Still about 90 minutes early, but for July 22nd, I submit this one. A World War I cover postmarked New York on July 22, 1918 and addressed to Lt. C. R. Codman of the 96th Aero Squadron, A.E.F.:
Now as I've said in other posts, a seemingly common stamp with a common postmark may not mean all that much, but when I looked up the addressee's war record,I came up with this, which certainly puts an interesting perspective in what he was about to encounter only a couple of months after this mail was sent:
Quote:CHARLES R. CODMAN
FIRST LIEUTENANT, A.S.A., U.S.A.,
NINETY-SIXTH AERO SQUADRON, FIRST DAY BOMBARDMENT GROUP
SON of Russell S. and Anna K. (Crafts) Codman; was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 22, 1893. He was educated at Groton School, Mass., and Harvard College, A.B. 1915. Prior to the declaration of war, he served with Battery A, M.V.M., one year; and with the American Ambulance Field Service for nine months.
He enlisted in April, 1917, attended the M.I.T. Ground School, and the Flying School at Essington, Pa. He was commissioned 1st Lieut, on Oct. 31, 1917, and sailed for France with the A.E.F.about Nov. 1. He trained at the U.S. Flying Schools at Issoudun and Clermont-Ferrand, France, and on the completion of his courses was assigned to the 96th Aero Squadron.
Lieut. Codman was in active service at the front from June 3 to Sept. 16, 1918. While bombing Conflans, on Sept. 16, 1918, he was in a flight of four machines attacked by 24 Fokkers. The other three machines in the formation were brought down in flames and the occupants killed. Lieut. Codman and his observer, Lieut. S. A. McDowell, of Philadelphia, were the only survivors of the flight, and McDowell was severely wounded, but not before he had brought down three enemy planes. Lieut. Codman's machine was shot down, and he being wounded was made prisoner near Conflans. He remained a prisoner in Germany until the Armistice. He escaped from Landshut prison about Nov. 8, together with James Norman Hall, Henry Lewis, and Robert Browning, all of the U.S. Air Service. They arrived in Berne, Switzerland, Nov. 19; sailed for America; and on Jan. 3, 1919, Lieut. Codman was honorably discharged at Garden City, N.Y.
Citation
Received from the French Army Citation and Croix de Guerre with Palm; also, cited in Citation Orders No. 1, by General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, for Gallantry in Action Sept. 16, 1918, while engaged in Bombing Expedition near Conflans, France.
Posted 07/21/2011 09:50 am
