Lyden H. Rien Boeing Flying Fortress School Collection

The Lyden H. Rien Boeing Flying Fortress School Collection consists of materials related to Rien's military service during World War II as a B-17 mechanic.

The bulk of the collection consists of U.S. Army Air Corps Technical School training materials from the Boeing Flying Fortress School, part of the Boeing School of Aeronautics, from when Rien trained as a B-17 mechanic in 1942. The materials include a two-volume training manual that is interspersed with handwritten notes and diagrams, as well as a student notebook with lecture notes and worksheets. The manual covers such subjects as electrical fundamentals, airplane structures, hydraulic systems, propellers, aircraft instruments, and aircraft engine operation. Rien's diploma from the U.S. Army Air Corps Technical School dated September 25, 1942 as well as two group portraits of men in the Boeing School of Aeronautics class of 34-42 are also present.

The collection also contains an Army Air Forces scrapbook that includes notes and diary entries about his service; 45 black-and-white photographic snapshots depicting fellow servicemen, primarily at leisure; printed ephemera such as theater and event programs, brochures from sites visited in England, ticket stubs and a leave pass; as well as numerous clippings. There are also two group portraits of men in the Boeing School of Aeronautics class of 34-42.

Digitized Materials: This collection has been digitized in its entirety.

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