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LOT 370
Fourteen American Military Aviator Badges, One Inscribed to a World War I Era Naval Aviator, Some Gold - All
badges in the group are metal construction (appears to be gold for most), with seven USN naval aviator badges, 5 “propeller” pilot badges, and two “US on shield” badges. Six are marked either “10K” or “14K”. One of the naval badges is hand-inscribed “With all my love/Meg” on the back, and the other has Tiffany & Company markings on the back along
with a professional inscription
for the Federation Aeronautique
Internationale (World Air Sports Federation) and an Ensign William A. Magee Junior, dated August 10,
1918. Online records note a William Adam Magee Junior of California as a naval aviator trained at Naval
Air Station Pensacola and commissioned as an Ensign in December of 1917. One of the propeller badges is inscribed “H-R-C-I” on the back. CONDITION: Very fine to excellent overall, with some minor handling marks overall.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 7,000 - 11,000
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LOT 371
Historic Identified World War I U.S. Army Air Service Leather Flight Helmet - This is the standard summer issue flight helmet with bill, size
6 7/8. The chin strap and goggle
retention straps are present as well
as the snaps. The interior is hand
marked in ink with the name “LT. T. W.
SHACKELFORD/SELFRIDGE FIELD-MICH.”
Includes a period knitted balaclava worn
under the flight helmet. In 1917, Selfridge
Field in Michigan became one of nine Army
Air Service airfields in the United States.
Training of pilots began three months after
the U.S. entered World War I. By the end
of the war 72 pilots and 700 mechanics
had been trained with an additional
1,002 men attending gunnery
school. After the war the airfield
became the home of the
1st Pursuit Group, which
was the first air combat
group formed by the
Air Service, American
Expeditionary Force, and continues to operate as the
USAF’s oldest major air combat unit. Theodore Roosevelt’s son
Quentin Roosevelt was a member of the 95th Aero Squadron in the 1st Pursuit Group and remains the only child of a U.S. president killed in combat.
CONDITION: Fine, with supple leather, some typical wear, and overall tight stitching. A great piece of World War I aviation memorabilia worn by an aviator who trained in Michigan. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 372
Historic World War I U.S. Army Air Service Leather Flight Helmet with Goggles - This is the standard summer issue flight helmet with bill. The chin strap and goggle retention straps are present as well as the snaps. The interior is hand marked in ink “W/R/AVE.” Includes a period skull cap and period tinted goggles.
CONDITION: Fine, showing typical wear and slight resizing during the period of use. The faded skull cap is good with repairs. The goggles are fair with heavily aged tint on one of the lenses. A classic World War I U.S. Army Air Service leather flight helmet with authentic use.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250