mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Share #1 Posted December 14, 2016 Hi All, I thought I might share a piece currently in my possession. The photos below show Leonard Desson's WWI USAS tunic. Desson was one of the Oxford Cadets who trained and flew first with the RFC. Desson was assigned to RFC 209 Squadron before transferring the US Air Service. While with the 17th Aero, he flew Camels 7272 and 751. The unit history indicates that he claimed an unconfirmed kill on 9/24/2018, when he forced down a Fokker biplane (likely a DVII) after unloading several rounds into its cockpit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted December 14, 2016 Here is the name tag in the collar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted December 14, 2016 USAS bullion pilot's wings .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted December 14, 2016 ... and finally, RFC wings. Thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 14, 2016 Share #5 Posted December 14, 2016 Wow! That's a pretty incredible uniform! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airman86 Posted December 14, 2016 Share #6 Posted December 14, 2016 I've never actually seen a dual qualified pilot from WWI! Amazing piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted December 14, 2016 Thanks Dave! Its the only US tunic I have seen with RFC wings as well as the usual USAS item. I have several more items that I will post for show and tell over then next few days. Best, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted December 14, 2016 Thanks Airman86! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted December 14, 2016 Share #9 Posted December 14, 2016 Nice looking uniform. Hate to be a fun hater but its a bit odd the lable in the jacket from the tailor is really worn but the sewn in name tag looks fresh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted December 14, 2016 I fully get where you are coming from, and have noted this myself, but if you look at the first picture you will see that the name tag is hidden under the inner collar lining and protected from abrasion etc. Another reason the tag looks fresh is due to white balance/brightness setting of the photo. When I get a chance I'll re-photograph the tag and you can tell me what you think. The tunic comes from the Bill Dion collection which as I understand it, was sold off several years ago. From the same source, came the tunics of Dudley Manchester and George Turnure, both connected to the LFC and the former was fully provenanced with a letter from Manchester as well as a raft of paper documents and an audio tape. I have no issues with provenance, but of course your mileage may vary. Best, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted December 15, 2016 Hi All, Here is another photo of the name tag. This time the camera was metered on the tag, not the makers mark. Best, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Posted December 23, 2016 Share #12 Posted December 23, 2016 Another 17th Aero tunic with an RFC wing: Lt. Charles France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammut08 Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted December 23, 2016 Wow! that is nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKNYC71 Posted December 25, 2016 Share #14 Posted December 25, 2016 That name tag looks as if it was made and installed 3 month ago, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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