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Aircraft Insigne, 139th Aero Squadron

This insigne was removed from the wreckage of Lt. David E. Putnam’s SPAD XIII aircraft. Lt. Putnam was shot down and killed on September 12, 1918 by a flight of eight German aircraft after flying to the aid of an allied observation plane during WWI. Lt. Putnam flew with the Lafayette Flying Corps prior to transferring to Army Air Service in June 1918.
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Aircraft Insigne, 138th Aero Squadron

Aircraft Insigne, 138th Aero Squadron(left) SPAD aircraft of the 138th Aero Squadron, France(right).
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Lt LaBoiteaux’s Assignment

Lieutenant Andrew J. LaBoiteaux completed his training at the School of Bombardment in Aulnat, France in on December 2, 1918, almost three weeks after the signing of the Armistice. On December 6, he received orders to report for duty with the 96th Aero Squadron. However, by January 10, the 96th had begun to demobilize and LaBoiteaux returned to the United States in the spring of 1919, never having flown in combat. This is the Special Orders issued on December 6, 1918, assigning Lt. LaBoiteaux to the 96th Aero Squadron.
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Lt. LaBoiteaux’s Assignment and Back Home

Lieutenant Andrew J. LaBoiteaux completed his training at the School of Bombardment in Aulnat, France in on December 2, 1918, almost three weeks after the signing of the Armistice. On December 6, he received orders to report for duty with the 96th Aero Squadron. However, by January 10, the 96th had begun to demobilize and LaBoiteaux returned to the United States in the spring of 1919, never having flown in combat. This is the letter from General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, issued to all US service members returning home from the Front. LaBoiteaux pasted the letter into his scrapbook, noting, “From Jack.”
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Lt. LaBoiteaux on the RMS Adriatic

Lieutenant Andrew J. LaBoiteaux boarded the RMS Adriatic on October 6, 1918. During the 12-day crossing, LaBoiteaux took advantage of the meals offered, noting in his scrapbook, “Mess wasn’t so very bad going over.” LaBoiteaux arrived in England on October 17, 1918, sending a quick postcard to his mother back home in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Lt. LaBoiteaux Embarkation Instructions

After arriving at port, completing the necessary last minute preparations, and perhaps squeezing in a bit of last minute fun, Signal Corps members were left to await their embarkation instructions. Lieutenant Andrew J. LaBoiteaux received his instructions on October 4, 1918. Issued by the War Department and stamped, “Confidential,” these orders informed LaBoiteaux that he was to report to vessel #206 at pier 61 on West 22nd Street in New York City at 11am on October 6, 1918.
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Lt. Andrew J. LaBoiteaux Completes Aerial Gunnery Training

Besides learning to fly an aircraft, Signal Corps pilots were required to train on aerial gunnery. Before leaving for the front, Lieutenant Andrew J. LaBoiteaux completed his aerial gunnery training at Taliaferro Field, near Fort Worth, Texas. According to his diploma, dated August 10, 1918, LaBoiteaux qualified as a bombing gunnery pilot, earning a grand average of 84%.
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WWI Pennant

On April 12, 1919, a flag presentation ceremony was held in Paris in honor of the Air Service, A.E.F. Hundreds of banners, hand made by French women, were presented to representatives of the various U.S. squadrons that had served in France during WWI. Five of theses pennants are on display in the museum's Early Years Gallery. This item is currently in storage. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
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Cadet Minstrel, 3rd Aviation Instruction Center-WWI Artifact

On April 4, 1918, a special musical performance was conducted by the flying staff and cadets to raise morale and break the monotony of the daily flying regimen. A short program for this event was distributed to attendees and identified all the participating musicians. Enclosed within the program is a leaf for a follow-on performance by many of the same musicians held at Chateauroux, France a few weeks later on April 27, 1918. (U.S. Air Force image)
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