Item Description
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is the tremendous uniform jacket & Sam Browne belt of Major Willis Alcott Diekema, 91st Aero Squadron, who ended the war with three aerial victories and a Distinguished Service Cross. Diekema had his fair share of close calls during the war, barely making it back over the line after being heavily bombarded with anti-aircraft fire that “punctured the radiator and plowed a furrow through the pilot’s helmet.”
Diekema’s D.S.C. Citation reads:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Willis Alcott Diekema, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 91st Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the region of Metz, France, 15 September 1918. While on a photographic mission Lieutenant Diekema’s formation was attacked by a superior number of enemy aircraft. In the course of the combat Lieutenant Diekema’s companion planes were driven off. Disregarding the fact that his machine was without protection, he continued on his mission until his observer, Lieutenant Hammond, had completed the photographs. On the return they fought their way through an enemy patrol and destroyed one of the machines.
The uniform jacket was tailored by Lloyd & Co. of Paris, and the original tag is retained in the interior pocket, with Diekema having acquired the jacket on October 19th, 1918. The jacket bears three overseas chevrons on the left cuff denoting 18-23 months overseas. He has gorgeous embroidered bullion Major ranks on each shoulder (some of the bullion is fraying on one insignia), with US Collar insignia. The jacket is missing the aviation/signal corps insignia, which are very easily sourced. There’s a lovely 3rd Army patch on the left shoulder. Above the left breast pocket is a 2-place ribbon bar, with a Distinguished Service Cross and WWI Victory Medal with two campaign stars. Above this is a gorgeous set of French-made bullion pilot’s wings in fantastic condition. The buttons on the uniform are actually British-made, marked to J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd. of London, England. The jacket is in great condition overall with service use.
His Sam Browne belt shows great service use, and even retains a saber chape! It really completes the look of the uniform.
Willis first arrived overseas as an aviation cadet on November 2nd, 1917, giving him a great deal of French pilot training. He first went into combat on May 24th, 1918 in the Lorraine defensive sector. He saw heavy fighting in the St. Mihiel & Meuse-Argonne Offensives and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions on September 15th, 1918, during St. Mihiel. He was eventually promoted to Major and was transferred to the 9th Aero Squadron, returning stateside on June 7th, 1919.
Included with the group is some printed research and a printed photo from the 91st Unit History, with the caption “Diek”, his nickname. He wears the DSC Ribbon and his wings in the photo, along with his Sam Browne belt. With that mustache, he was absolutely suited to serve as a pilot during the First World War!
This is a tremendous uniform group, the first Pilot’s D.S.C. Group we’ve offered. Comes ready for further research and display as the centerpiece of any AEF Collection!
The 91st Aero Squadron was a unit of the Air Service, United States Army that fought on the Western Front during World War I. The 91st was one of the first five American flying squadrons to reach France, arriving at Chaumont Hill 402 Aerodrome on 15 November 1917.
The squadron was assigned as an Army Observation Squadron, performing long-range, strategic reconnaissance over the entire length of the United States First Army sector of the Western Front in France. After the 1918 Armistice with Germany, the squadron was assigned to the United States Third Army as part of the Occupation of the Rhineland in Germany. It returned to the United States in June 1919 and became part of the permanent United States Army Air Service in 1921, being re-designated as the 91st Squadron.
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