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Celebrity Visit to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

DAYTON, Ohio -- Actor Gary Sinise toured the fourth building at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in July 2016. (From left to right) CMSgt. Lisa Arnold, 88th ABW Command Chief, Col. Bradley McDonald, 88th ABW Commander, Gary Sinise, and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hudson, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Director. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
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Prussian Cavalry Officer Helmet

This spiked helmet, known as a pickelhaube, was originally designed by King Frederick Wilhelm IV of Prussia in 1842. This helmet design was popular among the Russian and German militaries and police prior to and during World War I. Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker, America’s highest scoring ace of WWI, brought this Prussian cavalry officer’s helmet home as a wartime souvenir. It is unknown how he attained it. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Kaiser Wilhelm II Cigarette Case

The front exterior of this metal cigarette case displays a photo of Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was the last King of Prussia. He reigned from 1888 to 1918. His great-uncle was Frederick Wilhelm IV, who in 1842 designed the pickelhaube, which became the helmet worn by the Prussian army. Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker, America’s highest scoring ace of WWI, brought this Prussian cigarette case home as a wartime souvenir. It is unknown how he attained it.
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Metatarsal Pads

Combat boots during World War I tended to lack the cushion and shock absorption that modern-day combat boots are designed to have. These metatarsal pads were worn with the elastic strap over the top of one’s foot. They hold the pad in place over the bottom and just behind the ball of the foot at the arch that runs across the width of the foot. These pads provided comfort and helped prevent pain and numbness caused by overextension of the toes and arch during long marches and constant standing. These WWI pads are leather stuffed with cloth and batting. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Motor Transport Corps Insignia

The use of motor vehicles by the U.S. Army was in its infancy prior to and at the beginning of the United States’ involvement in World War I. Horses remained the main mode of transportation of soldiers and movement of supplies and equipment. Training in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles had not yet become part of the U.S. Army’s training curriculum, and to accommodate this shortcoming, skilled civilian tradesmen from U.S. automotive manufacturers were the first to be assigned to the Motor Transport Corps. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Motor Transport Corps Medallion

This World War I medallion bears the American Expeditionary Force’s Motor Transport Corps’ emblem of a feather stuck in an infantry helmet, which is in front of a wheel. It is engraved: A.P.O. 772 M.T.C. – AEF. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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166th Aero Squadron Wooden Box

The 166th Aero Squadron served as a day bombardment squadron on the Western Front during World War I. The design the of squadron’s emblem is a sun rising up from behind the Earth positioned with Europe displayed and a bomb falling towards enemy territory; the Earth is also flanked by an American flag on each side. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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166th Aero Squadron Wooden Box

The 166th Aero Squadron served as a day bombardment squadron on the Western Front during World War I. The design the of squadron’s emblem is a sun rising up from behind the Earth positioned with Europe displayed and a bomb falling towards enemy territory; the Earth is also flanked by an American flag on each side. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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166th Aero Squadron Wooden Box

The 166th Aero Squadron served as a day bombardment squadron on the Western Front during World War I. The design the of squadron’s emblem is a sun rising up from behind the Earth positioned with Europe displayed and a bomb falling towards enemy territory; the Earth is also flanked by an American flag on each side. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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World War I Binoculars

Binoculars, known as field glasses, were a very important piece of equipment for U.S. soldiers -- especially critical for observation (by land or balloon). "Field glasses" were in short supply, many soldiers either brought their own personal binoculars or received them through special Army and Navy donation campaigns, which collected binoculars from civilians back home to aid U.S. soldiers and sailors in the fight against the enemy.
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27th Aero Squadron Aircraft Insigne

The 27th Aero Squadron is one of the oldest fighter squadrons in the U.S. Air Force. It was organized as a U.S. Army flying unit in July 1917. The Nieuport 28, SPAD XIII and Sopwith F-1 Camel were a few of the aircraft flown by the 27th Aero Squadron during World War I. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Frank Luke was one of the squadron’s six WWI aces. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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141st Aero Squadron Aircraft Insigne

The 141st Aero Squadron was organized in January 1918 at Rockwell Field, Calif. It trained with the Curtiss JN-4 aircraft. As part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), the 141st Aero Squadron deployed to France as a pursuit squadron and fought on the Western Front. The 141st Aero Squadron’s emblem is an orange and black tiger looking down at a flying helmet held in one of its paws. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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1st Aero Squadron Aircraft Insigne

This is the first aircraft insignia taken from an airplane used by the U.S. Air Service in World War I. The aircraft was an Avion Renault observation type AR-1. This aircraft was given to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) by the French at Amanty, France, in February 1918. The insignia is a hand-painted American flag. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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JN-4D Aircraft Fabric from Lt. Mather's Aircraft

This item is a handwritten note to the Kalamazoo Gazette editor on piece of JN-4D aircraft fabric. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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WWI U.S. Ambulance Service Patch

At the outbreak of World War I, the American Field Service was organized by Americans who were living in Paris. They volunteered themselves to be ambulance drivers and medical staff for the French and British Armies. The United States had not yet entered WWI and the U.S. Army did not have an ambulance service, so these volunteers fell under the jurisdiction of the French government. When the United States entered the war, it was quite evident that there was a great need for an ambulance service during combat. At the request of the French government for the United States to continue to provide ambulance and medical services to the French Army, the U.S. Army established the U.S. Army Ambulance Service in May 1917 as a new organization in the Army’s Medical Department. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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George C. Kenny for Mess Officer

Election day at the 91st Aero Squadron Airdrome at Gondreville, France, in July 1918. There was an election and demonstration in an endeavor to appoint an officer in charge of the mess for officers. George C. Kenny, 1st Lieutenant, was the candidate but because of a few technical errors in the rules and regulations drawn up especially for the occasion, the candidate was not legally elected. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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George C. Kenny

George C. Kenny achieved his first aerial victory on Sept. 15, 1918, and was awarded the Silver Star for his actions. On Oct. 9, he again showed great heroism as he flew in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive near Jametz, France. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, presented to him by Brig Gen Billy Mitchell. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Lafayette Escadrille Pilot Watch

This item (in its complete state with watchband) was worn by four members of the Lafayette Escadrille: Norman Prince, Kiffin Yates Rockwell, Gervais Raoul Lufbery and Charles H. Dolan Jr. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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John Tynan’s Close Call

Casualties among pilots were common during World War I, though miraculously, Private John E. Tynan, a Nieuport pilot, very narrowly managed to avoid his own brush with death. He continued to serve with the 26th Aero Squadron in France until the end of the war. He captioned this photo: "Bullet hole through windshield of my Nieuport over Chateau Thierry, France, November 1918 -- happily at a 90 degree angle." (U.S. Air Force photo)
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John Tynan’s Close Call

Casualties among pilots were common during World War I, though miraculously, Private John E. Tynan, a Nieuport pilot, very narrowly managed to avoid his own brush with death. He continued to serve with the 26th Aero Squadron in France until the end of the war. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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