December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 271:
Description
This lot presents an exceptional and complete World War I uniform grouping belonging to Ensign Donald S. Bridgman of the US Naval Reserve Flying Corps USNRF, complete with tunic, trousers, rare insignia, and personal identification. This is a highly desirable archive documenting the early period of US Naval Aviation.
The grouping consists of a fine quality, tailored US Naval Reserve Flying Corps OfficerÕs Tunic and Trousers. The tunic is constructed from olive drab wool and features the distinctive standing collar of the WWI era. It is adorned with gold-toned general service buttons and silver-toned US collar discs, indicating the officer s rank and branch. On the left breast is affixed a rare embroidered bullion or thread Pilot Wing Insignia, signifying his qualification as a Naval Aviator. The shoulders carry ensign rank insignia and a single USNRF shoulder patch. The interior confirms bespoke tailoring from The Globe Tailoring Co., Cincinnati, with the customer named as D. Bridgman and the manufacturing number 32829.
The provenance is definitively confirmed by the inclusion of the officerÕs original USNRF dog tag. The dog tag is clearly hand-stamped with the name Donald S. Bridgman, rank Ensign, the branch USNRF, and the date 4.10.1918 April 10, 1918, which is likely his commissioning date. The trousers are of matching material and construction. This uniform and archive provide a direct, museum-quality link to an officer serving in the nascent US Naval aviation branch during WWI.
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