Original U.S. WWI Navy First Aeronautic Detachment Uniform & Visor with French & U.S. Naval Pilot’s Wings of Ensign Joseph C. Cline - Flew First American Combat Patrol of WWI - Interview Posted Online
-
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is one of the most tremendous WWI uniforms we have ever offered. This uniform jacket, trousers, and visor cap were worn by Ensign Joseph C. Cline, one of the very first Naval Aviators, who went overseas on June 4th, 1917 with the very first Naval Aviation unit in France, the First Aeronautic Detachment. This detachment, with Cline attached, flew the very first American combat patrol of the war from Le Croisic, France on November 13th, 1917. We were able to find a 42-page interview with Cline done by the Naval Institute in 1969. We were also lucky enough to find a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Cline in Naval Aviation: A Personal History - A Weapon Is Tested, which can be found on YouTube here.
In the video, Cline can be seen seated next to his pilot’s uniform, which looks exactly like the one we have here. But this jacket is actually his second jacket, which he donated to the Smithsonian Museum, found here.
Cline’s jacket is a gorgeous dark green example tailored by Meier & Sullivan of Chicago, Illinois, with a name tag in the pocket dated September 25th, 1918. The jacket has sewn-in shoulder boards for the rank of Ensign, and beautiful gilt Navy buttons. Over the left breast pocket is a tremendous bullion set of Naval Pilot’s wings, and over the right breast pocket are two stitched loops holding a gorgeous set of French Seaplane pilot’s wings, stamped on the back with serial number 346. These wings are extraordinarily scarce, as there were only 748 French Navy seaplane pilots. In the included article, Cline notes On October 17, 1917, I received my French Brevet, Number 346. This confirms that the French seaplane pilot’s badge on this uniform is the badge Cline wore throughout his entire combat chronicle.
As Cline arrived overseas so early, he was trained by French seaplane pilots and awarded their wings. In his video interview, Cline reminisces about Admiral Sims (commander of all Naval Forces in Europe during WWI) noticing his French pilot’s badge, and then being confused why they weren’t commissioned officers, which led to all Naval Aviators being commissioned as Ensigns.
Cline’s trousers are in great shape and the pockets are sewn shut, an interesting choice by the pilot. The jacket and trousers are in fantastic condition without any moth damage we can find.
Cline’s Navy Officer’s visor is in fantastic order with a lovely bullion Naval Officer’s cap badge to the front, and a gold tape chinstrap held in by two gilt Navy buttons. The cap retains its leather sweatband, which retains the very faint Size 7 stamp. The underside of the sweatband is stamped:
J.C. CLINE
U.S.N.R.F.
The visor retains a very faint maker’s mark on the interior crown for Clemen’s.
The uniform group comes with two printed articles, one showing the Smithsonian’s uniform with its history, and the other being a fantastic 6-page article written by Cline about the “FIRST NAVAL AVIATION UNIT IN FRANCE”. There is so much to be discovered about this man’s service!
Joseph Charles Cline was born on March 1st, 1893 in Chicago, Illinois. He joined the Illinois Naval Militia around 1913, serving for four years. On April 3rd, 1917, 3 days before the U.S. declared war, Cline enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Landsman for Quartermaster (Aviation). The next day, he arrived at Pensacola for training. There were very few naval aviators at this time, so there was little in place to facilitate training. He traveled overseas on June 6th, 1917, and arrived to train with the French. His detachment took part in the first American combat patrol of the war from Le Croisic, France on November 13th, 1917. He flew anti-submarine patrols here for roughly a year until the war ended. In 1921, he crashed a plane that killed one man and broke both of Cline’s arms. He recovered, and passed away on November 10th, 1974 at the age of 82.
This is an outstanding uniform worthy of becoming the centerpiece of any Navy or Aviation collection, ready for further research and display!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
We Buy Military Antiques
Our team expert buyers travels the world to pay fair prices for entire estate collections to singular items.
START SELLING TODAY
