United States. An Army Air Service Flying Helmet & Belongings to Charles Batty; 141st Aero Pursuit Squadron

This is a standard issue summer US Air Service flying helmet with ear coverings, a strap, and a matching protective face mask. Although the US Air Service employed many different designs of helmets during the later years of the war, most stemmed from football helmets mostly consisting of a segmented pattern of 6 triangular pieces of leather for the crown. The inside of this helmet and the protective face cover are lined with chamois fur, although through time and wear, the fur has broken down in multiple spots. Measurements: 26cm tall and 28cm wide. Overall condition fine. Also included: “Seeing Nancy” - A Guide for Americans with Map: This was a city guide to the French Town of Nancy, which was originally purchased for 1.50 francs. It was a guidebook, teaching Americans basic history of the town, as well as monuments, important landmarks, and day-to-day life in Nancy. Overall condition very fine. 17.5cm x 11.2cm; Transportation Division Air Service U.S puch: Used by pilots to safeguard important documents. Overall condition fine. 20.8cm x 13.3cm; Five “Veterans of World War I Inc.” membership cards: The Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. was organized by War I Buddies in 1948, uniting in fraternal, civic and social comradeship those who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of World War I beginning 6 April 1917 and ending 11 November 1918, "Armistice Day." In protective plastic sleeves; overall condition better than very fine. Ranging in size; 6.1cm x 9.5cm to 5.4cm x 9cm; Two 141st Aero Squadron Pursuit Veterans Bugle Call Passes: Made out to Charles Batty, dated 1 January 1940 and 1 October 1975. Overall condition better than fine; 6.3cm x 10cm; A small print of the 141st Aero Pursuit Squadron’s emblem - a tiger looking down at a flying helmet in its paws, 4cm x 5.5cm; American Expeditionary Forces Soldier’s Letter, 6.7cm x 11.4cm; Printed picture of a British Mark I tank disguised as a German tank, 4.2cm x 7.1cm; Two pages from a maintenance logbook of an aircraft, 13.5cm x 8.6cm; Inspirational quote handwritten on paper: “More important than the efficiency of the gun is the Philosophy of the gunner or of the Bomb the Bomber, 5.3cm x 7.4cm; Use of Parachutes - Key Points to Remember: C. Batty, dated 26 May 1950, 6.2cm x 9.5 cm; Ring featuring a four-blade propellor, approx 13mm diameter Footnote: “We had more fun in the old days when pilots flew those old crates covered in fabric and held together with wire, without a parachute or push buttons. And as they say, those men were a race apart; those jacketed, goggled knights, those airborne warriors lived and fought and died according to all the rules of chivalry. War in those days was a test of valor.” - Charles Batty, 141st Aero Pursuit Squadron - The 141st Aero Pursuit Squadron’s emblem is an orange and black tiger looking down at a flying helmet held in one of its paws. The pursuit wings were directed to protect the observation squadrons, which required a balance of pursuit and observation skills. The 141st was a part of the United States Army Air Service pursuit squadron, and part of the American Expeditionary Force, assigned to the 4th Pursuit Squadron. The squadron was organized at Rockwell Field in San Diego, California on October 8th, 1917. There, the pilots trained with Curtis JN-4 aircraft. On January 2nd, 1918, the squadron was ordered to Garden City, New York for deployment. They arrived there on January 9th for final preparations and then boarded the Cunard Liner on January 15th to sail to Halifax, Nova Scotia. On January 30th, the squadron arrived in Glasgow, Scotland and then took the train to Morn Hill Rest Camp in Winchester, England. On August 16th, the 141st Aero Squadron arrived in France at St. Maixent Aerodrome for equipping. One month later, the squadron moved to the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-les Belles Airdrome where they received French SPAD XIII aircraft, known for its speed and agility, but also frequent engine troubles, The squadron was officially assigned to the 4th Pursuit Squadron based at Gengault Aerodrome (Taul) where it flew its first patrol on October 23rd, 1918, and every day thereafter. The 141st Aero Squadron shot down its first enemy plane on October 28th, by Captain Backer, with the second plane shot down early the following month. Overall, the 141’st was involved in 13 air-to-air combats, being the only Pursuit Squadron of the Air Service to have done so. After November 1918, following the armistice with Germany, the 141st remained in Taul. Captain Baker was killed on December 21st, 1918 when he took a SPAD XIII into the sky for one last flight before retiring from the war. The plane developed engine troubles and stalled shortly after takeoff, killing Backer instantly in the crash.