A collection of letters, telegrams, news clippings & reports related to the U.S. Air Force’s acquisition of Convair Plant II. Examples are: Memo from R.B. Swanson (Convair) to Ed Terrar (3/2/53) re/ “Here is a brief memorandum on our favorite nusiance” – “a chronological [1951-1952] summary relative to Plant II acquisition;” a copy of “To Bob Wilson From Ed Terrar, Subj. Convair Plant #2 (n.d.) re/ discussion of this project with Air Force officials & Convair representatives; 1 copy of a letter (3/12/53) from Major General Robert E.L. Eaton (Dir., Legislation & Liaison, Dept. of the Air Force) re/ “the best interests of the Government will be served by acquiring the fee value of the property;” a collection of letters (3/6-3/27/53) from Oakes & Horton (Attorneys at Law) re/ “Acquisition Project No. 121 Convair Plant Two” – “the best interests of the United States Government, the Air Force, and the people of San Diego will be served if this plant is leased to, rather than purchased by, the Government;” 1 copy of “IN RE: Acquisition Project No. 121 Convair Plant 2 . . . Statement of Gregory Electric Company To Senate Committee on Armed Services and House of Representative Committee on Armed Services” as submitted by Oakes & Horton re/ favoring leasing the plant to the Air Force, especially Bldg. 8;” 1 mimeographed copy of “Department of Air Force . . . Acquistiton Project No. 121 Submitted pursuant to PL 155, 82nd Congress” re/ “Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, Plant #2 San Diego, Cal.: Manufacture of F-102, Aircraft area: Approximately 65 acres and 1,500,00 sq. ft.: Estimated cost: $5,000,000 of building improvements, Authorization & Appropriation Acts: Public Law 488, 82nd Congress;” 1 letter (3/10/53) from T.M. Heggland (Chief Admin. Officer, County of San Diego) & Wilson’s reply (3/17/53) re/ Wilson’s support for the County’s interest in maintaining Plant No. 2 on the local property tax rolls; 1 letter (3/11/53) from O.W. Campbell (San Diego City Manager) & Wilson’s reply (3/26/53) re/ Wilson’s concern “in regard to loss of tax base” for the city; 1 letter (3/18/53) from Edward F. Jones (Asst. to the President of Convair) re/ Wilson’s “flagging me on the action of the Senate Armed Services Committee in connection with our Plant Two problem;” 3 Western Union telegrams (2/13, 3/3, & 3/4/53) from San Diego County Board of Supervisors, & Attorneys Oakes & Coleman re/ protective measures for loss of tax base in Plant # 2 & “owners of building eight . . . desire lease,” not sale to government; 1 letter (2/16/53) from constituent Dr. Hiram D. Newton & Wilson’s response (3/2/53) re/ “the Federal government already owns too much property in San Diego County;” a selection of news clippings from local S.D. papers for Feb. & Mar. 1953 re/ purchase, lease & price of Plant No. 2; a copy of a “Statement of Robert W. Barker, Attorney for C.W. Carlstrom, Before the House Armed Services Committee, Special Sub Committee For Real Estate Projects, on March 30, 1953, in Connection with Acquisition Project No. 121” (11 pp. & Exhibits A – D); 1 letter (3/25/53) from T. H. Sexton (S.D. County Clerk), attached “Certified copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors of San Diego County, Cali-fornia, on March 24, 1953” & Wilson’s reply (3/31/53) re/ “the Board’s position with regard to protecting the interests of the local taxing agencies in connection with the proposed transfer to the Federal Government of Plancor 20—Consolidated Vultee Plant No. 2” – the County’s “taxing agencies stand to lose tax revenues totalling some $186,000 per year;” draft copy & final copy of Congressman Wilson’s “Report To Real Estate Sub-Committee of Armed Services Committee In Regard To Acquisition of Convair Plant 2” (4/10/53), 9 pp.; copies of a letter (3/30/53) from Stanley Grove (General Manager, San Diego Chamber of Commerce), a copy of Nov. 24, 1947 Memorandum from L.B. Cusick (Industrial Dept., Manager) to Mr. Grove, & Wilson’s reply (4/2/53) re/ background on the War Assets Admin. (WAA) offering Plant #2 for sale in Dec. 1946; copies of letters (4/2 & 4/9/53) from Oakes & Horton (Attorneys at Law) & Stanley Grove (S.D. Chamber of Commerce) re/ “recent hearings before the Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee” on plant 2 & concern over purchase rather than lease; 1 letter (4/10/53) from Ewart W. Goodwin (Percy H. Goodwin Co.) to C.W. Carlstrom (Greater San Diego Development Co.) & 1 letter (4/14/53) from C.W. Carlstrom to Congressman Wilson (7 pp.) re/ arbitration of the disputed value of Carlstrom’s property & Carlstrom’s concern over Wilson’s alleged mistatement