Identified 91st Aero Squadron Mechanic Uniform Group

A large group that is Ex-Bob Ford collection and which is comprised of the uniform and additional materials of Private Fred C. Boyd, who served in France as an aviation mechanic with the 91st Aero Squadron. The group consists of the following items:

– Uniform: Boyd’s World War I service uniform, tunic and breeches. The wool tunic is quite clean, though it is missing the top front button and the button on one upper pocket. The collar has “US” and Air Service disks. The left sleeve has a single overseas service chevron and a discharge stripe. Above these is an embroidered Army of Occupation shoulder patch with the “A” worked in silver bullion thread. On the upper right sleeve is sewn the propeller insignia and the individuals numbers “9” and “1”, reflecting Boyd’s status as an aviation mechanic with the 91st Aero Squadron. One of the two hooks is missing from the hook and eye closure set at the collar. The cloth contractor tag remains present under the skirt of the interior lining. The wool breeches show use and wear, and have some small, scattered moth holes, but overall are in good used condition. With the uniform are a pair of wool puttees, although they do not match each other.

– Overcoat: Boyd’s service overcoat is present, having an embroidered Army of Occupation patch on the left shoulder and a propeller insignia sewn to the right shoulder, and it does not appear that the “91” number was ever sewn on the overcoat. The top button is missing from the overcoat, while the cloth contractor label, dated September of 1917, is still underneath the interior lining. There is a single overseas service chevron on the lower left sleeve of the overcoat.

– Additional Items: There are numerous other items with this group which include:
Boyd’s two dog tags; an inflatable pillow on which is written “F.C. Boyd 91st Aero Sqdn.”; A green wool scarf with significant moth damage; a large photograph, about 9 by 13 1/2 inches, which shows a group of American and British enlisted men and officers posed as a group. The significance of the group is not known, although a variety of British regimental badges can be observed, as well as the mandatory dog in the photo. The group also includes over 60 post cards, which are a mixture of commercially produced cards with a few that were actual snapshots that were printed in a postcard format. The cards encompass both scenic views and war photographs, and many have handwritten notations on the reverse. There are several World War I period newspapers, including “Stars and Stripes”, as well as several photographic booklets on France and large, commercially produced, maps of France. The group also includes a khaki visor cap with a front badge and side buttons that display the emblem of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. There is as well a gas mask bag, which is empty and was probably used by Boyd after the end of the war as a carrying satchel.

A large, identified, and interesting group, in overall fine condition, from an Army Air Service soldier who was in France with one of the most famed of the Aero Squadrons.