Antiaircraft Artillery Units in WWI AEF

[qmjones]

Another 2nd AA MG Bn. member, 2nd Lt. (later 1st. Lt,) Samuel Telfair, who was responsible for retrieving my Great-uncle off the battlefield. He was awarded the DSC for his actions.

[repbrock]

Great groupings. I am looking to trade my helmet for Coast Artillery Corps helmet for those interested let me know. 

[mortaydc60]

Want to add a couple of my examples to the discussion. Think this is only bullion example shown so far.

 

 

Mort

[hist3891]

Here is an official photo of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion's commanding officer, Major H. D. Cushing.  This was taken as the unit was boarding the Housatonic to return to the U.S. in April 1919.

[qmjones]

hist3891,  Great photo of him! Thank you. 👍

[qmjones]

mortaydc60,  Love the Liberty Loan patches. The blue velvet in the "A's" openings is a classy look. Thank you! 

[Matt58]

D Company 1st AAMG Bat. Close inspection will show most of the tunics are naked. 

[Matt58]

Here is a close up of the unit patch. On this one the arrow goes through the prop hub.  

[stratasfan]

On 12/20/2020 at 12:29 PM, mortaydc60 said:

Want to add a couple of my examples to the discussion. Think this is only bullion example shown so far.

 

 

Mort

 

 

Thanks for posting these! Really interesting to see! 

 

The top one . . . the Bullion is amazing! And to have used the blue velvet for the back base is gorgeous! 

 

The second one . . . interesting that the Arrow & Prop are pointing the other way. Also interesting to see that the "1" field was added and the blue backing is totally different. 

 

The fourth one . . . is this for the same group? Is the double "A" instead of the Arrow & Prop?

[qmjones]

2nd AA MG Bn. Co. B, enlisted man's service coat from Herman Bosch of Highland Park, NY:  (Special thanks to Jonathan for the information on the ID.) 

[pararaftanr2]

Great looking tunic, thanks for posting. Classy picture of a Helldiver on the wall behind it too!

[jerry_k]

5 hours ago, qmjones said:

2nd AA MG Bn. Co. B, enlisted man's service coat from Herman Bosch of Highland Park, NY:  (Special thanks to Jonathan for the information on the ID.) 

I don't know anything about WWI stuff but I like the background very very much :). Great collection!

[market garden]

Just purchased a nice uniform grouping of Arthur Leon Rawlings 9th AA battery 10th Section CAC/AA.

[qmjones]

1. A few weeks ago, some close friends who have an Army Surplus shop in upstate NY contacted me and said they had a WWI uniform from the 2nd AA MG Bn. Turns out, the name in the pocket traces back to Pvt. Elting Clearwater from New Paltz, NY. He was a member of "Co. C" along with my Great-uncle Harry, whom was killed in action on November 4th 1918. Stranger still, his berthing space on the troop ship Zeelandia bound for Brest France contains the names of those who were in my uncle's squad and section! Seven of the eight names are men who wrote a condolence letter home to my great-grandparents the day after his death. Henry Acker was also interviewed as to the horrible circumstances leading up to his untimely death is featured in a newspaper article from the city of Mount Vernon, which my family kept. Incredible coincidence (Serendipitous confluence?) to have a uniform of someone who knew and interacted with him!  

[qmjones]

The shoulder sleeve with patches and collar discs:

[qmjones]

Documents about him. Including his name on the berthing sheet:

[qmjones]

Henry Acker:

[qmjones]

Squad members' letter home and as found on the ship: 

[pararaftanr2]

An amazing acquisition. Congratulations.

[qmjones]

Another example of an AA MG Bn. shoulder patch. A little "mothed", but an honest, original one: 

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

On 3/22/2019 at 5:18 PM, world war I nerd said:

Here's another variation of the standing red devil AA insignia that turned up recently on eBay.

 

It sure would be nice to see one of these things on a WW I service coat or in a period photograph.

Sorry to be so late to the party, but ask and ye shall eventually receive! This came out of the Bob Ford collection, with a note naming it to "William Michelini", who I later found was actually "Augusto G Michelini", who changed his first name post war. However, the jacket is initialed JG on the interior, so I'm unsure of how airtight the provenance is. But Michelini was in Company B of the 5th Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion, so I'd say that confirms this patch to that unit. Uniform has no rank, so private, and one oversea chevron.