Original U.S. WWI 66th Balloon Company Uniform & Photo Grouping with Diary of Comrade - Elwood J. Rohring

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. United States Army balloon squadrons and companies organized under the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and served overseas with the United States Army Air Service before and during World War I.

At the start of World War I, the organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force included observation balloon units organized into companies, squadrons, and wings and each company was equipped with one balloon. Five companies comprised a squadron, and three squadrons made up a wing. By the end of the war 110 companies had been created. In the field Balloon companies were allotted to the ground units they supported as needed. In 1918 June, with squadron organization discontinued, company designations were numbered and organized into groups. Only 35 companies made it to France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). 17 companies served at the front, making 1,642 combat ascensions, while six other groups were en route to the front at the armistice. 

This is a great WWI U.S. Observation Balloonist’s uniform, for a Corporal serving in a balloon company. The uniform has US & Aviation collar discs and an outstandingly scarce Balloon Corps patch on the left shoulder. These are incredibly difficult to find on their own and even harder to find on a uniform. There is a red discharge chevron on the left sleeve, and one service chevron. The balloon patch is beautifully hand-embroidered and is one of the best we’ve seen. There is a signal corps Corporal chevron in the pocket, so the soldier was a Corporal in the Signal Corps, later Aviation. There is a period trench whistle attached to the right breast pocket.

The uniform comes with a small cigarette case, an Army handbook named to Elwood J. Rohring, and a diary named to Chester A. Brooker. There are also several great photos including soldiers standing in front of an observation balloon, a captured German observation balloon, and more. 

Elwood J. Rohring served in the 66th Balloon Company and served stateside during the war. Chester A. Brooker served in the 64th Balloon Company and served stateside during the war. Brooker appears to have gifted his diary to Rohring while they were serving alongside each other stateside. Brooker’s diary denotes his service in the 145th Infantry before being transferred to the Balloon service, and Rohring’s army handbook has no other writing inside. Another postcard included is a souvenir for the Flying Circus US Army Balloon School in Arcadia, California. 

A great balloon corps grouping, ready for further research and display.