A280
Good trunk set with two uniforms, scarce British enlisted issue mounted breeches, piped overseas cap, unusual leggings,
and more. Trunk is stenciled with this officer's name "W.H. Galentine / 1st Lt. / U.S.A." Primary uniform is an
attractive tailored olive drab wool officer's uniform with silver pinback First Lieutenant rank insignias, "U.S." and
Quartermaster Corps officer's collar devices, one overseas service chevron, and left shoulder has red "SOS" monogram
embroidered on dark blue wool background with gilt arrow and "B5" designation. Includes olive drab wool breeches
complete with khaki web waistbelt. Second olive drab wool twill officer's tunic has silver First Lieutenant rank
insignias, "U.S." and Quartermaster Corps officer's collar devices, and one overseas service chevron - does not have
shoulder insignia. All three of these pieces are nice with just a few small pinholes. Officer's olive drab wool overseas
cap has Quartermaster Corps buff branch of service piping and 1st Lieutenant pinback rank insignia; interior has dark
olive twill silk lining and brown leather sweatband that has some mildew stains, but this is easily cleaned and the cap is
nice with no apparent mothing. His officer's visor (garrison) cap has bronze eagle device, bound brown leather visor
and adjustable chinstrap. Visor has mildew spots, crown has a few pinhole moth bites but remains nice, and interior has
quilted gold silk crown lining with brown oilcloth sweatband. US box respirator has the normal crispy mask and hose,
but a nice carrier. In addition to a traditional set of short pattern canvas leggings, this group had a very interesting and
unusual set of olive drab wool knit leggings with tape ties at the top and sewn 'ridges' that would create the visual
appearance of wrap puttees when worn - a very unusual personal accoutrement that had everyone in the office
temporarily distracted while they did their best 1983 'Flashdance' impression... (none were very good, but all were
sufficiently disturbing.) The group also includes this officer's British Brodies helmet which has 75% textured olive
finish; interior with good 3rd pattern Brodies liner with crown pad intact and a well-worn but pliable leather chinstrap.
The group also includes a set of WWI British Army enlisted issue mounted pattern breeches; olive corded wool
breeches with leather interior calf reinforcements, metal utility buttons, and a nice BroadArrow proof stamp in the
waistband. These remain in very nice condition and show little signs of wear. On their own they are a scarce and
desirable Commonwealth uniform item; and I apologize to US collectors who might not appreciate such things as they
add a fair bit of value to the price of the set. However, I figured them in for less than they would bring if sold
separately simply because I would rather not purposefully break up identified groups just to pursue a few extra dollars.
Nice set with a very scarce shoulder insignia and some particularly good 'extras'. II
$1125
WWI Base Section 5 Service of Supply Officer's Trunk Group w/ British Issue Breeches
A281
Includes pair of fencing gauntlets, white quilted plastron protective vest, and the padded wire mesh fencing helmet; and
a wooden M1913 Patton-style sword. Gloves are not a matching pair, though close (one has brown rivets, the other
has black). Gloves show wear and scrapes to the olive drab composition gauntlet portion. Helmet looks good from
exterior, but the leather on the back strap has disintegrated revealing the wool lining. Leather on chin is also worn
away revealing the wool padding. Plastron is very nice with a Spaulding label attached to the groin. Soiled from
storage, but very nice condition overall. This is the same equipment that you see soldiers wearing while training with
the wooden practice sabers as well as the wood rifles used for bayonet training. The gauntlets surface quite regularly and
we even see a few of the masks every year, but this is the first plastron and sword that I have had a chance to pick up.
Scarce set! II-
$465
WWI Bayonet Training / Fencing Equipment Set: Helmet, Plastron, Gauntlets, and Sword
A282
Extensive grouping from one of a handful of US pilots who trained on Italian bombers and flew combat missions with
the Italian Air Force in WWI; includes his Italian tailored US officer's uniform with US and Italian pilot wing badges,
flight helmet, goggles, crash souvenirs, a number of outstanding photographs - including several showing him wearing
this very uniform, his flight suit, and an archive of original documents and photos. Lt. Bevin received flight training
at Princeton in 1917, graduating in July. He began training at the 8th Aviation Instruction Center in Foggia, Italy in
November 1917, flying Farman M.F.11's, and by March he was training on Caproni Bombers. In June, training
complete, he was assigned to the IV Gruppo Aero, 13th Squadriglia Aviation, Zona de Guerra. He flew bombing raids
against the Austrians until August 1918, when he was ordered to England to train American pilots on the British
Handley-Page bombers. His day-to-day experiences are documented in the 2006 book "Capronis, Farmans, and SIAs;
U.S. Army Aviation Training and Combat in Italy with Fiorello LaGuardia 1917-1918", a copy of which is included
with the group. His US officer's tunic has a "Milano" Italian tailor's label and Italian-made US M1912 eagle buttons;
olive drab wool twill with Italian-made US First Lieutanant rank insignias, "U.S." and Aviation winged prop officer's
collar devices, bullion embroidered Reserve Military Aviator badge, Italian War Merit Cross and Italian War Medal
ribbon bars, two overseas service chevrons, and bullion embroidered Italian Pilot's badge on the sleeve. Italian badge
has some loose attachment threads, and the coat overall has seen quite a bit of service, with wear and mothing,
heaviest along the lower pocket edges, however period photos in the group show that this particular uniform was worn
extensively by Lt. Bevin while on active service in Italy. Includes his Sam Browne belt, leather puttees, Stetson
campaign hat with officer's cord and chinstrap. The puttees and campaign hat are inscribed with his name. His
officer's visor cap has olive drab wool twill crown with just a few pinholes; interior has sweatband that has loose
stitching. Includes a British style overseas cap with his initials in the quilted crown, has a 1cm moth hole on the right
side. His US officer's overseas cap is heavily worn with a 12cm tear or moth track, heavy wear on the branch of
service piping with the green silk portion nearly all gone leaving only the internal cording. Flight gear includes his
British Mark II flying goggles, inscribed with his name on the leather portion, but showing very little if any use, with
small sticky labels still remaining on the lenses. His British-style (appears to be French manufacture) private purchase
flying helmet is also in excellent condition, soft brown leather exterior and fur / chamois lining with maker's label. His
private purchase flight coveralls have tailor's label on the interior inscribed "Am.E.F. Italy" and "Allen William Bevin
/ 1
st Lieut. OSSig R.C.". Coveralls are oil stained and worn as you might expect, but remain in good overall condition.
His archive is extensive, with numerous photographs from training in the states as well as photos of Bevin and his
fellow US and Italian pilots in Italy, some excellent photos of bombs after release and before impact over Austrian
targets, numerous documents, correspondence with Mr. Bevin's family, a piece of fabric from an Italian plane that was
crashed, and a piece of propeller tip inscribed "Dec. 6 '17 / Crash No. 2." The archive includes several photos of
crack-ups, and a (modern) book that accompanies the group notes that several of his companions were severely
injured in such crashes. The former caretaker of this group notes that more US pilots were killed in training accidents
than by enemy action. It was simply an inherently dangerous activity! The group includes several excellent large
cabinet cards and one large framed photo, all with excellent content that makes it not only one of the more unusual
and rare US WWI Aviator's groupings from the Great War, but also one that will display particularly well. II / III
$7250
WWI Italian Front US Aviator's Uniform, Flight Gear, & Archive: Lt. Allen Bevin
