{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwi-observation-balloon-company-uniform-group-with-signal-corps-m1911-campaign-hat-photos-of-wearer-rare-balloon-patch","title":"Original U.S. WWI Observation Balloon Company Uniform Group with Signal Corps M1911 Campaign Hat \u0026 Photos of Wearer - Rare Balloon Patch","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items. Only One Group Available. United States Army balloon squadrons and companies organized under the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and served overseas with the United States Army Air Service before and during World War I.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of World War I, the organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force included observation balloon units organized into companies, squadrons, and wings and each company was equipped with one balloon. Five companies comprised a squadron, and three squadrons made up a wing. By the end of the war 110 companies had been created. In the field Balloon companies were allotted to the ground units they supported as needed. In 1918 June, with squadron organization discontinued, company designations were numbered and organized into groups. Only 35 companies made it to France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). 17 companies served at the front, making 1,642 combat ascensions, while six other groups were en route to the front at the armistice. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great WWI U.S. Observation Balloonist’s uniform, for a Private serving in a balloon company. The uniform has US \u0026amp; Aviation collar discs and an outstandingly scarce Balloon Corps patch on the left shoulder. These are incredibly difficult to find on their own and even harder to find on a uniform. There is a red discharge chevron on the left sleeve, and no overseas stripes, so this soldier likely served in a stateside company. The balloon patch is beautifully hand-embroidered and is one of the best we’ve seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M1911 Campaign hat has a scarce orange and white Signal Corps cord. It is important to note that all aviation units in the Army were originally part of the Aviation Section, Signal Corps. The campaign hat retains the chinstrap and size sticker, Size 7, but there is no sweatband. The signal corps cord has heavy fraying at shown. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group includes two RPPCs of the same photo of the soldier, taken at San Antonio, Texas. There is also a photo in a broken frame of the same soldier with an aviation collar disc. Unfortunately the photos aren’t named, but the larger one was taken at a studio in Los Angeles. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an outstanding uniform grouping for one of the rarest units of the AEF, the Balloon Corps! Comes ready for further research and display.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44640727269445,"sku":"ONSV26JOS204","price":1195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26JOS204.jpg?v=1771009534","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwi-observation-balloon-company-uniform-group-with-signal-corps-m1911-campaign-hat-photos-of-wearer-rare-balloon-patch","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}