RARE WW1 US AIR SERVICE 27th AERO SQN. PILOT LT. HARRY D SMITH (CASUALTY) PHOTO For Sale

ORIGINAL!RARE! WW1 US AIR SERVICE 27th AERO SQN PILOT LT HARRY D. SMITH (CASUALTY) PHOTO

WW1 US AIR SERVICE 27th AERO SQN PILOT LT. HARRY D. SMITH (CASUALTY) PHOTO

WW1 US AIR SERVICE 27th AERO SQUADRON 1 PURSUIT GROUP FIGHTER PILOT LT. HARRY D. SMITH PHOTO.

LT. HARRY B. SMITH FLIGHT COMMANDER OF THE 27TH AERO SQUADRON AND 2ND LT. HARRY BROKAW, OF THE 94TH AERO SQUADRON, WERE INSTANTLY KILLED WHEN THEIR MACHINES COLLIDED 125 FEET IN MIDAIR AND FELL AT KELLY FIELD, TEXAS. THE AVIATORS WERE IN A PRACTICE AERIAL FLIGHT IN LOW HANGING CLOUDS WHEN THEIR MACHINES COLLIDED ON FEBRUARY 10, 1920.

27th AERO SQUADRON 1 PURSUIT GROUP FIGHTER PILOT LT. HARRY D. SMITH WASA GRADUATE OF THE MENLO SEMINARY IN MENLO, CALIFORNIA AND EDUCATED FOR THE PRIESTHOOD, VOLUNTEERED IN THE AVIATION SERVICE BEFORE THE DRAFT IN 1917. HE ENTERED THE SERVICE AS A FIRST CLASS PRIVATE. HE SPENT 22 MONTHS IN ACTIVE SERVICE IN FRANCE AND WAS WITH THE 3RD ARMY OF OCCUPATION AT COBLENZ , GERMANY.LT. HARRY D. SMITH WAS A RESIDENT OF SAN FRANCISCO AND BURIED AT THE PRESIDIO.

27TH AERO SQUADRON WAS A UNITED STATES ARMY AIR SERVICE UNIT THAT FOUGHT ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING WORLD WAR 1. THE SQUADRON WAS ASSIGNED AS A DAY PURSUIT (FIGHTER) SQUADRON AS PART OF THE 1ST PURSUIT GROUP, 1ST U.S. ARMY. ITS MISSION WAS TO ENGAGE AND CLEAR ENEMY AIRCRAFT FROM THE SKIES AND PROVIDE ESCORT TO RECONNAISSANCE AND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRONS OVER ENEMY TERRITORY. IT ALSO ATTACKED ENEMY OBSERVATION BALLOONS, AND PERFORM CLOSE AIR SUPPORT AND TACTICAL BOMBING ATTACKS OF ENEMY FORCES ALONG THE FRONT LINES.

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CONDITION IS EXTREMELY FINE THROUGHOUT WITHSOME VERY LIGHT HANDLINGFROM ITS 106+ YEARS .

SHARP FOCUS and VERY GOOD CONTRAST.

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DIMENSIONS: 4 1/4" x 6 1/4"

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