History Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for historians and history buffs. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
I've recently come into a a large group of dry glass plate negatives, and this is one of the first images I've come across. Most of the the other slides I've seen, so far, are likely from the early 1920's.
Any information would be appreciated, I'd like to track the family down if I can!
The shoulder patch would indicate this individual was a member of the 119th Aero Squadron, a World War I unit of the US Army Signal Corps Aviation Section dedicated to aerial reconnaissance. The wiki entry lists the following points of this units history:
- Organized as 5th Aviation School Squadron
- Re-designated 119th Aero Squadron, September 1917
- Re-designated: 11th Detachment, Air Service Aircraft Production, August 1918
- Langley Field, Virginia
- Demobilized: 29 May 1919
(The 119th has since been designated as a New Jersey National guard unit, the 177th Fighter Wing)
This units formation is also discussed in the book Joint Base Langley-Eustis By Mark A. Chambers
The chevrons on the soldiers left sleeve indicate time in service, as discussed here, with one chevron awarded for each 6 month period. The rank insignia on the right shoulder below the patch would indicate a sergeant.
This is my grandfather! I cannot believe this. I was just researching the 119th Air Service Squadron and this came up in the image results. I have goosebumps as I write this. I have a print of this photo but in the print form I have there is vignetting where as this has so much more detail. I have all his paperwork from his service. Fortunately, he never saw combat and was honorably discharged in January, 1919. Please let me know if you still have this negative. I would be happy to provide any conformation on my end that this is my grandfather.
Thank you,
Michael
