.
As the number of Marine Corps pilots grew, so did the desire to separate from Naval Aviation, an objective realized on 6 January 1914, when First Lieutenant Bernard L. Smith was directed to Culebra, Puerto Rico, to establish the Marine Section of the Navy Flying School. In 1915, the Commandant of the Marine Corps authorized the creation of a Marine Corps aviation company consisting of 10 officers and 40 enlisted men.[6] The Marine Aviation Company was commissioned on 17 February 1917 as the first official Marine flying unit, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
Devil Dogs of the Air Plot
Lieut. Bill Brannigan (Pat O'Brien) learns friend and hotshot pilot Thomas Jefferson "Tommy" O'Toole (James Cagney), the self-styled "world's greatest aviator", is joining the USMC Reserve Aviator training program. O'Toole arrives at San Diego and promptly starts to move in on Brannigan's love interest, Betty Roberts (Margaret Lindsay), the daughter of the owner of the nearby Happy Landings Cafe. In typical cocky fashion, O'Toole antagonizes nearly everyone else.
Although not temperamentally suited for the military, Tommy completes primary training and after surviving an accident he caused by running out of fuel, eventually realizes that he is willing to change.
Bill is assigned as his instructor, and on the first flight together, when Tommy begins to do some stunt flying, the aircraft has to be abandoned when it catches on fire. Bill bales out, but Tommy defies orders and lands the aircraft, making him a hero. Tommy performs his first solo flight perfectly and then browbeats Betty into attending the solo flight party with him. Bill is not amused.
After a competition in the air with his friend Brannigan flying together, a midair emergency takes place, but it is Bill who saves the aircraft. Tommy makes a good landing, and finds Betty waiting for him. Although their friendship is restored, Bill realizes that Tommy has won Betty and arranges a transfer to another base.
The rare U.S. Marine Corps Curtiss RC-1 air ambulance, A-8864, made an appearance in the film. Other unusual types that appear in the film include:
Loening OL-8 two-seat amphibian biplane
Travel Air D-4000 civilian stunt biplane
Vought O2U Corsair two-seat scout biplane
Boeing F4B single-seat pursuit biplane
Ford Trimotor multi-passenger transport
Douglas Dolphin
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