Harmon Museum Aviation Collections
Leo Boyle Aviation Collection
Creator/Compiler: Leo Boyle [b. 1926 d. -- ]
Repository: Old Orchard Beach Historical Society/Harmon Museum
Inclusive Dates: 1981-1992
Collection size: .5 cubic foot / .5 linear foot
Accession Nos: 1985.008.002-002 / 1987.002-001 / 1988.001002 / 1992.010.001
Collection No: ASC 2
Restrictions: None.This collection is open for research upon request.
Biographical Notes: Leo Boyle was born in 1926. He was just 4 years old when he met the first of the many famous aviators who visited Old Orchard Beach during the era of trans-Atlantic flights after Charles Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris in 1927. He called their planes "broom-brooms" and became fascinated with collecting model planes and aviation books and magazines.
Mr. Boyle started the Maine Aviation Historical Society in 1967 as an informal group that met in his Portland, Maine bookstore before he and other members formally established it as a non-profit organization in 1990. The society currently has 200 active members and more than 400 registered members.
Between 1993 and 2003, Mr. Boyle has been editor of the group's monthly newsletter, Dirigo Flyer, which features historical articles as well as aviation news from Maine.
Mr. Boyle took his first ride in a plane at age 15, when he convinced a pilot at the Portland airport to take him up. It was just a 15-minute flight over Portland, but it was one of the most exciting experiences of his life.
After high school, Boyle wanted to go into the Air Force but his eyesight was not good enough to serve as a pilot, so he joined the Army instead. After serving in the Infantry during World War II, he earned a degree in economics from the University of Maine. He learned to fly and received a student license, but with a young family and a new house to take care of, he decided he didn't have the time or money to pursue flying as a career.
Mr. Boyle ran Jones Bookstore on Congress Street for 15 years, where he developed a large aviation section. A number of his customers showed interest in the aviation books, so Boyle held monthly meetings for people interested in talking about planes. The dozen or so members called themselves the Maine Aviation Historical Society, but the group stopped meeting during the 1980s after Boyle's store closed.
In 1981, Boyle was invited to speak at the Northeast Aero Historians meeting at Owls Head Transportation Museum where he met aviation enthusiasts from all over the Northeast.
In the summer of 2003 the Aviation Historical Society established the Maine Air Museum at the Bangor International Airport, The museum includes thousands of aviation publications, artifacts and uniforms. Also on display are a Luscombe 8A airplane from the 1930s, a Vietnam-era Bell Huey helicopter and a Scorpion helicopter from the 1970s. Boyle hopes to create a library at the museum and develop an educational program. The historical society is also starting a Maine Air Museum Hall of Fame.
Mr. Boyle currently lives in Westbrook, Maine.
Scope and Content Notes: The collection consists of a number of articles about aviation history in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Other items include cancelled envelope and stamp honoring the early airmail flight made by Harry M. Jones from Portland, Maine to Augusta, Maine. A framed 12” x 18” poster from a 1930’s Popular Mechanic Magazine about the Old Orchard Beach Glider Plane. A piece of original fabric from the glider is included.
Provenance: These items were donated to the OOBHS from Mr. Leo Boyle between 1985 and 1992.
Series Description:
Series 1. Publications. These include a speech written by Leo Boyle presented at the 17th annual meeting of the Northeast Aero Historians. Two other article written for an Old Orchard Beach newsletter, each pertaining to Aviation History in OOB.
Series 2. Artifacts. In this series we find two cancelled commemorative envelopes and a poster from an early 1930 Popular Mechanics magazine featuring the 1930 Domenjoz Glider that flew to Old Orchard Beach.
FINDING AIDS
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Box 1 Series 1. Publications
Folder 1. "Runway to Glory: A short history of Aviation in Maine" by Leo Boyle. A speech presented to the 17th annualmeeting of the Northeast Aero Historians. [n.d.]
Folder 2. ”Beginning to Old Glory" written by Frederick R. Hamlen (facsimile) [n.d.]
Folder 3. The Dawn" by Frederick Hamlan [n.d.]
Box 1 Series 2. Artifacts
Folder 4. 2 First day commemorative envelopes—"Harry Jones flies the first airmail Portland to Augusta" postmarked 12 June (2 copies)
Transp. Rm. 12"x18" poster advertising a 1930 Popular Mechanics Magazine "1930
Sailing Glider" (includes piece of fabric from glider)
[This is permanently displayed in the TransportationRoom]
Repository: Old Orchard Beach Historical Society/Harmon Museum
Inclusive Dates: 1981-1992
Collection size: .5 cubic foot / .5 linear foot
Accession Nos: 1985.008.002-002 / 1987.002-001 / 1988.001002 / 1992.010.001
Collection No: ASC 2
Restrictions: None.This collection is open for research upon request.
