The United States Martial Arms Collection was established by William G. Schott to seek out, preserve and exhibit the history of the United States Army. The collection resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. All inquiries can be directed to schott@entropygroup.com.
Far away from Bunker Hill and Gettysburg, the Mojave Desert might be last place on earth where you would expect to find one of the best assemblages of American military history. Bill Schott’s private collection chronicles the history of the United States Army from the late 18th century to the present day. Viewing the collection, you will see the majority of small arms, uniforms and equipment used by Army soldiers and aviators. Though the sizable collection is housed privately, Bill goes to great lengths to show it to groups and exhibit portions of the collection in public venues at opportunity allows.
For the past five years, Bill and his son Dan have been hosted by Nellis Air Force Base to provide the base with a comprehensive display of artifacts, dating from the turn of the 20th century to 1947 when the United States Army Air Forces became its own military branch. Exhibiting the collection to the public has affording Bill and Dan with the opportunity of teaching precious history to youth and adults alike. Veterans have expressed their gratitude for preserving their past, and Bill and Dan have had the opportunity to meet and acknowledge Tuskegee Airmen, B-17 crewmen, and veterans of the D-Day invasion.
One day, the collection may find a permanent home in a public museum. Until such time, this site provides greater exposure of the collection to anyone with a casual or academic interest in the United States Martial Arms Collection.
Bill was attempting to track down info on US volunteers to the Soviet AF during WWII. Turns out that the info on the web has to do with a rather large wargame. The USAF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB provided this info. Miss the old man. Lou
Hi Lou,
There is an author named A.D. Harvey; he is the editor or the Salisbury Review. He wrote an article called “The Soviet Air Force versus the Luftwaffe.” It was published in History Today; Jan2002, Vol. 52 Issue 1, p48. Harvey may be a good source or one of these other writers (some of Soviet experts) which Harvey lists at the end of his article:
John Erickson, The Road to Stalingrad (Phoenix, 1998); Yefim Gordon and Dmitri Khazanov, Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War (Midland, 1998 onward); Robin Higham, John T. Greenwood and Von Hardesty eds., Russian Aviation and Air Power in the Twentieth Century (Frank Cass, 1998); Hugh Morgan, Soviet Aces of World Wars (Osprey, 1997); (S.I. Rudenko), The Soviet Air Force in World War II: the Official History originally published by the Ministry of Defence of the USSR. ed. Ray Wagner (David & Charles, 1974); Hans D. Seidl, Stalin’s Eagles: an Illustrated Study of the Soviet Aces of World War II & Korea (Schiffer, 1998); Mike Spick, Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: the Jagdflieger and their Combat Tactics and Techniques (Greenhill, 1996); William R. Trotter, A Frozen Hell: the Russo-Finnish War of 1939-1940 (Algonquin Books, 1991).
I hope the info is helpful,
Dan
Contact with US Air Force Museum revealed that the referred to US Volunteers to the USSR (777th Group) is actually part of a rather sophisticated online game.
Would recommend that you consider setting up a display at the Heritage Room, Airman Leadership School at Nellis AFB. The Heritage Room is a mini-museum that will be enlarged. The school teaches month-long courses in leadership to Senior Airmen and SSgt’s. All newly assigned enlisted personnel are taken through the facility to view artifacts, uniforms, pictures and models that are pertinent to the history of the USAF to include the USAAF, Air Corps and Air Service. I have donated items I was working with Bill on and will have a few more items for display in the future. I plan to contact the Special Operations Association and China Post 1 who will be having a convention here in September to look at the Heritage Room. Many members were a part of the earlier history of the USAF from Southeast Asia.