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Lt. Thomas E. Bartmess World War II Air Medal

 Collection
Identifier: MS 086
Finding aid note: Stored onsite in the vault at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the World War II Air Medal awarded posthumously to 2nd Lt. Thomas E. Bartmess, in its embossed black leather case marked “Air Medal.”

Dates

  • 1943

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored onsite in the vault at the Woodson Research Center.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish information from the Thomas E. Bartmess World War II Air Medal must be facilitated through the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical / Historical

The Thomas E. Bartmess Air Medal was presented posthumously to his widow, Eleanor Bartmess (who became Eleanor Riordan in May 1948). The medal was one of four presented to wartime aviators’ family members at a November 3, 1943, ceremony at Ellington Field. The four men were at the time listed as casualties of World War II aerial combat. Lt. Bartmess had been killed; the other three were prisoners of war.

Thomas Bartmess was a Houston native and a graduate of San Jacinto High School and Rice Institute. He was a member of the class of 1940 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was navigator on the Liberator “Little Beaver” from October 1942 until the time of his death. He was first reported missing after the Allied raid on Kiel and other Belgian cities but was later reported as having been killed in action. -source: “Women Given Awards for Men Listed as Casualties” by Flora Gordon Shoss, The Houston Post, Nov. 7, 1943.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet ( (1 box))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

The collection consists of a bronze military medal and ribbon in their original velvet-lined black leather box. It was awarded to 2nd Lt. Thomas E. Bartmess and presented posthumously to his widow, Eleanor Bartmess, on November 3, 1943.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift donated by Eleanor Bartmess (who became Mrs. Riordan in May 1948).

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Source

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Lt. Thomas E. Bartmess World War II Air Medal, 1943
Status
Completed
Author
Mary Tobin
Date
2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892