Any idea about "LIUT. BOB.L"

[illinigander]

I recently purchased a small article pouch with the following printed on the pouch's backstrap.  To me it looks like it says: LIUT. BOB.L (or BOBA?)   171st CO.  AIR SERVICE   PLANE NO. 4 CB.   Inside on the pouch lid is printed:  TRAINED AT HAMPTON FIELDS & CURTIS FIELDS   Can anyone ID this fellow or provide further information?  Thanks to robinb for posting photos.

illinigander

[robinb]

[Story]

 

Looks like it could also be some variation of BIDEL/BIDAL

 

Let's go with some fixed points first.

 

If you can lock down the Squadron (or 'company') then you can find rolls and see if there's a match for the name.

 

 

Quote

On April 13, 1917, the first field drill of the Staten Island Naval Reserve Battalion was held on Curtis Field.

Island does its part to end World War I - silive.com https://www.silive.com/specialreports/2011/03/island_does_its_part_to_end_wo.html

 

So, not the one on Long Island - 

Quote

 

A 1929 NY Legislative Report (courtesy of Tom Heitzman) depicted “Curtiss Flying Field” as being located to the west of “Hazelhurst Field”,

and to the north of the “Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor Company” & Mitchel Field – a dense assemblage of aviation.

Curtis Field was described as consisting of a 100 acre rectangular property

containing a sod flying field measuring 3,000' east/west.

Two rows of hangars were depicted on the west & north sides of the field.

 

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: New York, Nassau County (airfields-freeman.com)

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/ny/Airfields_NY_LongIs_Nassau.htm

 

171st Aero Squadron

29 November 1917AEF: 4 March 1918 – June 1919
Trained as Service support squadron in England
Demobilized: July 1919[35][49]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_aero_squadrons#150th_to_199th_Aero_Squadrons

[illinigander]

Thank you Story-  That is most interesting information, and a leg to start on.

Regards, illinigander