k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 10, 2015 Picked up this part of a great WWI Air Service pilot's uniform. I am going to be getting the rest of the grouping (side cap, boots, sam browne belt, photo/s of the pilot and multiple documents). At the moment, I have the last name Lovell from the uniform tailor tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted April 10, 2015 French made wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted April 10, 2015 French tailor tag. In with the documents I will be receiving is the original receipt from the Parisian tailor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted April 10, 2015 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted April 10, 2015 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted April 10, 2015 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted April 10, 2015 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted April 10, 2015 Share #8 Posted April 10, 2015 Very nice. I like the early 20's gilt buttons/insignia conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infantry Grunt Posted April 10, 2015 Share #9 Posted April 10, 2015 Wow! That's really cool, you don't see this too often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawk3370 Posted April 10, 2015 Share #10 Posted April 10, 2015 Picked up this part of a great WWI Air Service pilot's uniform. I am going to be getting the rest of the grouping (side cap, boots, sam browne belt, photo/s of the pilot and multiple documents). At the moment, I have the last name Lovell from the uniform tailor tag. Bandow, My records show 4 pilots with the last name Lovell. George E. Lovell Jr. Major HOR Blackborn Ohio, did not get overseas William P. Lovell 2Lt, HOR Unk, 22nd and 94th Pursuit Sq Lawrence G. Lovell 1LT HOR Brooklyn NY, killed in training with RFC Walter P. Lovell Captain HOR Newton, MA, Lafayette Escadrille & 135th Obs.Sq Will be interesting to see what first name comes up in the paperwork. The wings are indeed French. I would lean towards it belonging to William P. even though it has 1Lt bars. The gold buttons and 1919 US and Wing and Prop on the tunic might suggest that he could have been promoted to 1Lt at the end of the war of shortly after and converted the tunic to fit the period. Lawrence was killed in training with the RFC and would not have 3 overseas stripes. George was a Maj and did not see combat, and Walter P. was a captain. Perhaps Cliff P has some more info to add as his records are most likely more detailed than mine. Keep us informed please. Thanks for posting, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted April 11, 2015 Apparently his name was William Vail Lovell. Maybe there is a mix-up with him and William P. Lovell? William Vail Lovell was in the 49th and 22nd Squadrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Much WW1 Militaria Posted April 11, 2015 Share #12 Posted April 11, 2015 Also, check Gorrells on fold3. You might turn something up as well. Nice French wing to boot! What documents come with it? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawk3370 Posted April 11, 2015 Share #13 Posted April 11, 2015 Apparently his name was William Vail Lovell. Maybe there is a mix-up with him and William P. Lovell? William Vail Lovell was in the 49th and 22nd Squadrons. That is probably one in the same, My records have him listed as William P. but its not unusual to mix up middle initials. And in my old age (getting senile I suspect) I put down 94th rather than 49th Aero Sq. William was transferred from the 49th Pursuit Squadron to the 22nd Pursuit and remained in the 22nd until the end of the war. No record of his getting any kills. Regardless, its a beautiful uniform and unique with the 1919 transition insignia. Actually the 1919 collar insignia is more rare than the 1918 subdued insignia, far less aviators in the army between the wars than during WW1. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted April 11, 2015 No issue there Terry, I figured you meant 49th. I am really excited to receive the other items from the grouping to start putting together pieces of the puzzle. No aerial victories, but still an impressive uniform to a SPAD pilot. And I really do like that it is unique from the 1918 uniforms, having the gold buttons and insignia. It will make for a beautiful display when I get a proper size mannequin for it. Thank you all for your inputs! And if anyone else has an immediate post-war uniform such as this, I would love to see it! Karl That is probably one in the same, My records have him listed as William P. but its not unusual to mix up middle initials. And in my old age (getting senile I suspect) I put down 94th rather than 49th Aero Sq. William was transferred from the 49th Pursuit Squadron to the 22nd Pursuit and remained in the 22nd until the end of the war. No record of his getting any kills. Regardless, its a beautiful uniform and unique with the 1919 transition insignia. Actually the 1919 collar insignia is more rare than the 1918 subdued insignia, far less aviators in the army between the wars than during WW1. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chis Posted April 12, 2015 Share #15 Posted April 12, 2015 Really nice looking aviators uniform. Please share the rest when the full grouping comes in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted April 12, 2015 Will do, chis! I was very willing to let go of items from my German collection to fund this grouping. A dream come true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted April 14, 2015 Got in most of the grouping today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share #18 Posted April 14, 2015 Lovell in this very uniform (gold buttons and all) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted April 14, 2015 As a cadet stateside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k bandow Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share #20 Posted April 14, 2015 Brevetted by the French Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted April 14, 2015 Share #21 Posted April 14, 2015 That's quite a group! Really hard to find anything from US pilots who actually made it to the front. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssggates Posted April 14, 2015 Share #22 Posted April 14, 2015 Fantastic and rare group. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee Posted April 22, 2015 Share #23 Posted April 22, 2015 The flying boots really add to the collection! I'll bet he loved wearing them at every opportunity with his uniform! Thanks for updating the items! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baker502 Posted April 22, 2015 Share #24 Posted April 22, 2015 William V. Lovell, made his first combat flight with the 22nd Aero on August 31st 1918 and his last operational assignment was with the 1101st Aero squadron and is listed as still in the Zone of Advance as of May 1919. Great uniform grouping. Best Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 22, 2015 Share #25 Posted April 22, 2015 That is a splendid grouping.Thanks for sharing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now