Donald B. Carlson Sr. BHS '38

† 8 September 2010

Donald Carlson sent me some of the first pictures posted on the Butler Blog. As a tribute to him I have posted the pictures he sent me. Click the label Photographer Don Carlson below. -- Charles

After graduating from BHS Don Carlson worked as a newspaper photographer, while earning his private pilot's license. Anxious to join the service, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 7 July 1942. He served as a flight engineer for the 10th Weather Headquarters in the China-Burma-India Theater, flying over the Himalayan Mountains (The Hump) and throughout China, Japan and Korea. He was a member of the CBI/Hump Pilots Association and was a 50-year member of the Butler Masonic Lodge. Don served faithfully with Community Companion Volunteers, a program of Lutheran Home Services.

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

The Piper Cub crash near Butler is only to show you what can happen when something goes wrong - the pilot did not survive.
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

RAY ANDRE GENERAL TIRE - A picture I took for advertising purposes with Ray (standing) showing the new snow tires to a potential customer (actually my close friend Vin Cooper who I persuaded to pose for the pix).
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

REFRESHMENT STAND - located at the Butler County Fair in 1940. (Don worte: "I can provide more info. if you are interested in it.")
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

TROUTMAN'S DEPARTMENT STORE -  a picture of the newly remodeled young women's department c.1940 taken for an advertisement in the local newspaper. The manager was Floyd Allen and my dad, Carl W. Carlson, was the credit manager. The 3 story and basement building is still standing on the corner of N. Main St. and W. Cunningham St.
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

BUTLER AIRPORT - small planes lined up at the old Butler Airport which was located along New Castle Road just across from Deshon Hospital and is now the location for a shopping center. Bob Headland was one of the early promoters of aviation in the Butler area. (I flew in and out of this airport and Pgh/Butler airport in the early 40s before enlisting in the Air Corps.)
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

HEADLAND'S LUNCH CAR - owned by Bob Headland and his wife, Etta, in the 1930s and 40s, it was situated on W. Cunningham St. just east of the Clinton Hotel and Sullivan Run (creek), next door to Ray Andre General Tire and across the street from Klugh's Market and Adolph's Drug Store. It serviced not only Butler residents, including many from Armco, and a lot of through traffic on the then busy Rt. 422. [Don Carlson, the photographer, and his brother, Bill, worked there in the late 30s for $12.85 a week plus all they could eat.]

- Don Carlson

Butler Airport ~ Our Early Interest in Flying

BUTLER AIRPORT - small planes lined up at the old Butler Airport which was located along New Castle Road just across from Deshon Hospital and is now the location for a shopping center. Bob Headland was one of the early promoters of aviation in the Butler area. (I flew in and out of this airport and Pgh/Butler airport in the early 40s before enlisting in the Air Corps.)
- Don Carlson