Page 260 - 4092-BOOK3-FLIPBOOK

LOT 3348
Grouping of Correspondence, Insignia and Other Items for Major General William Lacy Kenly, Chief of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force and Director of Military Aeronautics - The son of a Civil War officer, William Kenly was born in 1864, graduating from West Point in 1889 with a specialty in field artillery, before seeing action during the Philippine-American War. In 1917, Kenly would be made Chief of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force, putting him in charge of American military aviation in France and in 1918 he would be made Director of Military Aeronautics. An artillerist by trade with no personal aviation experience, he was subject to heavy influence by officers like Billy Mitchell and Henry Arnold, who would later be regarded as founding fathers of the modern United States Air Force. Retiring in 1919, Kenly held the rank of Major General with the National Army (a brevet rank granted for use during the war) and Colonel with the Regular Army (his permanent rank), having reverted to the latter once the war ended; while this sort of rank reversion is not as dire or insulting as a demotion in permanent rank, contemporary articles did describe this reversion as effectively an insult, attributing it to a political conflict over the maintenance of a permanent air service within the Army. Having passed on in 1928, he is buried in Arlington Cemetery, with both ranks listed on his tombstone. Along with the aforementioned article, the paper
goods include a calling card for Kenly with his DMA title, a 1917 dated registration certificate, and two postcards made out to a Lieutenant William L. Kenly (note: Kenly’s father and son were both also named William L. Kenly)
informing them of the arrival of AEF members in Europe. Among the insignia is a miniature ribbon bar with 9 ribbons, which include the Distinguished Service Medal, Order of the Bath, and the French Grand Cross
of the Legion of Honor. Also present is a variety of small buttons/pins, a number of rank insignia from 2nd Lieutenant to a General’s star (no Captain rank), U.S./U.S.R. lapel pins, Artillery and Signal Corps lapel pins, a British coin that appears to have suffered a bullet or shrapnel strike, and a silver-bodied Cross brand fountain pen with “W.L.K.” initials.
CONDITION: Very good to fine overall, with heavier wear on a few of the items.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
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LOT 3349
Classic World War I Era Full Length Leather Flight Coat - A good long leather coat was a necessity for airmen operating in their open cockpit aircraft during World War I. Joined with goggles, leather flight helmet, leather boots, and riding style
breeches, the long leather coat become a symbol of a new breed of warrior: the fighter pilot. This is a piece of history to the legacy of the early age of flight, and no aviation collection can be considered complete without a World War I era full
length flight coat. On this example the left side of the chest has the side entry map packet. The map pocket was rarely omitted from this type of
flight gear. The lower left section of the coat has a large and deep pocket which is another commonly found feature on these coats. A matching
original leather belt is included. Unfortunately the coat lacks a maker’s label. The inside of the coat is hand marked in ink with the name “C.H.
Tripp.” C.H. Tripp has yet to be identified. One possibility is 2nd Lt. Claude Henry Tripp who is among known Royal Flying Corps personnel
listed in a database compiled by the online site www.AirHistory.org. uk (http://www.airhistory.org.uk/rfc/people_indexT.html). Tripp was born on June 19, 1894 and during World War I served with the No.
48 Squadron. The No. 48 Squadron was formed in 1916, posted in France in March 1917, and was the first fighter squadron to be
equipped with the Bristol F.2 Fighter.
CONDITION: Fine with authentic use and wear and even with what
appears to be some oil stains. (Those pesky Liberty engines!) The stitching is tight overall. A very attractive example of an iconic World War I era full
length leather flight coat that will display nicely.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000