world war photo

World War One First Division Portrait Photo – First US Soldier to Fire During WWI! Alex Arch

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The world of WWI photo collecting is becoming increasingly expensive; good identified photos are beginning to bring big bucks in the eBay world.  I was lucky enough to “steal” this gem of a portrait from the realm of auction obscurity.  Identified to a Sgt. Alex Arch of C Co.  6th Field Artillery, 1st Division.  I was blown away when I learned that Mr. Arch was the first US soldier to fire against the Germans on October 23rd, 1917.  He technically pulled the firing cord of a French 75mm while in Xanrey in the Luneville Section.  A great addition to the collection!


 

World War One Solar Eclipse Captured in France 1918 – American Red Cross Nurse Photo Album Image

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Although my East Coast residence prevented my viewing of the solar eclipse today, I am able to post a wonderful shot of an eclipse captured nearly 100 years ago.  Snapped by a US nurse while stationed in Rimaucourt, France.  I have an album of nearly 200 images following a Springfield, MA native through her WWI service.  Some of the best shots come from her time with the 52nd Base Hospital.  Enjoy!

 

 

Captured German U-Boats in Portsmouth, New Hampshire – May 1945

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Who knew that the US captured a series of German U-Boats during the tail end of WWII?  I had no idea until I picked up a rare collection of 24 photos that belonged to a member of the original prize crew for one of the U-Boats.  The photos are incredibly detailed with crisp focus and in a large 8X10 format.  They show the capturing of U-234 and the subsequent arrival in port in Portsmouth, NH.  Also pictured in the grouping (not all posted here) are Captain Fritz Steinhoff and Luftwaffe General Ulrich Kessler.  Steinhoff actually ended up committing suicide in a Boston jail with the aide of a broken glasses lens. A wartime news article about the suicide can be found here.  Ulrich Kessler was delivering a load of Uranium and a set of German jet planes to an undisclosed South American country when the captain decided to surrender.  An amazing collection for sure.

 

 

Ulrich Kessler

 

 

 

Captain Steinhoff

 

 

 

 

 

WWI Photo – Super Rare 3rd Air Park Patch Photo in Vichy France

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Sometimes an obscure patch shot slips through the cracks of the myriad listings on ebay.  In this case, I picked up a VERY rare shot of two members of the 255th Aero Squadron, 3rd Air Park of the 2nd Pursuit Group posing in a Vichy, France studio.  I’ve only seen two or three photographic examples of the 3rd Air Park shoulder patch insignia (SSI, remember?) in wear before.  This is a spectacular example, save for a minor fold and a small tear to the corner.  For future reference, the 3rd Air Park patch resembles #3 billiards ball on an underlain circular patch.

3rd Air Park Patch

42nd Rainbow Division Rolls Through Bavaria – 222nd Infantry Regiment Photo Post

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222nd Anti-Tank Company

 

A member of the 222nd Anti-Tank Company of the 42nd Division snaps a photo while a convoy of trucks rolls through a small Bavarian town.  One of a series of nearly 800 negatives from the 222nd that I acquired last year; this photo encompasses the fast moving blitz through Germany and Bavaria that the 42nd took on during the last parts of the war.