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WW1 Air Service


kanemono
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This is a group to Edward J. Reed who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 10, 1879. He was a resident of Catawissa, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Army for the Spanish American War at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 28, 1898. He was assigned to Company E, First Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. On August 28, orders were issued for the regiment to move to Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 29, , it marched to Rossville, eight miles distant from its former camp, there embarked on railroad cars and proceeded to Camp John S. Poland, Knoxville, Tennessee, where it arrived at on August 29. The regiment remained there until September 14, 1898, when it was ordered to proceed to Philadelphia to be mustered out of the service on October 26, 1898. He again enlisted in the United States Army at Shamokin, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1918. Reed was sent to France on February 21, 1918 and served as a mechanic in the 13th Company, 4th Regiment, Air Service Mechanics. When the United States entered the First World War, one of the largest problems was that of organizing and equipping an Air Service. France cooperated with the United States to producing the enormous fleet of airplanes needed to win the war. The United States furnished raw materials and manufactured airplane parts while French mechanics built the planes in French factories. Because of the high number of French skilled labor casualties the United States promised to train and deploy 7,000 automobile mechanics to aid the French. In December of 1917 the Aviation Section organized four Regiments termed Motor Mechanics Regiments, Signal Corps, each regiment consisted of 3,600 men. By the Armistice four regiments were configured as aircraft repair and maintenance units, and designated Air Service Mechanics Regiments. Edward J. Reed served as an aircraft Mechanic in France from July 15, 1918 to April 30, 1919. He was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey on May 3, 1919. Edward J. Reed died in Plains, Pennsylvania on September 30, 1961.

The cap is British with an Air Corps roundel with a pin. The 4th Regiment, Air Service Mechanics patch was not with the group. The tintype is of a German Fokker Dr.I 577/17 Tri-plane which was flown by Lt. Rudolf Klimke from Jasta 27. Klimke was an Ace with 17 victory's. A tintype is a tin plate which is exposed so it is one-of-a- kind. The anchor was Klimke’s symbol. The tintype was brought home by Sgt. Reed. The tintype is 3" x 4 1/2" with the image reversed. The large image shows the tri-plane's details. The other photo is of Klimke.

 

 

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