Glider Pilot Badge (in silvered bronze, English-made c. 1944, measuring 76 mm (w) x 20 mm (h), horizontal pinback, scattered silvering wear evident on the reverse); his Identification Bracelet (in sterling silver, obverse with a small Glider Pilot badge affixed above the engraved inscription "Glynn C. Watkins", reverse marked "STERLING" and engraved with the inscription "T-124298 / Alta Bernice Watkins / Wife", both inscriptions in running script, measuring 43.5 mm (w) x 19.2 mm (h), on a full wrist chain); a Flight Officer Cap Badge (in bronze gilt, measuring 51.5 mm (w) x 37.5 mm (h), screwpost with screwback along with two raised points on the reverse); two Warrant Officer 1st Class Rank Badges (one in sterling silver gilt with blue enamels, maker marked "GEMSCO" and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, the other in bronze gilt with blue enamels and maker marked "AMICO", measuring 25 mm (w) x 10.2 mm (h) and measuring 26 mm (w) x 9.8 mm (h) respectively, both with pinback); Army Presidential Unit Citation (blue ribbon framed by twisted gold-colored bullion wire, on a black wool base, black paper backer, measuring 45 mm (w) x 21 mm (h)); European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Ribbon Bar (two bronze stars on its original ribbon, measuring 36 mm (w) x 10 mm (h), pinback); Army Good Conduct Medal Ribbon Bar (original ribbon, measuring 36 mm (w) x 10.5 mm (h), pinback); Army Good Conduct Medal Enameled Ribbon Bar (in bronze gilt with red and white enamels, measuring 17.2 mm (w) x 3.8 mm (h), button hole attachment); Honorable Service Lapel Button (Pin) (in bronze gilt, measuring 17 mm (w) x 12 mm (h), button hole attachment); Ninth Air Force Patch (in red, white and yellow embroidery, on a blue wool base, measuring 65 mm (w) x 67 mm (h)); First Troop Carrier Command Patch (in yellow and blue embroidery, measuring 75 mm (w) x 73 mm (h)); Ninth Air Force Lapel Badge (in bronze gilt with red, white and blue enamels, measuring 23.5 mm (w) x 25.3 mm (h), horizontal pinback). Accompanied by twenty-two pages of his Individual Flight Records, along with a brief biography. Very fine.
Footnote: Glynn Cleo Watkins was born on December 28, 1913 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas, the son of Fletcher William Watkins (1888-1974) and Helen L. Collom Watkins (1895-1988), his parents having married on February 3, 1912. He eventually became a Flight Officer (T-124298) with the Army Air Force. At the age of 29, he did his initial training at South Plains Army Airfield (SPAAF) in Lubbock, Texas attached to the 850th TEFTS at the Glider Crew Training Center at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky. Flight Officer Watkins arrived in England in July 1944 and was assigned to the 44th Troop Carrier Squadron, 316th Troop Carrier Group at Cottesmore, Rutland, England (APO 133 - #489). In January 1945, he began flying powered L-4B liaison aircraft, in addition to glider work and exclusively flew L-4Bs in March 1945 (9:20 hours solo, 2:30 hours dual). In April 1945, he was transferred to the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron, 349th Troop Carrier Group, when the 316th Troop Carrier had been repatriated. His last flight report was recorded in June 1945 and he returned to the United States shortly thereafter. He was also the recipient of an Army Presidential Unit Citation. While in the Army Air Force, he was married to Alta Bernice Watkins and later married Thomasina Ida Lou Elliott Watkins (January 21, 1917 - March 24, 2001). The couple were residing in Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas when Glenn Cleo Watkins died on September 6, 1998, at the age of 84. Both he and is wife, Ida Lou, are buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Texarkana.