Large WW1 British Observer/Pilot Grouping

Description

Lt. Thomas S. Blair, RFA and No. 13 Sqd. RFC-RAF
Incredible
collection of paperwork, photos and memorabilia!
Blair joined the army in 1915, was commissioned a 2
nd
Lt. in the R.F.A. He wounded at Longueval on the Somme in 1916, recovered and joined the RFC becoming an observer in the Fall of 1917. He joined No. 13 Sqd. (R.E.8’s) and few 168 combat hours. In the late Spring of 1918, he trained to become a pilot and may have instructed in England for the balance of the war. He came to Canada, then the US in 1924 where he served as a sales engineer for Cities Service Oil and its subsidiaries. He flew for business and was killed in an aircraft accident in 1953.
Collection highlights
include Blair’s: Officers Warrant, photos, orders and documents, (10)
aerial reconnaissance photos
from 1917-18, Observers
LOGBOOK
,
WW1 RFC
and WW2 RCAF pilots
WINGS
, RAF buttons and (2) sleeve eagle/crown insignia, RFA insignia, Officers shoulder pips, British victory medal (impressed) and George V medal, original illustration of Blair’s S.E.5 fighter and sketch of Blair’s wound to his posterior! (SEE DETAILS BELOW)
Combats in the Air
March 11, 1918 - 13 Squadron RFC - RE8 #5090 – 5 PM (approx) – 1 Lewis + 1 Vickers
Duty: Shoot – 7,500 (meters) – Pilot: Howitt – Observer: Blair – Locality: Tilloy
Remarks on Hostile Machine: Type, armament, speed, etc.
Triplane:
painted blue + green – red crosses – black background
Albatros scout
: black tailplane – various colors over wings and fuselage
Narrative:
While doing a shoot on H.B. (hostile battery) a formation consisting of three triplanes + four Albatri scouts attaked us over Tilloy. One triplane dived on tail and fired a short burst (so we) fired on him – he turned away. One Albatros scout jumped up under our tail…he was unable to get a firing position. Observer fired about 30 rounds at him and he cleared off.
(
Signed) T.S. Blair (Observer)
Note: At this time 13 squadron RFC was based at Etrun 10 km from Tilloy-lè-Moifflaines .
The triplanes and Albatros fighters may have belonged to Jasta 12 which was based at Toulis.
Full Inventory – 2
nd
Lt. Blair RFA-RFC-RAF
RFA
1916-01-14 – Officers Warrant TSB to 2
Lt. Sp. Reserve of Officers
1916 Photo – 2
Lt. TSB, RFA officers group photo (half water damage)
1916 Photo – RFA training Weedon barracks (half water damage)
1916 Photo – unk officer on horse
1916-04-16 – Orders: 2
Lt. TSB report to Camp Adjt, No. 12 Camp – 7
th
Div. replacement RFA
1916 – TSB illustration showing HE shrapnel wound to his right buttocks
1916-09-14 to 1916-12-19 – Leave of Absence – Medical Board for 2
Lt. TSB dated 1917-01-23
1917-01-04 – Orders:
Lt. TSB + 46 O-ranks to 7
th
Div Art. Corps RFA Base Camp, Le Havre, Fr.
(9) pages of related orders re: conduct and guarding the 46 men, box respirators, tear shell protection,
Rations, leakage of military info, looting, etc.
1917-07-15 Trench Map – Cherisy Fontaine-les-Croiselles, Riencourt/Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt, Bullecourt (@30x22”)
(3) B&W Photo reprints: Delville Wood 1916, Clapham Junction, Ovillers 1916
RFC – Observer, 13 Sqd R.E.8s
Logbook – Observer TSB – 13
th
Sqd. RFC 11-4-17 to 4-20-18 = 168 war flying hours in R.E.8s (12pgs compl.)
