December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 76:
Description
This lot comprises a significant grouping of US Army Air Corps AAF pilot insignia and associated memorabilia directly linked to Major Thornton Tayloe Perry II 1892Ð1981, as confirmed by the included April 30, 1981 obituary. Mr. Perry was a prominent figure whose military service spanned both the First World War and the Second World War, connecting him to the earliest days of American military aviation. Perry entered the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWI and continued his lifelong connection to flight post-war, reportedly engaging in barnstorming and later associating with the Curtis Flying Service in the early 1930s.
The centerpiece is a rare bullion embroidered pilot wing device, constructed with intricate silver bullion thread on a dark backing, featuring a central shield capped by an eagle and an ornate crown. This style of wing, backed with stitched leather and secured by a period-correct pinback fastener, is characteristic of highly desirable, privately purchased or theatre-made wings worn by pilots in the early US Army Air Service and Air Corps eras. The group also includes two gray-khaki uniform shoulder straps, multiple brass buttons featuring the US eagle seal, two embroidered US collar patches with the winged propeller device of the Army Air Corps, a specialist rank chevron, and a miniature ribbon bar with campaign awards. The accompanying obituary confirms Mr. Perry volunteered for active duty in World War II as a Major and served as Provost Marshal in London, making this collection a rare and complete artifact spanning the full arc of early American military aviation history.
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