cthomas Posted October 8, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 8, 2007 Does anyone have info on a 1st Lt. Donald T Hatch of the 50th Aero squadron? His soldier# is 107114 if that helps. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baker502 Posted October 8, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 8, 2007 No Lt. Hatch in any of the following references. 50th Aero history, Wings of Honor, or the ZOnes of Advance list. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted October 8, 2007 Thanks! That's strange though....Here are a couple of pics of the tags and the 50th Aero Sqd. charm holding the tags together. Anyway that # on back will help positively ID him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted October 8, 2007 detailed view of the dogtags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted October 8, 2007 a detail of the 50th Aero Sqd. charm/pendant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted October 8, 2007 and a view of the reverse showing the soldier ID # on back of the tags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted October 8, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 8, 2007 Hello I have never seen an officer dog tag stamped with an ASN Obverse of Officer DT seen were usualy stamped with the officer civilian address Teufelhund Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted October 8, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 8, 2007 I meant a WWI officer DT, not a WWII one T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted October 10, 2007 Thank you guys for your input. Looks like they might not be legit. I too had no luck finding a 1st Lt. "Donald T Hatch" on the net or when using Ancestry.com. I figured I'd at least find a draft registration card or maybe a census return with his name but I couldn't find a thing. I did find a few Donald Hatches but they were of a later generation. -Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted October 12, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 12, 2007 I have no idea as to the authenticity of the tags, but I wouldn't write off a guy because he wasn't on Ancestry.com or on the net. I have several WW1-era ancestors who were undoubtedly in the Army but do not show up on Ancestry.com....not even a draft card. In fact, I have not found a draft card for any of my family who were in the military during that era; all draft cards I've found were of those who stayed civilian and home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share #11 Posted October 12, 2007 I have no idea as to the authenticity of the tags, but I wouldn't write off a guy because he wasn't on Ancestry.com or on the net. I have several WW1-era ancestors who were undoubtedly in the Army but do not show up on Ancestry.com....not even a draft card. In fact, I have not found a draft card for any of my family who were in the military during that era; all draft cards I've found were of those who stayed civilian and home. Thank you for this info I should have known a little better because I've run into the same thing trying to research my grandfather who was in WWI. I couldn't find his draft card either or any other WWI documents to prove his service to Our country for that matter. I will keep searching.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Battalion Man Posted January 26, 2009 Share #12 Posted January 26, 2009 Hey guy, I'll run through my 50th Aero stuff and see what I find - give me a little time. If he was in the squadron during the time they were in France, I'll know. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Battalion Man Posted January 26, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 26, 2009 Sorry guy - Hatch did not serve with the squadron during the time they were in France. He might have been one of the officers assigned to the squadron early on and then transferred out, as when the aero squadrons originally were put together in the states, most of them were formed of enlisted men and the service officer flying personnel and officer ground staff were not assigned until they went over. Any officer flying personnel assigned in the states were usually temporary. It might also have been that he was assigned in the reformed version of the squadron that existed for a short time after the war was over, in the 1920's. My money would be on that he was an early officer assignment and was transferred out though. That might also explain the excellent condition of the tags. No wear from no wear! The 'charm' is from a 50th Aero Squadron reunion medal, or pin. They held lots of these through the years, and at each one the attendee got a ribbon with a little name tag on top and that 50th emblem medal hanging from the bottom. I have a number of them in my collection. Need more detail, just ask! BTW, I left you a post about the fantastic 2nd Army photo collection you scored! Drop me a line on that, won't you? Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted January 27, 2009 Share #14 Posted January 27, 2009 Thank you for this info I should have known a little better because I've run into the same thing trying to research my grandfather who was in WWI. I couldn't find his draft card either or any other WWI documents to prove his service to Our country for that matter. I will keep searching.... I'm not sure I would write this guy off just because he's not in the usual references. These junior grade officers were moved around a lot and were attached to several units as needed. Could have been in administration and a non pilot, etc. I have had several officer's ID tags stamped just as yours (different div.,etc.) Just my 2 cents worth - Best, DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted January 27, 2009 I'm not sure I would write this guy off just because he's not in the usual references. These junior grade officers were moved around a lot and were attached to several units as needed. Could have been in administration and a non pilot, etc. I have had several officer's ID tags stamped just as yours (different div.,etc.) Just my 2 cents worth - Best, DJ Dennis- Thank you for your input. I will keep an eye out for Hatch as I delve deeper into studying WWI aviation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drmessimer Posted April 13, 2009 Share #16 Posted April 13, 2009 Does anyone have info on a 1st Lt. Donald T Hatch of the 50th Aero squadron? His soldier# is 107114 if that helps. Thanks! Cthomas: Several years ago I searched for an officer based on the "serial number" associated with an officer's tunic. Mitch Yokelson, then senior archivist in the Military Records Division, in the old downtown National Archives told me that U. S. Army officers did not have serial numbers during WWI. Only enlisted men had them. Since then I have, on several occasions, confirmed what Yokelson told me. It's a sure thing that those are an enlisted man's dog tags. I hope this is useful to you. drmessimer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted April 13, 2009 It is helpful. Thanks! I'll keep that in mind for future reference. -Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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