1920s – WW1 – US Army Air Corp – Kelly Field – San Antonio – Texas – Pennant – Felt – Silk Biplane Panel – Framed. Framed dimensions – 18.5″ x 37″. Pennant dimensions – 14″ x 34″. Kelly Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, has been a vital center for American military aviation throughout its history. As World War I raged in Europe, the United States began to build up and expand its military aviation forces. In his search for a new army aviation training site, Maj. Benjamin Foulois found 700 acres of flat farmland with a water supply near the Missouri-Pacific rail line, then seven miles south of San Antonio. Aviation operations began here on April 5, 1917, the day before the United States declared war on Germany. Kelly Field, named for George Edward Maurice Kelly, the first military pilot killed in an airplane crash at nearby Fort Sam Houston in 1911, was one of 14 schools in the country conducting primary flight training during World War I. The school trained aviators, mechanics and support personnel for war duty. After additional land was acquired, the field was divided into Kelly Number 1 (later renamed Duncan Field) and Kelly Number 2. The Air Service Advanced Flying School, which headquartered at Kelly Number 2, trained pilots including Charles Lindbergh, Curtis LeMay and numerous future Air Force chiefs of staff. By the end of World War I, more than 250,000 men had passed through the facility. After World War I, rapid demobilization followed, and primary training at Kelly was discontinued. In 1922 the U. Air Corps decided to consolidate its flight training at two fields, Kelly Field and Brooks Field, named the Air Corps Training Center. Later, in 1931, all primary training was consolidated at the newly completed Randolph Field, to the north of San Antonio, Texas. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\1919-38\Original Period Items”. The seller is “lightwaveman” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Original/Reproduction: Original
- Theme: Militaria
- Time Period Manufactured: 1919-38
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Modified Item: No
This is what looks like an exact copy of m1917A1 KELLY helmet pre ww2. As worn at Pearl Harbor. Helmet is navy gray. Very high quality beautiful copy. The item “U S ARMY/NAVY M1917A1 KELLY STEEL HELMET” is in sale since Saturday, September 25, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\1919-38\Reproductions”. The seller is “waar” and is located in Wellington, Colorado. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Theme: Militaria
US m1917A1 Kelly helmet, all original. Liner, center pad, leather, & chinstrap all in very good condition. 2 spots of rust on shell, see photo #6, but don’t detract from appearance & overall condition of paint, which is super, inside & out. Check out the photos. Chinstrap hardware has some corrosion but could be cleaned up; cs cotton is very solid & heavy. FAILURE TO PAY WILL BE RECORDED AGAINST YOUR ACCOUNT. The item “M1917A1 US Army Helmet with Kelly Liner complete! Original” is in sale since Saturday, September 1, 2018. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Hats & Helmets”. The seller is “jb502″ and is located in Southeast Pennsylvania. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Looks to be never worn, but both ends of the chin strap have broken. May be a size 7, but not marked. The original flat OD paint with the cork added to further cut the reflectiveness of this jewel is just about perfect. The liner leather when I received this was so dried out, I was afraid it would crack further, so I carefully treated it with Pecard’s Antique Leather treatment. This treatment stopped any further damage and softened it up, but it did darken the leather. This is a good product, but if it is applied to an average grade of leather which was improperly stored and tanned to begin with (some government contractors cut corners to meet competitive contract prices), it does darken it. The chin strap is a beautiful shade of old khaki. The item “M1917A1 U. S. Kelly Style Helmet” is in sale since Tuesday, December 05, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\1919-38\Original Period Items”. The seller is “b24d” and is located in Allensville, Pennsylvania. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States