Dress uniforms of Colonel Willis Stetson Fitch

[Jamecharles]

Hello everyone!

I’m excited to share a recent acquisition with you all: a full lot of uniforms belonging to Colonel Willis Stetson Fitch of the U.S. aviation. I’m presenting the pieces in their entirety here, and I’m hoping someone among you may be able to help with finding photographs of Col. Fitch wearing them, especially in gala / evening dress uniform.
Yeah I know those uniforms are not ranked with full bird as colonel but those were used by Fitch before he was promoted as colonel during ww2.

Here’s what I know about him, to date:

Colonel Fitch was one of the early aviators who served in World War I, volunteering for the U.S. Air Service, receiving flight training in Italy, and flying Italian Caproni bombers over the Alps (day and night). He was wounded in action.

He wrote the book "Wings in the night", after ww1.

During World War II, he served again, including working at the Pentagon and later heading the aviation cadet section of the Army Air Forces.

After WWII, in 1952, he worked with the Federal Renegotiation Board during the time of the Korean War.

What I believe / what I’m gathering:

That he was decorated with the Legion of Merit at least twice he was one of the first 20 American aviators on the Italian front in WWI.

What makes this lot particularly special for collectors: the grouping was quite extensive, spanning different eras of his career. It included pre-WWII uniforms (among them his magnificent blue dress uniforms, which were the main reason I acquired the lot and which I decided to keep in my collection), wartime service uniforms from WWII, and even uniforms dating to the Korean War period.

As is often the case with such historical groupings, I carefully examined all pockets and seams and even went through a book signed by him. In doing so, I discovered small personal items and spare ribbons he probably dismounted from white and blue dresses. These will allow me to complete certain uniforms in the lot (including the white dress uniform that now dont have the ribbons sewn on). A truly fascinating glimpse into the life and service of this officer.

Further details:

He was awarded with Italian cross of the order of the crown (2nd rank), Italian medal of valor (bronze), Italian bronze cross valor, ww1 victory with 2 clasps (Vittorio veneto and defensive sector) and ww1 Italian victory medal.

What I’m especially wondering / looking for help with:

- Photographs of Col. Fitch in full dress / gala uniforms, especially with his blue dress tunic.

- his special evening dress have the sleeves embroidered with a “three-star aide-de-camp / general’s aide” symbol. It is unusual, so it would be very interesting to understand to which general he was assigned in that capacity.

- If anyone has seen images, archives, books, or family-collections that might show him wearing gala dress (or any uniform), or details like sleeve insignia that could tie him to a specific general’s aide-role, I’d love for you to share or point me in the right direction.

Thank you all, I am excited to put this lot into context, and eager to learn more together!

PS: White dress uniform have his ribbon set but need to be resewn on ther jacket, I will do asap.

GS

[Jamecharles]

adding photos of the book signed and details of the ribbons for white dress (as you can see the rosette is missing on italian cross and 2 bronze stars missing on ww1 victory too... I am waiting to re sewn them on once I will get all missing parts)
Inside the uniforms I found more ribbons, notes and matches

GS

[KurtA]

Very nice grouping.  As an aide to a 3 Star General, I'm assuming that would have been an Air Corps LTG?  Up until WW2, there was only 1 Air Corps 3 Star - Delos Carlton Emmons.  Did some quick internet search trying to connect the 2 officers, but didn't see anything.

Is there a date in the Mess Dress Jacket.? If after WW2 started (not sure these jackets were being worn during the war years), there would be additional AAF 3 stars generals to research.

Too bad he apparently didn't apply for a Purple Heart when it came out in 1932.   

[Jamecharles]

Special evening dress is dated 38, here the labels

 

[Jamecharles]

Mess dress label are same of blue dress uniform so I guess are both made in 1940

[Jamecharles]

Here the blue dress uniform label

[Jamecharles]

So my guess is he bought the special evening dress in 1938 than he bought blue dress uniform and mess dress in 1940.

About who was aiding as lt . General for me still a mystery, what's your guess?

Btw: Where I can find any photos of him ? I think it's weird he didn't get one photo in a social event with those uniforms...

[Ranger-1972]

 

 

Below is a photo of then-1LT Fitch in his service uniform, apparently taken while he was serving in Italy. 

