A-77 WWI aircraft squadron insignia and archive of American pilot Lt. Paul Edison Green. Assigned to French Escardille 131, Bomber Group 4, Green's bomber bore the insignia of a gargoyle clutching a bomb. Originally printed and hand colored, the 26 1/2" x 41" insignia with background, was applied to the fabric of his aircraft and the border painted in red. Signed by both the printer ("...L. BRAWN - Paris) and the artist ("FAUCHER GUDIN"). Reverse of the fabric is inked in black letters "DORMANS - JULY 16,1918 - CAPT .P.E. GREEN - 4TH GR. BOMBARDMENT SQD. 131". Art work is in remarkable condition considering some bullet hole damage and the fact that Green was forced to crash land his aircraft. Documenting this event is the original French Wing Commander's 23 September 1918 letter describing the combat situation and Green landing his aircraft, as well as an English version. Paul Edison Green was born in 1892 in Buffalo, NY and was an architecht by profession. He enlisted in the 1st Cavalry N.G.N.Y. on 24 July 1914 and was discharged on 15 May 1917 to allow him to join the pilot training program of the aviation section of the US Signal Corps. The Green collection includes 50 documents tracing his aviation commission, training, graduation, posting, travel, assignments, overseas posting, assignment to French Escardille 131, AEF Orders, travel in France, flight reports, Officers record Book - with entries of actions/awards/character reference, discharge, return home, etc. The archive also includes: (1) "CARNET - Emploi du temps pour Pilote", Green's flight log for missions flown with G.B.4/ESC 131. Hand written entries for all 29 combat missions, noting Lt. Patterson as the Observer and specifics of each Flight - "encountered 6 Fokker bi-planes", "...in combat with 3 enemy surveillance planes", etc. (2) A rare edition of "LIVRE D'OR ESCADRILLE 131", the 1919 published squadron history with an original photo and wartime biography of each member. Lt. green is included. Squadron gargoyle on cover. (3) Photos include a framed 10 1/4" x 6 1/2" portrait of Capt. Green - in uniform wearing his Pilot's Wings and the Gargoyle insignia of Squadron 131. Reverse is named with "...at Front with GB4 ESCAD. 131". 27 photos of airbase, aircraft, aerial views and a 6 liner-backed photo fold-out of a French base. (4) Westfield NY WWI Victory Medal. Mint condition with issue cardboard folder - inked "Westfield Last Man Club". A fantastic museum quality collection. II

See description for I-III scale (III=poor)