AEF Service Coat, 498th Construction Sqdrn. E. Fowler

[Fritz]

Was a good day he noting yesterday, came home with this little gem, named to an Ed Fowler 1355368, the 498th was a construction squadron.

 

Fritz

[BEAST]

Nice one Fritz!

[Fritz]

Thanks Beast! Anyone have any thoughts on the musette bag?

 

Fritz

[Shakethetrees]

Some years ago I bought the most complete Air Service uniform grouping I could hope to find. Embroidered winged coat with mismatched collar insignia, goggles, helmet logbook, and a pile of paper and other stuff along with a named "Air Service" footlocker.

 

All right out of his son's closet and attic. Once I got it home and began looking I found the coat was named to another officer.

 

My guess is that the Lt. who's name is on everything else bought it from someone who returned to the states and was discharged. My airman never got overseas. He was scheduled to go in, as I remember, January or February of 1919. He graduated, was commissioned, and went on his last leave before shipping out and the war ended.

 

Other things took priority and I never got it photographed. It's still on my to-do list.

 

I'll post images and detailed description sometime down the road.

 

Any comments are welcome, but it may be better with images.

[44-63963]

hi Fritz great looking uniform, hardly any ww1 items seem to pop up any more, 100 years now, great find ,thanx for sharing Gerard

[littlewilly]

Hi Fritz!

 

I have a few Aero pieces like your coat, with the unit insignia on both right or left sleeves. I never figured out why the two arrangements, but I keep looking for a clue somewhere. All of my stateside Aero tunics have the squadron patch on the right sleeve. My overseas serving examples can have the squadron patch found on either sleeve. Soldier's choice? Your Air Service bag is a really nice piece. I have a lot of Aero stuff in my collection, but I have never found one of these! Enjoy it to the max, man! MHJ