Comprehensive archive from the career of early American aviator George W. Ayers, whose flying career began in World War I and continued through World War II, consisting of a wide variety of material including his papers, equipment, photographs, and other memorabilia. Particularly notable are two leatherbound licenses from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale/National Aeronautic Association of USA certifying Ayers as a “Spherical Balloon Pilot” and “Dirigible Balloon Pilot,” dated 1930 and 1931, each signed inside by Orville Wright. Two large binders consist primarily of his military records and papers, dating from 1918 through 1945, including hundreds of pages of military orders, memos, and records; among the most interesting items here are materials from New Guinea during WWII, including maps, an “Instructions to Air Crews” booklet detailing how to deal with native populations, and a crude soldier-produced newsletter from November 22, 1942, entitled “The Gili Gili.” Also included are eleven photographs from this period, including photos from the 1920s showing the Air Service Officers Reserve Corps and airfields, as well as an early photo of two Goodyear blimps; six oversized photos are also present, including a two-foot-long panorama of a flying regiment and several others showing military aircraft. Numerous flight logs and diaries are included as well. Several elements of Ayers’s uniform are also in this collection, including two types of hats, canvas and leather gaiters, patches, cufflinks, aviator wings, and his dog tag. Some equipment is also included, such as binoculars, a WWI Ingersoll wristwatch, and bowls and silverware brought home from World War II. In overall very good condition. Boasting a wealth of unique and hard-to-find early aviation material, this is an utterly fascinating collection chronicling the life’s journey of a single aviator. Please contact RR Auction for a shipping quote.
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