Belleauwood Posted October 16, 2010 Share #1 Posted October 16, 2010 Most of you know that my passion is WW1 Marine Aviation. Most of this stuff is obscure and some of the rarest and hard to find of any of the Marine Corps artifacts from this period. A couple of these images have been seen before on this forum as part of other posts. The last couple of images have not, but are probably the most rare of the photos IMHO. I have doubts that I will find other images that prove to be this interesting, as well as rare, as these photos represent. I hope you approve. Dj Harry B. Wershiner - Observer/Gunner FMAF, Navy Cross, Purple Heart Attached to the British 218 Squadron - His Pilot was Everett Brewer, NC , PH This pilot & observer were the 1st Marine to bring down an enemy plane in aerial combat (2 credited) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share #2 Posted October 16, 2010 Unknown Marine Officer Pilot Note ARMY WINGS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted October 16, 2010 Close-up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted October 16, 2010 Note Overseas Chevron & NAVY HALF WING!! If anyone has images of WW1 Marine Aviation for Sale, Please Contact me via PM Hope you enjoyed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly USMC Posted October 16, 2010 Share #5 Posted October 16, 2010 Those are outstanding Photos! Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 16, 2010 Share #6 Posted October 16, 2010 Wow, Dennis. Those are some spectacular images! Have you tried to take a peak behind that enlisted portrait for an ID? I'm sure you've probably already done so...What about that chevron on his lower left sleeve? Is that the USMC way of displaying an overseas 'stripe'? I think I recall seeing such an application on a WWI naval portrait. Makes sense to me... -Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted October 16, 2010 Share #7 Posted October 16, 2010 Hill was designated USMC Aviator number 134. During 1918, the 1st Marine Aeronautical Company, a seaplane squadron assigned to anti-submarine patrol operated from its base at Punta Delgada on the island of San Miguel. It flew regular patrols to deny enemy submarines ready access to the convoy routes and any kind of base activity in the Azores. It was not the stuff of which great heroes are made, but the First Marine Aeronautic Company was the first American aviation unit to deploy with a specific mission. Nonetheless, Lt Hill was commended in a letter from the Company CO to the Commandant for frequent flights in inclement weather without "radio, pigeons or pistols”. He went on to serve 37 years, re-appointed 5 times to serve as the Quartermaster of the Marine Corps, until retirement in 1955. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=32876 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted October 16, 2010 Wow, Dennis. Those are some spectacular images! Have you tried to take a peak behind that enlisted portrait for an ID? I'm sure you've probably already done so...What about that chevron on his lower left sleeve? Is that the USMC way of displaying an overseas 'stripe'? I think I recall seeing such an application on a WWI naval portrait. Makes sense to me... -Chuck Chuck, Yes to all the above - The Marines Typically pointed the chevron down - This guy may have been attached to the Navy's Northern Bombing Group as an observer/gunner and gave his O/S chevron the apex up in the Navy style. Just a guess, however. DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noworky Posted October 16, 2010 Share #9 Posted October 16, 2010 Note Overseas Chevron & NAVY HALF WING!! If anyone has images of WW1 Marine Aviation for Sale, Please Contact me via PM Hope you enjoyed These are some great photos and I guess I'm showing my very limited aviation awards knowledge; what dies the half wing represent? :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normaninvasion Posted October 17, 2010 Share #10 Posted October 17, 2010 Thanks for showing. Hope others will add more :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noworky Posted October 17, 2010 Share #11 Posted October 17, 2010 These are some great photos and I guess I'm showing my very limited aviation awards knowledge; what does the half wing represent? :think: Sorry for the double post I wanted correct my bonehead spelling above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted October 17, 2010 Share #12 Posted October 17, 2010 The Observer in no. 1 wears the British RFC/RAF Observers half wing, which is something I didn't know happened. There is the proof! :thumbsup: This is a great batch of images and thanks for showing them. We learn stuff all the time from this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted October 19, 2010 The Observer in no. 1 wears the British RFC/RAF Observers half wing, which is something I didn't know happened. There is the proof! :thumbsup: This is a great batch of images and thanks for showing them. We learn stuff all the time from this forum. Lee, If I would have seen this at a show on someone's table, I would be very hesitant to buy it - UNLESS it was Id'ed and I knew where he served. Fortunately, I have all the flying Marine officers and observers that were with the Northern Bomb Group as well as those that were attached to the British Squadrons. Best, Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted September 9, 2014 Share #14 Posted September 9, 2014 Stunning is right! These were posted before my portrait kick...glad I stumbled on them now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted May 22, 2018 Share #15 Posted May 22, 2018 TTT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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