1943 Aluminum Company of America and Petruccelli Map of the World

This is a 1943 Antonio Petruccelli and Aluminum Company of America map of the world. The map features the novel Azimuthal Equidistant Projection, notable for illustrating accurate point-to-point distances.

A Closer Look

The projection places the North Pole at the center, and Antarctica, by contrast, in all four corners. National boundaries follow the conventions of 1943, during World War II (1939 - 1945), naming French West Africa, French Indochina, Tanganyika, Rhodesia, and Manchukuo (Japanese-controlled Manchuria). Along the left, a description of the projection is included, along with an explanation of its use and importance. To the right, the map presents information about the production of airplanes with aluminum. The central map is bordered by combat aircraft insignia of 48 nations, including the Free French Forces. United States insignia are at the bottom center.

Verso Content

The verso bears an index of militaria during World War II. Along the top, Army and Navy aircraft squadron insignia are depicted. (The Air Force was not founded until after World War II). On the left is information pertaining to the recognition of both friendly and enemy planes. Thirty silhouettes of 'fighting planes of the United Nations' are given, along with 22 silhouettes of enemy aircraft. Information about what to do if one observes a plane is included, as well as recognition points. The insignia for the General Commands, the four Armies, the Army Corps, and the Divisions are included along the bottom of both the left and right columns. The center column contains information about the organization of both Army and Navy air units, from the smallest (Elements in the Army and Sections in the Navy) to the largest (the Army Air Force, each air force made up of four different commands, or a Navy Squadron). Information about the construction of aircraft and the fabrication of aluminum is supplied in this column. On the right are diagrams of aerial maneuvers and U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Army insignia.

Publication History and Census

The map on the recto was drawn by Antonio Petruccelli, and the entire map was published by the Aluminum Company of America. Well represented in institutional collections.