Image of the Air Force wings with the museum name underneath

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
FREE Admission & Parking

Quentin Roosevelt Nieuport 28 Souvenirs

Note: This item is currently in storage.

These six pieces of aircraft were taken from Lt. Quentin Roosevelt's Nieuport 28 at the crash site by Sgt. Mark Thatcher on July 14, 1918. There are three small pieces of painted aircraft fabric (red, white, blue), a small piece of wood and two pieces of hardware (nut and wire). Roosevelt, the son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, arrived in France during World War I as a supply officer and trained to become a pilot. As a pilot, he flew a Nieuport 28 with the 95th Aero Squadron. Roosevelt died when his plane was shot down behind German lines by Sgt. Karl Thom, a German ace with 24 victories, on July 14, 1918.

On display in the museum's Early Years Gallery is the handmade wooden cross that marked Roosevelt's grave.

Donated by Julia Thatcher Witmer.

Click here to return to the Featured World War I Artifacts index.

 

Find Out More
Line
Related Fact Sheets
Lt. Quentin Roosevelt
Nieuport 28
Line
Videos
Lt. Quentin Roosevelt Burial Cross (00:02:30)
Line
Note: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the National Museum of the USAF, the U.S. Air Force, or the Department of Defense, of the external website, or the information, products or services contained therein.