Usa1918 Posted January 4, 2023 #1 Posted January 4, 2023 I recently picked up a 19th Air Service Company grouping that a friend of mine had and I had expressed an interest in:
Usa1918 Posted January 4, 2023 Author #2 Posted January 4, 2023 Jacket Patch and Overseas Cap with Jeweler handmade DIs and bullion winged prop
Usa1918 Posted January 4, 2023 Author #3 Posted January 4, 2023 Bullion US Balloon Pilot Wing, French Balloon Pilot Wing, Captain's Rank and handmade Bullion 19th Air Service Company DI's. The Instructor Sleeve Wing is 10K gold
Usa1918 Posted January 4, 2023 Author #4 Posted January 4, 2023 I haven't found the time to research the group, but the laundry tag in the right armpit is:
Usa1918 Posted January 4, 2023 Author #5 Posted January 4, 2023 Here-s the Instructor Pilot Sleeve Wing:
warguy Posted January 4, 2023 #6 Posted January 4, 2023 Holy cow that is a beautiful group. You have to introduce me to your friend. Thanks for sharing this stunning uniform.
bschwartz Posted January 4, 2023 #9 Posted January 4, 2023 Love to see groupings stay together. Congrats on a magnificent example.
manayunkman Posted January 4, 2023 #10 Posted January 4, 2023 That appliqué patch is awesome and the whole group amazing. 1920s or 30s and is it named?
Ivydiv Posted January 4, 2023 #11 Posted January 4, 2023 Another fabulous grouping. You sure have great stuff. Dave
pfrost Posted January 5, 2023 #13 Posted January 5, 2023 beautiful. But what is interesting to me is that the French badge isn't the French lighter than air pilot badge. It is the insignia that was worn on the left breast as the French Branch of Service insigina (I could be wrong but that is my recollection). All French personnel associated with the French airships would have worn that, not just the pilots. So it does seem strange to me that is what he has on his breast. It was not uncommon for US pilots who had trained with other countries to wear those countries wings on their left breast oppposite the US pilot wings, but I have never seen them wearing a branch of service devise. It would be neat to know the story of that. Can we see better pictures of the airship wings? Those sure look nice.
Usa1918 Posted January 5, 2023 Author #14 Posted January 5, 2023 It’s named on the Laundry tag….I just have to decipher it and then to do the research on it. I’m assuming late 20’s I’ll run downstairs to take a better pix of the US wings. My friend says he bought it over the counter from the widow nearly 30 years ago. I wondered about the French insignia, I couldn’t find it in any of my books. I wonder if he chose to wear the branch of service device, rather than the actual wing as it looks more like the right (US side) wing
rathbonemuseum.com Posted January 5, 2023 #17 Posted January 5, 2023 The 19th ASC is an abbreviation for "Airship Company", not "Air Service Company"? It was based in Langley Field, VA. In 1925, it's commander was Cpt. William O. Butler. I could find no listing in any order of battle for a 19th Airship Service Company. From US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/OrderofBattle3.pdf Lineage: 19th Balloon Company (1919) 19th Dirigible Company (1919-23) 19th Airship Company (1923-33) (23rd Airship Group) 19th Airship Squadron (1933-37) (21st Airship Group) HQ- Mitchel Field, NY, 1919; Lee Hall, VA, 1919; Langley Field, VA, 1919-35; Moffett Field, CA, 1935-37 Assigned Airships: TA-5; TC-4; TC-5; TC-9; TC-11; TC-11-271; TC-13; TC 14; TC-18; TE-2 Commanders, 19th Airship Company 19th Dirigible Company 19th Airship Company 19th Airship Squadron 1st Lt. Don L. Hutchins ao Jan 20-Mar 20 Capt. Charles P. Clark ao May 26-ao Jun 26 2nd