I know this isn't a German grouping, but I thought it might be of interest to some members. I acquired this group around 1970, and it still stands as the most complete and fascinating (to me anyway) collection I've encountered. Walter Rheno was a hometown boy who left our little island and enlisted in the Foreign Legion in 1916, took aviator's training at Buc and Avord, flew at the front with N80 near Verdun in July and August 1917. He flew SPADs and Nieuports, and had 2 confirmed victories. He returned to the US in October 1917. Rheno was in the States until October 1918, when he returned to France, caught the flu, and died in Paris in October 1918.
A unique set of circumstances combined to keep this collection inact all these years. The pics show a small sampling of what is included.
A few notes:
The photos are all captioned on the back. The flight log is filled out, complete with descriptions of his victories. There are about 60 letters he wrote home. The uniform is the one he wore in combat. Shortly before he came home, he got a new one (which he is buried in). I never saw the missing aviator's wings, perhaps they are buried with him.
Steve
A unique set of circumstances combined to keep this collection inact all these years. The pics show a small sampling of what is included.
A few notes:
The photos are all captioned on the back. The flight log is filled out, complete with descriptions of his victories. There are about 60 letters he wrote home. The uniform is the one he wore in combat. Shortly before he came home, he got a new one (which he is buried in). I never saw the missing aviator's wings, perhaps they are buried with him.
Steve