of facts in Wilson’s “report to the Real Estate Subcommittee” on April 10, 1953 on “Acquisition Project No. 121 – Plant No. 2;” 1 Western Union telegram (4/17/53) from Robert A. Oakes & Wilson’s reply (4/20/53) re/ Oakes’ thanks to Wilson for his “good work in favor of government leasing and not repeat not buying Convair Plant Two;” a copy of a letter (4/20/53) from C.W. Carlstrom to Congressman Dewey Short (Chairman, Armed Services Committee) re/ “representing owners of approxi-mately 96% of the industrial property involved . . ., I have urged . . . that the government acquire a lease rather than a fee;” 1 letter (4/21/53) from Arthur C. Eddy (Asst. Assessor, County of San Diego) re/ Major General Eaton’s letter (3/12/53) & Mr. Eddy’s comments on the Armed Forces’ representatives “attempts at local tax avoidance;” 1 Western Union telegram (4/21/53) from Curtis Coleman to Wilson re/ “your work to keep Convair under private ownership has received favorable local comment;” 1 letter (5/4/53) from T.M. Heggland (Chief Admin. Officer, S.D. County) thank-ing Wilson and his “associates . . . in influencing the action requiring Air Force acquisition of the Convair Plan 2 . . . by condemnation of the lease rather than the fee” so that our local tax base is protected; 1 mimeograph copy (n.d.) of “Department of the Air Force Acquisition Project No. 274 Submitted Pursuant To Public Law 155, 82nd Congress” (2 pp.) re/ fee acquisition of Plant No. 2 for production of F-102 Aircraft; 1 copy (n.d.) of “Suggested Statement For Honorable Robert C. Wilson Concern-ing the Subcommittee action on Air Force Project No. 274; 1 news clipping (n.d., n.s.) re/ “California Leads All States In Tax-Exempt U.S. Holdings;” copies of “Memorandum” (n.d.) from Wilson’s office & Western Union telegram (1/26/55) from Howard B. Turrentine (Attorney for A.E. Dean) re/ litigation to reimburse moving expenses for Dean due to U.S. govt. “condemnation proceed-ing to take over Convair Plant 2; 1 letter (3/29/55) from Oakes & Horton (Attorneys at Law) to Congressman Wilson re/ “lawsuit filed by the Federal Government . . . to condemn a leasehold interest in Convair Plant 2;” copies of a 7 page letter (4/14/55) from Rubin & Seltzer (Attorneys at Law) re/ “Air Force Acquistion Project #274 . . . . It is our postion that the fee interest in this property should not be taken by the government at this time;” 1 letter (4/15/55) from Oakes & Horton (Attorneys at Law) to the Committee on Armed Services re/ “answer and opposition to the request of the Air Force that the Government take the ownership of Convair Plant No. 2 . . . . It is written on behalf of Gregory Electric Company who has owned the Drop-Hammer Building located in said plant since 1948;” a collection of letters & memorandums (4/15-18/55) from Rubin & Seltzer (Attorneys at Law) & Wilkinson, Boyden, Crasun & Barker (Law Offices) re/ Air Force Acquistition Project No. 274; 3 letters (4/18-19/55) from Arthur C. Eddy (S.D. County Assessor) & T.M. Heggland (Chief Admin. Officer, S.D. County) re/ opposition to Air Force con-demnation of the fee on Convair Plant #2 & the interests of the County Board of Supervisors in keeping the property on local tax rolls; 2 page “Memorandum” (4/19/55) quoting “portions of Robert Wilson’s statement dated April 10, 1953” to the Real Estate Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee re/ acquisition of Convair Plant 2; 1 letter (4/20/55) from Rubin & Seltzer (Attorneys at Law) re/ supplement to Rubin & Seltzer 7 page letter to the Committee on Armed Services stressing the leasing of Convair Plant 2 rather than acquiring it in fee simple; 1 Western Union telegram (4/21/55) from Arthur C. Eddy (S.D. County Assessor) re/ pro leasing of Plant 2 & need for both sides to testify to committee—the “Air Force is in error in stating current tax assessment $2,990,000 on Plant 2. Actually current assessment is substantially in excess of three million dollars;” small packet containing corresp. (10/56) from Congressman Wilson, G.J. Vila (Washington Rep., Convair), R.H. Biron (V.P., Administrator, Convair-Astronautics), C.E. Koons (Business Rep., U.A. Local Union 230, S.D),. & R.B. Swanson (Washington Office, Convair) re/ jurisdictional problem in constructing Sycamore Canyon test facility between contractors/building trades unions & work being done by Convair employees; 1 letter (10/22/56) from Congressman Wilson to Sec. of the Air Force Donald A. Quarles re/ the Secretary & Wilson’s visit to Convair facilities . . . . Your visit gave all of us a real morale lift. I am sure that we got in a few good licks for the Eisenhower Administration too.”