Original U.S. WWI Army Air Service Balloon Corps Painted Soldier’s Trunk - Private First Class Joseph C. Lohman, Waynesboro, PA

Original Items: Only One Grouping Available. The United States Army Air Service (USAAS) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1918 and 1926 and a forerunner of the United States Air Force. It was established as an independent but temporary branch of the U.S. War Department during World War I by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation Section, Signal Corps as the nation's air force; and March 19, 1919, establishing a military Director of Air Service to control all aviation activities. Its life was extended for another year in July 1919, during which time Congress passed the legislation necessary to make it a permanent establishment. The National Defense Act of 1920 assigned the Air Service the status of "combatant arm of the line" of the United States Army with a major general in command.

This is a lovely Balloon Corps decorated soldier’s trunk belonging to PFC Joseph Clemens Lohman, who enlisted in the Regular Army on December 17th, 1917, eventually joining the Balloon Corps, namely the 22nd, 28th, and 91st Balloon Companies. Lohman did not make it overseas during the war.

The trunk is painted with AIR SERVICE U.S. ARMY around an Aero Roundel, with great painted Hot Air Balloons to each side. The bottom is inscribed J.C. LOHMAN WAYNESBORO, PA.

The trunk measures roughly 30 ½" x 16 ½" x 13" and is empty with both handles retained, although the leather is heavily cracked and crazed. We would not recommend lifting the trunk by these frail handles. The paint shows heavy wear but still has a great look overall, and would look great in any WWI Aviation display.

A great piece of WWI militaria, ready to research and display!

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. There were also French, British, and German Balloon Corps. The History of military ballooning includes the American Civil War era Union Army Balloon Corps and the even earlier French Aerostatic Corps.

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.