Father & son officer uniforms

[11-Bull]

Hello, enclosed are pics of two uniforms from the same family. I acquired them about 15 years ago from a co-worker who was the daughter & sister of the two. She was retiring and was cleaning house to move to Florida. The father James H. Reding was a Captain in WWI. The son James P. Reding was a S Lt. in WWII. Talking to some guys at the local VFW they informed me that James P. was killed in WWII. The same sister had donated many documents and paperwork to this same VFW years ago. A casual search of Cuyahoga County Ohio WWII casualties listed REDING JAMES P O-733978 S LT FOD. Sources at the VFW said he was a P-38 pilot and was seen to bail out over the Mediterranean but his parachute did not deploy. I am thinking about doing some house cleaning myself and wonder would it be better to offer these as a group or are collectors more interested in WWI or WWII specific items? The WWI uniform is jacket and heavy leather over the calf leggings, no pants. WWII uniform is jacket, belt, pants and hat. Thanks, I think this site is a great place to get info and just "see what is out there".

[cpatrick]

There are really two answers to your question.

 

Many collectors collect certain era's, and may no be interested in one uniform, or the other.

 

However, there are people like myself, that collect it all, and would love to see these items stay together.

 

I would say - keep them together. It is all part of one families history, and it would be a shame to break this up.

 

Chris

[Guest Photographer]

Those are really nice. I really like the strait wing cap device on the WWII oficers bill cap. Classic Air Corps. Thanks for showing them.

[CNY Militaria]

Keeping together offers that "extra little bit" to the group. They stayed together since WWI and WWII, so why split them up now?

[USMCRECON]

Hello, enclosed are pics of two uniforms from the same family. I acquired them about 15 years ago from a co-worker who was the daughter & sister of the two. She was retiring and was cleaning house to move to Florida. The father James H. Reding was a Captain in WWI. The son James P. Reding was a S Lt. in WWII. Talking to some guys at the local VFW they informed me that James P. was killed in WWII. The same sister had donated many documents and paperwork to this same VFW years ago. A casual search of Cuyahoga County Ohio WWII casualties listed REDING JAMES P O-733978 S LT FOD. Sources at the VFW said he was a P-38 pilot and was seen to bail out over the Mediterranean but his parachute did not deploy. I am thinking about doing some house cleaning myself and wonder would it be better to offer these as a group or are collectors more interested in WWI or WWII specific items? The WWI uniform is jacket and heavy leather over the calf leggings, no pants. WWII uniform is jacket, belt, pants and hat. Thanks, I think this site is a great place to get info and just "see what is out there".

 

I may be slightly fanatical about "keeping things as I got them" but I would keep them together as a group. The family connection is interesting. If you do decide to let them go, I would be appreciate a shot at the lot if, for no other reason, to keep it all together.

[Searcher]

A little bit on James P Reding.

 

James P. Reding

Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Service # O-733978

95th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group

Entered the Service from: Ohio

Died: 30-Apr-44

Missing in Action or Buried at Sea

Tablets of the Missing at North Africa American Cemetery

Carthage, Tunisia

Awards: Purple Heart

 

from the ABMC website.

 

http://www.abmc.gov/search/wwii.php

 

And from the National WW2 war memorial website:-

 

PILOT OF A P-38 LIGHTNING. WITH THE 95TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 82ND FIGHTER GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE. MISSING IN ACTION OFF THE COAST OF SICILY, IN THE NORTH AFRICAN AREA, ON APRIL 29, 1943. PRESUMED DEAD ON APRIL 30, 1944.

 

There is also a photo of James on the national memorial website as well if your interested (and also a bit more info).

 

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?pa...p;subpage=intro

 

Lastly the website of the 82nd FG with includes, among other interesting things, 95th Sqn fighter mission reports. The one for the 29th April is a bit hard to read but looks like he, along with 2 others were shot down by 109's.

 

http://www.82ndfightergroup.com/wwiilinks.htm

 

Cheers

Searcher

[Jason G]

I agree. Although it *may* take longer to sell the entire group, that's how I would do it. Of course, I'd be putting them into the collection, so selling wouldn't be an option LOL.