Named WWI Observer Tunic to a 3 Time DSC Recipient

A truly exceptional tailored officer tunic of World War I that is named to artillery Lieutenant Glen W. Preston. During October of 1918, while flying as an observer with the 99th Aero Squadron in France, Preston was awarded three Distinguished Service Crosses for extraordinary valor in combat operations which, over the course of the missions, included the destruction of three German aircraft.

The tunic was tailored for Preston by Sullivan Brothers of Boston and the tailor label located inside the interior pocket bears Preston’s typed name and rank. The collar carries officer artillery branch insignia while the shoulders bear the gilt bars of a second lieutenant. On the shoulder is the fully embroidered patch of a member of the Army Air Service with the First Army. On the left breast is a thick, bullion embroidered half wing that reflects Preston’s status as a fully qualified aerial observer. Beneath the wing is sewn to the tunic a ribbon bar comprised of ribbons for the Distinguished Service Cross with two oak leaf clusters; the World War I Victory Medal with three campaign stars; and the French Croix de Guerre. The tunic is particularly clean, without stains or any flaws that could be considered particularly distracting. There is one extremely tiny hole on the front of the tunic between the third and fourth buttons. The hole is really too small to even measure and it is barely perceptible. On the back of the tunic, on the upper left shoulder, there was evidently a small hole caused in some unknown manner and it was repaired by the placement in the hole of a small piece of the tunic’s olive green gabardine wool (likely taken from a piece of the tunic’s interior lining). This hole is about 1/2 inch in diameter. Just to the right of the center seam on the upper back is another very small hole, which is quite narrow and which measures only about a 1/4 inch long. Neither one of these points are especially distracting and the overall appearance of the tunic is truly impressive. It is really a quite singular uniform that would warrant a prominent position in a museum of American Military Aviation history. Lieutenant Preston’s three Distinguished Service Cross citations were as follows:

– “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Glen A. Preston, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 99th Aero Squadron (Attached), U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Cunel, France, 5 October 1918. While on a photographic mission Lieutenant Preston and his pilot were attacked by seven enemy planes (type Fokker) and driven back to our own lines. They almost immediately returned to the same locality without the protection of battle planes and continued to take photographs until attacked by five machines (Pfalz type). They opened fire on this formation and brought down two of them and drove the others away and then returned with photographs of great importance.” From War Department, General Orders 64 (1919).

– “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Glen A. Preston, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 99th Aero Squadron (Attached), U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Andevanne, France, 29 October 1918. Becoming separated from his protecting planes while on a photographic mission, Lieutenant Preston continued on alone, and, although he was attacked by seven enemy planes, type Fokker, he drove them off and secured numerous photographs.” From War Department, General Orders 64 (1919).

– “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Glen A. Preston, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 99th Aero Squadron (Attached), U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Remonville, France, 30 October 1918. Lieutenant Preston successfully accomplished his mission in spite of encounters with four separate enemy formations, one of 38 machines, another of six, type Pfalz, another of seven, type Fokker, and a formation of biplane planes. He shot down one of the enemy and returned with valuable information.” From War Department, General Orders 64 (1919).