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LOT 445
Stunning and Rare World War I U.S. Air Service “Flying Mercury” Insignia of
the 139th Aero Squadron on Aircraft Fabric - Offered here is a stellar piece of rare World War I fuselage fabric insignia from a 139th Aero Squadron SPAD. Per the accompanying framed provenance citation, “This piece of fabric [was] taken from the SPAD of the Commanding Officer Major
L.C. Angstrom by Master Signal Electrician Jack V. Jeffers shortly after the end of hostilities in December 1918.” The section
of fabric is housed in a 39 1⁄4 x 29 1⁄4 inch frame for preservation and display and is painted with a large, undeniable 139th Aero Squadron “flying Mercury” insignia while also commemorating the squadron’s total number of aerial WWI victories (34 iron crosses) and losses (6 U.S. roundels), all on a camouflage background. The 139th was an American pursuit squadron that operated over the skies of the Western Front during World War I, saw intense aerial combat and had seven aces including Lieutenant David E. Putnam who is credited with 13 aerial victories but is believed to have downed more than 30 enemy aircraft throughout the war while serving with both the French Air Service and U.S. Air Service, scoring his last victories with the 139th before being killed in action by German ace Georg von Hantelmann. The squadron demoblized
in June 1919 after returning to the United States. In “Wings of Honor: American Airmen in World War I,” author James Sloan identified Major Laurence C. Angstrom as an American citizen who joined the RFC in 1916 prior to America’s entry into World War I and in 1917 initially joined the USAS as an instructor for American cadets training in Canada before commanding the 139th. He obtained his pilot certificate on a Wright biplane at Stinson School in San Antonio, Texas. Comes with a photograph of a 139th Aero Squadron SPAD clearly featuring
the “flying Mercury” on the fuselage, a photograph of an illustration of Mercury and a rare WWI 139th Aero Squadron, AEF patch.
CONDITION: Very fine as mounted in a frame, some wrinkling and retaining most
of the paint to the visually striking insignia. Artistic expressions of wartime squadron insignia are rare, especially from a USAS squadron that saw intense aerial combat like the 139th. This is a historic, well preserved piece of WWI aviation memorabilia that is
a must have for even the most advanced private or public collection.
Provenance:
The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection. Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
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