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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON
ADDRESS ONLY
THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
September 30, 1941.
MEMORANDUM for Mr. Collins.

In accordance with your instructions I traveled to Fredericksburg yesterday for the purpose of making aerial photographs of the Fredericksburg, Wakefield and Westmoreland areas, but was unable to perform this mission due to failure of the autogiro to appear as scheduled.
The understanding between our office and the Regional Office of Region One was that the photographs were to be made on September 29. Accordingly, I arrived at Fredericksburg at 9 o'clock yesterday morning and went immediately to the Fredericksburg airport in company with Historian Taylor to meet the autogiro which was to be flown from Manteo by Pilot Driskill. When the ship had not arrived by about 10:30, Mr. Taylor and I returned to the office in Fredericksburg and I telephoned the Regional Office at Richmond. Mr. Johnston informed me that Mr. Driskill was supposed to be on his way to Fredericksburg.
Mr. Taylor and I returned to the airport and took up our vigil again. At 12:40 p.m. we returned to Fredericksburg for lunch. After lunch we called at the office again. Regional Inspector Stratton had arrived from Richmond and informed me that he had talked to Mr. Driskill at Manteo by telephone and learned that the pilot had not received a letter sent to him from the Regional Office in which he was instructed to be at Fredericksburg that day. Mr. Stratton said that Mr. Driskill advised him that he would leave Manteo immediately and should arrive at Fredericksburg  between 1:30 and 2 o'clock. Mr. Taylor and I returned to the airport and kept watch again. Later in the afternoon Superintendent Spaulding drove to the airport with Mr. Stratton and Superintendent Hough of Wakefield who had driven to Fredericksburg to discuss aerial photographs of his area. At 3:15 p.m. I telephoned to Mr. Knabenshue at the Washington Office and obtained his consent to a suggestion by Mr. Taylor that the Fairchild camera I had taken to Fredericksburg be left there for Mr. Taylor's use if and when the autogiro arrived. Mr. Taylor promised to return the camera to Washington immediately after the pictures had been made.