Between the Covers

Softcover. Oblong small octavo. Spiral bound black paper wrappers with "Cal-Aero Academy Ontario, California" stamped in gilt on the front cover. Contains 43 black and white or sepia-toned gelatin silver photographs measuring 4" x 6" with captions. Near fine album with some edgewear with fine photographs. A souvenir photo album from the Cal-Aero Academy in Ontario, California in 1941. The album opens with a message from Philip V. Livingston which reads, “the inside story of our nation’s defense program as portrayed by these photographs of Cal-Aero Academy. Dedicated to all you men who 'keep ‘em flying': Army Air Corps officers, instructors, mechanics, cadets, and personnel.” Livingston is cited as the author and photographer of the album which is copyrighted 1941. He follows his dedication page with a short description of the academy itself. “In Southern California, a few miles east of Los Angeles…in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains is situated Cal-Aero Academy.” This photo book was given as a gift by Livingston to a fellow cadet, Jack Mendell. He writes, “good luck in the future and remember the school where you are doing your part in keepin ‘em flying. Yours, Phil Livingston.” Following this are 43 photographs Livingston took at the academy with captions in the negative. They show men during their training, rows of airplanes, marching, doing chores, shots of aircraft in flight, and two photos of African-American airmen. Also included are three photos taken at the academy of Abbot and Costello during the filming of *Keep’em Flying*. A very nice album detailing a World War II-era flight training school.

Item #421512