Lt. Orville A. Anderson Mar 20-5 Jun 20 Capt. James F. Doherty ao Dec 26-ao Jan 27 Capt. Dale Mabry 5 Jun 20-1 Feb 21 2nd Lt. Leslie A. Skinner ao Aug 27-19 Sep 27 Maj. Arthur G. Fisher 1 Feb 21-1 Oct 21 1st Lt. Uzal G. Ent 19 Sep 27-ao Jun 29 Maj. John G. Thornell 1 Oct 21-ao Jan 22 Unknown ao Jun 29-15 Jul 33 Capt. William O. Butler 1 Jul 22-31 Aug 25 1st Lt. James C. Shively 16 Jul 33-19 Dec 33 Unknown 1 Sep 25-17 Nov 25 Maj. Clarence B. Lober 19 Dec 33-1 Sep 36 1st Lt. Walter J. Reed 18 Nov 25-ao Dec 25 Maj. Lawrence A. Lawson 1 Sep 36-1 Jun 37
LuftStalg1 Posted January 5, 2023 #19 Posted January 5, 2023 Beautiful! I believe I took pictures of that very uniform back in Albuquerque, NM in the early 90's. Those were / are the only bullion DI's of that unit that I have seen. I collected rare AAF DI's which is why it had caught my eye! Ahh the good old days of pre internet treasures. 💖
Usa1918 Posted January 6, 2023 Author #20 Posted January 6, 2023 9 hours ago, rathbonemuseum.com said: What is the rank on this tunic? Captain
Usa1918 Posted January 6, 2023 Author #21 Posted January 6, 2023 53 minutes ago, LuftStalg1 said: Beautiful! I believe I took pictures of that very uniform back in Albuquerque, NM in the early 90's. Those were / are the only bullion DI's of that unit that I have seen. I collected rare AAF DI's which is why it had caught my eye! Ahh the good old days of pre internet treasures. 💖 I’m in Colorado Springs-as well as the previous owner, so it’s possible he displayed in Albuquerque
Usa1918 Posted January 6, 2023 Author #22 Posted January 6, 2023 9 hours ago, rathbonemuseum.com said: The 19th ASC is an abbreviation for "Airship Company", not "Air Service Company"? It was based in Langley Field, VA. In 1925, it's commander was Cpt. William O. Butler. I could find no listing in any order of battle for a 19th Airship Service Company. From US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/OrderofBattle3.pdf Lineage: 19th Balloon Company (1919) 19th Dirigible Company (1919-23) 19th Airship Company (1923-33) (23rd Airship Group) 19th Airship Squadron (1933-37) (21st Airship Group) HQ- Mitchel Field, NY, 1919; Lee Hall, VA, 1919; Langley Field, VA, 1919-35; Moffett Field, CA, 1935-37 Assigned Airships: TA-5; TC-4; TC-5; TC-9; TC-11; TC-11-271; TC-13; TC 14; TC-18; TE-2 Commanders, 19th Airship Company 19th Dirigible Company 19th Airship Company 19th Airship Squadron 1st Lt. Don L. Hutchins ao Jan 20-Mar 20 Capt. Charles P. Clark ao May 26-ao Jun 26 2nd Lt. Orville A. Anderson Mar 20-5 Jun 20 Capt. James F. Doherty ao Dec 26-ao Jan 27 Capt. Dale Mabry 5 Jun 20-1 Feb 21 2nd Lt. Leslie A. Skinner ao Aug 27-19 Sep 27 Maj. Arthur G. Fisher 1 Feb 21-1 Oct 21 1st Lt. Uzal G. Ent 19 Sep 27-ao Jun 29 Maj. John G. Thornell 1 Oct 21-ao Jan 22 Unknown ao Jun 29-15 Jul 33 Capt. William O. Butler 1 Jul 22-31 Aug 25 1st Lt. James C. Shively 16 Jul 33-19 Dec 33 Unknown 1 Sep 25-17 Nov 25 Maj. Clarence B. Lober 19 Dec 33-1 Sep 36 1st Lt. Walter J. Reed 18 Nov 25-ao Dec 25 Maj. Lawrence A. Lawson 1 Sep 36-1 Jun 37 I can’t believe I wrote Air Service Company rather than Air Ship Company. I shouldn’t be allowed to type 🤪🤪
Allan H. Posted January 6, 2023 #23 Posted January 6, 2023 This is a fantastic uniform and one that I have drooled over frequently over the years. The former owner's memory has fogged a bit as I am quite positive that he had owned it for over FORTY YEARS! Allan
Allan H. Posted January 6, 2023 #25 Posted January 6, 2023 2 hours ago, Usa1918 said: Ah, you know Elden then? Who doesn't? I used to go to his shop when he was in Manhattan, KS! Allan
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