John Fornasero Papers

The John Fornasero Papers are comprised of documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera pertaining to the life and work of John B. Fornasero. A significant portion of this collection is made up of photographs. Major topics include the Ryan School of Aeronautics, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, Fairchild Aircraft Company, and Boeing Aircraft Company. Some files contain contextual information provided by Janet Fornasero Burton.

Series 1, Ryan School of Aeronautics, 1926-1982, consists of correspondence, photographs, a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and publications related to Fornasero’s career at the Ryan School of Aeronautics and the Ryan Company. The correspondence consists of incoming letters, primarily from Ryan historian Everett Cassagneres concerning John Fornasero’s work. The photographs are primarily large, black-and-white images of various aircraft. Some feature Fornasero. There are also smaller 3x5” snapshots of aircraft, most of which have been identified by the donor. Aircraft pictured include the Ryan ST, the Spencer S-12, and the Aeronca TG-5A. The scrapbook of Fornasero’s early years at Ryan, compiled by his wife Elouise Fornasero, includes Fornasero’s pilot’s diploma as well as newspaper articles about Fornasero and Ryan aircraft. Also included are large portraits and small snapshots, some of which have inscriptions provided by Elouise. Some photographs in the scrapbook have been autographed. The loose newspaper clippings, spanning 1968-1982, were collected by Elouise. A significant portion of the clippings concern the death of T. Claude Ryan in 1982. Other topics of interest include Jacqueline Cochran and the Ryan Company. The ephemera includes materials related to the Ryan School reunion from 1980 that Elouise attended. The publications include official Ryan School of Aeronautics program brochure booklets, Ryan Company Sky News newsletters, a 1937 Ryan School of Aeronautics catalog, and a guidebook to Ryan aircraft, dated 1975. Many of the publications include notes and identifications made by the donor.

Series 2, Civil Aeronautics Administration, 1927-1945, consists of correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, certifications, and reports related to Fornasero’s career at the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). The correspondence is comprised of incoming letters concerning Fornasero’s resignation from the CAA. The photographs are small black-and-white snapshots of Fornasero either alone or with unidentified men. Also included are his CAA credentials dated September 20, 1938, and his CAA certificate dated 1957. The newspaper clippings are undated but include a photograph of Fornasero with G. Willis Tyson, Len Povey, and Carloyn, the Carlstrom Aviation Field mascot, as well as a brief tribute printed in the Ryan School of Aeronautics newsletter about his work at the CAA. The reports included in this series focus on atmospheric data.

Series 3, Fairchild Aircraft Company, 1943-1944, consists of photographs and newspaper clippings related to Fornasero’s career at the Fairchild Aircraft Company. The photographs are primarily large black-and-white images related to the Fairchild AT-21 and include images of the aircraft itself and its debut ceremony in September 1943, as well as images identified by the donor as “company dignitaries.” Newspaper clippings include profiles of Fornasero, the Fairchild Company, and the progression of the AT-21 project.

Series 4, Boeing Aircraft Company, 1943-1966, consists of photographs, a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and publications related to Fornasero’s career at the Boeing Aircraft Company. Photographs include large black-and-white images of the Boeing 707, B-50, B-52, B-57, C-97, and 377, both in-flight and on the ground. Also included are large photographs and snapshots of Fornasero with other Boeing test pilots and personnel. Individuals identified by the donor include President Eisenhower, Colonel Guy M. Townsend, W. D. Showalter, George Haldeman, and Tex Johnson. The scrapbook of Fornasero’s time at Boeing was compiled by his wife and is comprised of newspaper clippings, snapshots of Fornasero with other Boeing pilots, airmail covers, and Fornasero’s Boeing identification cards. Topics covered in the loose newspaper clippings include the 707, B-52, C-97, 377, and profiles of Fornasero. The ephemera includes materials collected by Fornasero’s grandson at the Boeing Customer Service Center. Publications include an issue of American Aviation from 1966 with notes from the donor.

Series 5, Rheem Manufacturing, 1955-1959, consists of large black-and-white photographs of surveillance drone prototypes, a company portrait of Fornasero, and newspaper clippings profiling Fornasero from 1955 and 1959.

Series 6, Pilot Logbooks, 1928-1957, consists of the private pilot logs of John B. Fornasero throughout his entire piloting career.

Series 7, Personal Records, 1904-2006, consists of three subseries: family, personal documents, and death. The family subseries includes family photographs, primarily from Fornasero’s childhood, and newspaper clippings concerning his brother James’ death in a plane crash in 1960. The personal records subseries includes a personal photo album and documents from throughout Fornasero’s life, including birth records, school diplomas, and marriage license. The photo album contains photographs dated 1924-1927. These are small black-and-white snapshots from Fornasero’s work with the California Edison Company as well as snapshots of early aircraft. There is also a short biography of his life. The death subseries incudes letters of condolence written to Elouise Fornasero as well as obituaries for Fornasero from local newspapers, the Ryan company newsletter, and the Boeing company newsletter. Also included is one copy of Fornasero’s funeral program.

Digitized Materials: A selection of materials focusing on Fornasero's aviation career has been digitized from this collection.