Lot 1017

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Description:

U.S. ARMY AIR SERVICE AIRSHIP COMMADER''S INSIGNIA AND PHOTO GROUPING
Fine selection of items related to the service of U.S. Army Air Service lieutenant (later captain) W.A. Gray. Includes: rare Airship Pilot''s wings badge, approx. 3" x 1", silver, circa 1922, depicting an early dirigible airship at center. Hallmarked "Meyer New York" within a shield on the reverse, with a "J"-shaped pin-latch. The pin does not open further than 90 degrees. Shows expected surface wear, else very good. This badge is featured on page 43 of "The Insignia, Uniforms & Equipment of the U.S. Army Balloon Corps, 1917-1922" by Richard E. DesChenes, present with this group. WITH: Pair of lieutenant''s collar bars, each 1" square, unmarked, very good. WITH: fine group of 49 b/w photographs, some 8" x 10" but most smaller, the majority affixed to unbound album pages, depicting scenes from Gray''s service as an airship pilot, all circa 1921-22. The group includes 20 views of observation balloons, rigid and non-rigid airships of the period, including the French-built Z.D.U.S. 1 and Chalais-Meudon type, the Navy-designed C-2, and more. Many depict Gray''s time spent with the 27th Balloon Company in the Philippines. Also present are several newspaper cuttings featuring Gray, including one describing his flight from Langley, Virginia to St. Louis as commander of the TC-5 in September 1926. All very good. WITH: printed program, 7pp. oblong 8vo., celebrating the 27th Balloon Company''s 1921 Christmas-New Year''s dinner at Kindley Field on Corregidor in the Philippines. The programs depicts a towed Chalais-Meudon balloon on the front cover, and opens with a group photo of the unit. The program further lists the officers and men of the company, including its commander, Lt. W.A. Gray. Unbound, else very good. A fine collection of a neglected field of U.S. aviation history.

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April 18, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000