This collection consists of materials relating to the military career of Milford Pete Atkinson who was a soldier in the Army during World War II. The materials are mainly correspondence from Pete to his family, correspondence from the Army concerning Pete’s death, and biographical materials about Pete and his family that were gathered by his sister, Ruby Atkinson Fitzgerald of Little Rock.
Pete Atkinson was born in Pine Bluff on May 26, 1923, to Myrtle Roebuck and Robert Taylor Anderson and was the youngest of five children. He attended high school at Pine Bluff graduating in 1941, and went on to study a semester at Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA), and the University of Arkansas.
Pete was inducted into the Army Air Force at Camp Robinson near Little Rock in October of 1942. He graduated from Gunnery School and was trained as a radio operator. He was stationed in India where he flew in many air attacks during World War II. In December of 1944, Atkinson was killed in a crash when his plane was forced to make an emergency landing.
Pete is survived today by one sister Ruby Atkinson Fitzgerald and one brother James Edwin Atkinson.
NOTE: When requesting materials, please specify collection number [M89-33], box number, and file number.
Arrangement: The collection is contained in one box consisting of five files.
Tracings: Atkinson, Milford Pete; Atkinson, Robert Taylor, Sr.; Fitzgerald, Ruby Atkinson; Military Affairs – World War II
Photographic Tracings: Atkinson, Milford Pete
Box 1
File 1 – Biographical Materials
File 2 – Correspondence from Pete Atkinson family, May 1943-1944
File 3 – Correspondence from Army to family, December 1944 – February 1945
File 4 – Correspondence from other family members, January 1945 – August 1945
File 5 – Photographs
Eno of Box 1
End of Collection