Captain Benjamin Cloud was a U.S. Navy pilot who worked in reconnaissance at various stages of his long career, including on the cusp of the Vietnam War. Eventually he would be assigned command of that unit making him one of the first African-American officers to command a squadron. This collection focuses on photos taken by Cloud or his reconnaissance squadrons. This Collection includes numerous photos taken by Cloud.

Ralph W. Hanlon was born on July 31, 1923 in Springfield, MA. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and served on USS Cabot (CVL 28). He retired as a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Max Jesperson served in the Air Force for over 26 years and took part in World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The collection contains 92 manuscripts, written/compiled between the early twentieth century and early twenty-first century. These manuscripts range from television and movie scripts to flight logs, accident report, personal recollections, and biographies/memoirs. Subjects include (but are not limited to) early flight, World War I, World War II, women avioators, air ships, and flight testing.

Richard Ott was a staff sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Santa Ana, California. He served in the Vietnam War.

Charles “Cap” Pinney graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1964. He served in the Marine Corps, flying over 400 combat missions. After his service, he was a commercial pilot for Western, Aircal and American Airlines. He is also a practicing attorney. This collection contains 74 digital files highlighting his career in aviation.

Keith Sharer's career in aviation spanned from the Second World War until Vietnam. He was also was very important to the growth of the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

The collection consists of 137 photos documenting the USS Kearsarge (CVA-33).