Biographical Notes: Leo Boyle was born in 1926. He was just 4 years old when he met the first of the many famous aviators who visited Old Orchard Beach during the era of trans-Atlantic flights after Charles Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris in 1927. He called their planes "broom-brooms" and became fascinated with collecting model planes and aviation books and magazines.
Mr. Boyle started the Maine Aviation Historical Society in 1967 as an informal group that met in his Portland, Maine bookstore before he and other members formally established it as a non-profit organization in 1990. The society currently has 200 active members and more than 400 registered members.
Between 1993 and 2003, Mr. Boyle has been editor of the group's monthly newsletter, Dirigo Flyer, which features historical articles as well as aviation news from Maine.
Mr. Boyle took his first ride in a plane at age 15, when he convinced a pilot at the Portland airport to take him up. It was just a 15-minute flight over Portland, but it was one of the most exciting experiences of his life.
After high school, Boyle wanted to go into the Air Force but his eyesight was not good enough to serve as a pilot, so he joined the Army instead. After serving in the Infantry during World War II, he earned a degree in economics from the University of Maine. He learned to fly and received a student license, but with a young family and a new house to take care of, he decided he didn't have the time or money to pursue flying as a career.
Mr. Boyle ran Jones Bookstore on Congress Street for 15 years, where he developed a large aviation section. A number of his customers showed interest in the aviation books, so Boyle held monthly meetings for people interested in talking about planes. The dozen or so members called themselves the Maine Aviation Historical Society, but the group stopped meeting during the 1980s after Boyle's store closed.
In 1981, Boyle was invited to speak at the Northeast Aero Historians meeting at Owls Head Transportation Museum where he met aviation enthusiasts from all over the Northeast.
In the summer of 2003 the Aviation Historical Society established the Maine Air Museum at the Bangor International Airport, The museum includes thousands of aviation publications, artifacts and uniforms. Also on display are a Luscombe 8A airplane from the 1930s, a Vietnam-era Bell Huey helicopter and a Scorpion helicopter from the 1970s. Boyle hopes to create a library at the museum and develop an educational program. The historical society is also starting a Maine Air Museum Hall of Fame.
Mr. Boyle currently lives in Westbrook, Maine.
Scope and Content Notes: The collection consists of a number of articles about aviation history in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Other items include cancelled envelope and stamp honoring the early airmail flight made by Harry M. Jones from Portland, Maine to Augusta, Maine. A framed 12” x 18” poster from a 1930’s Popular Mechanic Magazine about the Old Orchard Beach Glider Plane. A piece of original fabric from the glider is included.
Provenance: These items were donated to the OOBHS from Mr. Leo Boyle between 1985 and 1992.
Series Description:
Series 1. Publications. These include a speech written by Leo Boyle presented at the 17th annual meeting of the Northeast Aero Historians. Two other article written for an Old Orchard Beach newsletter, each pertaining to Aviation History in OOB.
Series 2. Artifacts. In this series we find two cancelled commemorative envelopes and a poster from an early 1930 Popular Mechanics magazine featuring the 1930 Domenjoz Glider that flew to Old Orchard Beach.
FINDING AIDS
Normal.dotm 0 0 1 114 650 In A Bind Studio 5 1 798 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Collection Title: Leo Boyle Aviation Collection
Box 1 Series 1. Publications
Folder 1. "Runway to Glory: A short history of Aviation in Maine" by Leo Boyle. A speech presented to the 17th annualmeeting of the Northeast Aero Historians. [n.d.]
Folder 2. ”Beginning to Old Glory" written by Frederick R. Hamlen (facsimile) [n.d.]
Folder 3. The Dawn" by Frederick Hamlan [n.d.]
Box 1 Series 2. Artifacts
Folder 4. 2 First day commemorative envelopes—"Harry Jones flies the first airmail Portland to Augusta" postmarked 12 June (2 copies)
Transp. Rm. 12"x18" poster advertising a 1930 Popular Mechanics Magazine "1930
Sailing Glider" (includes piece of fabric from glider)
[This is permanently displayed in the TransportationRoom]