1918-01-09 13 Sqd. RFC (R.E.8s) Art. Intelligence Form (9) Observers incl TSB
1918-01-12 13 Sqd. RFC (R.E.8s) Artillery Shoot (3) Forms 4 Guns
1918-02-09 13 Sqd. RFC (R.E.8s) Art. Intelligence Form (4) Crews incl TSB (only half form survives)
1917-18 Photo – 13 Sqd R.E.8 Serial B6673 “C” with two unk flight officers
(10) Aerial Recon Photos: 9-16-17 + 10-17-17 + 11-12-17 + 11-29-17 + (2) 12-28-17 + 2-26-18 w/Ger Plane
.........5-14-18 Villers au Bois + 5-15-18 Arras? Train station
RAF - Pilot
(2) Photos Lt. TSB w/SE5 (8x10 + 5.5 x 7.5)
(1) Watercolor (by TSB?) of S.E.5. fighter diving/firing #13 w/red band
1918 Ration Papers (2) for TSB’s father John and sister Marion
Post-WW1
1929-08-23 (2) Page Air Ministry Certificate of RFC/RAF service in WW1
(3) Photos: TSB in Cities Service Oil Co Navion plane N5000C circa 1947-53
(11) Photos: TSB and family 1920s-53
(1) 1941 News article TSB speaker re WW2 needs
WW1& 2 Medals-Insignia-Buttons
RFC Pilot Silk Wing (tip frayed)
RCAF Pilot Silk Wing
WW1 British Victory Medal (impressed: LIEUT. T.S. BLAIR R.A.F)
WW1 Georges V Medal (no engraving)
(2) RAF Cuff Eagles/Crown w/backing plates
(4) Officers Metal Pips
(1) RCAF cap badge
(2) RFA Officers Collar badges (flaming bombs – Ubique)
(2) RFA Officers Tunic button (large)
(4) RAF Officers Tunic buttons (large)
(4) RAF Officers Tunic buttons (small)
(2) Misc Coin size medallions
(2) British General Service pins
Photo Copies of T.S. Blair WW1 British Service Records Also Included!
(sourced @1999-2001)
1915-11-08 – TSB Request for Appt to Commissioned Officer (TSB-Rex)
1916-08-25 – TSB “On Aug 25 at Longueval was blown up by a shell and badly shaken – This was followed by headache,
insomnia, nightmares,etc. He is greatly improved in every way by needs further rest. Capt. Hart-Smith R.A.M.C”
Proceedings of a Medical Board, Isle of Wight Army Council – “Shell-shock” (TSB-Rex)
1916-09-14 to 1916-12-19 – Leave of Absence – Medical Board for 2
nd
Lt. TSB dated 1917-01-23 (TSB-Rex)
1917-01-06 – TSB “Officer fit for light duty” – reports to R.A. Sct., Northern Com. Depot – Ripon. (TSB-Rex)
1917-02-26 – Letter to TSB from Staff Capt. Personnel Services: Fully allowable (med) leave has expired (TSB-Rex)
1918-01-12 – 13 Sqd Record Book – RE8 #3611 – Blair/Thompson – ArtObs (TSB-Rex)
1918-02-16 – 13 Sqd Report on Bomb Dropping – RE8 #5085 – Blair/Belway – 6 25lb Cooper bombs (TSB-Rex)
1918-02-18/19 – 13 Sqd Record Book – RE8 #5085 – Blair/Belway – ArtPatrol + 2 25lb Coopers (TSB-Rex
1918-02-26 – 13 Sqd Record Book – RE8 #6525 – Blair/Murray – ArtObs (TSB-Rex)
1918-02-28 – Combats in the Air – 13 Sqd – Lts Murray/Blair – 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis – 4:15PM – Fampoux
1918-03-11 – Combats in the Air – 13 Sqd – Lts Howitt/Blair – 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis – 4:15PM – Tilloy
1919 – (4) Pages Service Record (TSB-Rex)
(TSB) = T.S.Blair Original records-photos-maps-memorabilia
(TSB-Rex) = T.S.Blair War Record PHOTO COPIES
(A) = Ancestry.com
Rare to find this much material attached to one Officer Observer-Pilot! Winner will also receive research from Ancestry.com. Sales to lower 48 US states. Priority insured shipping to lower 48 states.  RFC, RAF, Pilot, Observer, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force