 

It appears he got out of the Army after the end of the First World War, and returned to service for WWII. The 1920 census shows him in Middlesex, Massachusetts and working as a salesman in the wool industry.  The 1930 census shows he is living in Newton City, Massachusetts and working as a banking executive. He may have remained in the Officer Reserve Corps during the interwar years, but I cannot find a record to that effect.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

From:  https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=25317

First Lieutenant Willis (Will) Stetson Fitch (1896-1978) Air Service, U.S. Army, Tenth Aero Squadron Caproni, Fourteenth Group. He received his flight training in Italy (In Fiorello La Gaurdia's group) and was one of the first 20 aviators on the Italian front in World War I. He flew Italian Caproni bombers in day and night combat over the Alps and was wounded in action. He volunteered for the U.S. Air Service in World War I and for service in the Army Air Forces after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and served as a colonel at the Pentagon during World War II. Between the wars, he was in the investment banking business in Boston. In 1938, he published a book, “Wings in the Night”, about his wartime experience. After World War II, Col. Fitch was named head of the aviation cadet section of the Army Air Forces in Washington. He was twice decorated with the Legion of Merit. For his service in Italy he was aware two Italian medals:  Italian War Merit Cross (Croce al Merito di Guerra): and the Italian Bronze Medal

 

 

He was a Dartmouth Graduate, class of 1917. The page is from a 1927 book about the Dartmouth class of 1917, giving some details of his early military service. He was discharged in Garden City, Long Island on 28 December 1918 as a first lieutenant. There is no mention (in 1927) of him still being in the military. He is not shown among the register of Massachusetts National Guard officers in 1939. The 1940, 1941 and January 1942 Registers of the Army of the United States do not list his name (but it only includes officer on active duty or retired, not officers in the Reserves or NG).

 

  

 

He seems to have married twice -- the first time to Maxine Elizabeth Spaulding (a graduate of Wheaton College) in 1925 and the second time to Nina Katherine Demos in 1943 (with the marriage being performed by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, his old commander in Italy during WWI). At that time, he is listed as being a Lieutenant Colonel and "head of the aviation cadet section army air forces in Washington, D. C."  https://www.newspapers.com/image/369887871/?article=b554083e-eed9-43c7-bc5b-54aa39a49e0a&focus=0.38128504,0.029767452,0.61398274,0.241042&xid=3398&_gl=1*1kxysde*_gcl_au*NzgzNzE2MTI5LjE3NjIxMTM1MjM.*_ga*MTM1MTQ5NjQ3OS4xNzYyMTEzNTI3*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*c2U1OWQ2YTE5LWUzOGItNGQ4Zi1hMDE1LTk5Yjg5NjJlZDU0ZCRvMSRnMSR0MTc2MjExNTE1NiRqNDIkbDAkaDA.*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*c2U1OWQ2YTE5LWUzOGItNGQ4Zi1hMDE1LTk5Yjg5NjJlZDU0ZCRvMSRnMSR0MTc2MjExNTE1NiRqNDIkbDAkaDA.

 

This is an article he wrote in 1942 (when he was a major).  https://archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/article/1942/2/1/dartmouth-keeps-em-flying

 

He is shown in 1946 (second from the left) with President Harry S. Truman, who was meeting with the heads of the Air Force Association:

 

This is his obituary in the Washington Post in 1978:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1978/08/12/willis-stetson-fitch-82-pilot-in-first-world-war/7feb3685-abe9-4a03-88a6-47520daaeeb3/

 

This is his obituary as printed by Dartmouth:

 

WILLIS STETSON FITCH died of heart failure at Sibley Memorial Hospital on August 9. Funeral services and burial took place at Arlington National Cemetery with Dartmouth, business, and government people attending.

Will was born in Medford, Mass., on June 10, 1896. He entered Dartmouth from Medford High and received his B.S. degree in 1917. Will has always given freely of time and energy in school, college, and business life. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Dragon Senior Society. As an alumnus, Will was president of the Dartmouth Club of Washington, D.C., for five years and a member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council for four years.

Will took part in both World Wars, as an Air Force bomber pilot in the first and as an Army Air Force staff colonel in financial affairs in the second. He wrote a book, Wings in the Night, and was knighted by King Victor Emmanuel II. Will also was decorated twice with the Legion of Merit. Between and after the wars Will served the business world as a financial expert and also worked in government advisory capacities. He was on the Board of Governors of the Army-Navy Country Club and a member of the International Club in Washington, D.C.

Will was married to Nina Demos, who survives him. The sympathy of the Class of 1917 goes out to her with a deep feeling of great loss in the death of this loyal and energetic classmate.