Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original U.S. WWI tailored service uniform worn by a Private associated with the 56th Engineer Regiment, the highly specialized American Expeditionary Forces unit responsible for battlefield searchlight operations. The jacket retains an exceptionally scarce hand-embroidered 56th Engineers searchlight patch beneath a red First Army shoulder insignia, making it a particularly desirable example of an unusual branch of early American military aviation and engineer service.

Modern warfare required many specialized supporting units whose work was rarely visible to the public but essential to combat operations. Among these was the searchlight service, organized within the 56th Engineers and employed in support of American, British, and French forces. Searchlights could be used for battlefield illumination, observation, signaling, and the detection of hostile aircraft operating at night.

This is a privately tailored olive-drab wool service coat in the general M1912 style. It was manufactured by the prestigious Philadelphia firm:

JACOB REED’S SONS

Jacob Reed’s Sons was a prominent Philadelphia menswear and uniform supplier founded during the 19th century. Smithsonian collections document the company’s production and sale of military uniforms and equipment during the early 20th century.

A name tag inside the pocket appears to read:

N. C. DAME

The handwriting or lettering is somewhat difficult to interpret, and we were unable to identify the soldier conclusively. The name may have been read incorrectly, may represent a later owner, or may have been entered while the uniform was being worn overseas. Additional research into 56th Engineer Regiment personnel records may provide a more definitive identification.

As a privately tailored example, the jacket was made without the usual pierced openings for removable collar discs. No U.S. or Engineer collar insignia are currently attached, and there are no sewn rank chevrons present. The absence of rank insignia is consistent with wear by a Private, although the original wearer’s exact grade cannot be independently confirmed.

The left shoulder carries a red wool First Army “A” insignia. Directly beneath it is the most important feature of the jacket, a small circular multi-piece patch depicting an aircraft caught within the bright beam of a searchlight.

The searchlight patch is beautifully hand embroidered and remains one of the finest examples of this insignia we have encountered. Original 56th Engineer Regiment patches are exceptionally difficult to find loose and are considerably scarcer when retained on an original uniform. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers specifically identifies this distinctive design as insignia of the 56th Engineer Regiment Searchlight service.

Unit shoulder insignia of this kind were not initially standardized for wear throughout the war. The Corps of Engineers notes that they first appeared on equipment and baggage and began to be worn on uniforms largely, although not exclusively, after the Armistice. The combination of the First Army insignia and specialized searchlight patch is therefore consistent with a uniform configured during the occupation or immediate postwar period.

The jacket remains in excellent overall condition. The wool retains strong color and form, while the tailor’s construction and fitted proportions give it a much sharper appearance than a standard depot-issued service coat. Expected age, minor handling wear, and small storage flaws are present, but the uniform remains highly displayable.

There are no overseas service chevrons or additional sleeve insignia. The present configuration appears to reflect the manner in which the soldier wore or preserved the uniform following overseas service, although the absence of chevrons means the exact duration of any foreign service cannot be determined from the jacket alone.

This is an outstanding and increasingly difficult-to-find uniform representing one of the American Expeditionary Forces’ most specialized engineer organizations. The combination of Jacob Reed’s Sons tailoring, First Army insignia, and the extraordinarily scarce hand-embroidered searchlight patch would make it an exceptional addition to an advanced collection of U.S. WWI uniforms, Engineer Corps material, early antiaircraft equipment, or American military aviation history.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to Shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to Sleeve: 25"
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17"
Chest Width: 18"
Waist: 17"
Hip: 19"
Front Length: 29"