Need help with information on newly acquired grouping

[Yank44]

I finally acquired a nice WWI aviator grouping (I've been waiting for a few years now) which includes: French-made tunic with all insignia present (bullion wings, buttons, U.S. devices, Air Service devices, two overseas stripes), French-made American Field Service overseas cap with AFS patch and "29" metal insignia attached, French-made overseas cap with Air Service piping and 1st Lieutenant insignia attached, 2 shirts, 2 breeches, a photo of him in flying gear, a book titled "Harnly Family History" with hand written entries including his own life, boots, flying gauntlets, goggles, sleeping bag and liner, money belt, service belt with pouches attached, medical kit, photocopy of a silver platter made for him when he was a professor at NYU in 1960, and Sam Browne belt. His name was Morris Henry Harnly. He began his career in the military as an ambulance driver in the American Field Service in France in SSU 29. He was subsequently sent to Foggia, Italy for pilot training, and then to France to fight as a pilot. I am still waiting for some records to arrive. I will let you all know more when they arrive. After the war he was a Professor of Biology at NYU.

Here are some websites he is listed on about the American Field Service that show his transfer to Aviation as a 1st Lieutenant.
History of the American Field Service in France. 1920. Roster of Volunteers. (H-I)
http://www.ourstory.info/library/dri...ters/SSU29.htm

He is all over the internet if you want to read about his biology background at NYU. He seems to have written extensively about fruit flies.

I will be adding photos as time permits.

If anybody knows how I can find more information about Harnly, please let me know. Thank you in advance.

[Yank44]

This is the photo the dealer sent me before I purchased it.

[Yank44]

This is what the entry for Morris says in the family history book.

Page 18
“Morris Henry Harnly (7), born on April 19, 1895, at Mason City.” Then there is something handwritten, “---- of Baptist Church Jan. 16, 1905.”

Handwritten page in back of book says,
“Page 18 Morris Henry Harnly 7
Graduated Robert Emmet, Austin, Chicago, class
of 1909 x year of 1909-1910 at the Academy Mount
Morris College x year of 1910-1911 at the academy
I.S.N.U. x years of 1911-1913 Oak Park River
Forest O.H.S. x following year farm x years
of 1914-1917 at McPherson College x The United
States declaring war upon Germany on Good Friday
April 6, 1917, left college the following Wed, April 11, 1917 x
In Chicago volunteered and passed exams for
the American Field Service, in the French Army x
Sailed on S.S. Chicago, French Line, from New York,
landing at Bordeaux, France, the last week in May
1917 x Served in S.S.U. 29 brigaded to the 20 division
13th Army corps, 2nd Army (French) at Verdun,
Left Yank before cote 304 and le Morte Homme.
July and Aug. 1917 x Sept. 17 at St. Mihiel, base
Ruft x
Released from the French Army and enlisted in
S.E.R.C., U.S.A., Sept. 28, 1917 x Ordered to
Foggia, Italy for pilot training with the Royal
Italian Flying Corps and commenced pilot training
Oct. 18, 1917 x 2nd Brevet (Italian) Feb. 8, 1918
Commissioned 1st Lieutenant A.S. Av. on
March eighth, 1918 x (comprising 86, 408, 38 infantry,
53, + 253 artillery, 4th engineers) commaned by
Mangin “the butcher”
(see typed notes for rest)
Reentered McPherson College September
1919 graduating following May tak degree of B. Sc. X”

I have tried to transcribe this to the best of my ability. The big tease is at the end where he mentions to “see typed notes for rest”. Unfortunately, I don’t have these. I am trying to have the family contacted about this. I am also waiting for government records to come in. Hopefully, we find out more. There could be some really interesting combat experience in there, but we may never know. I hope to find out more soon.

[Yank44]

I really don't want to download all of the pics again, so I am going to provide a link to usmilitariaforum.com so you can see all of the pics I took. There are dozens of photos.

WWI Aviator grouping - U.S. Militaria Forum

If the link doesn't work, go to the forum, click view forum, click groupings, and click WWI Aviator grouping posted by Yank. If there is demand on this forum, I'll post pics directly here as well.

[ONEALM]

Yank44 -

Congrats on the group - it's a beaut....

Not much else could be gleaned from what I have on hand here.

He's listed as Morris Harnley." in Sloan's book - obviously a typo and as "Morris A. Hanley" in one of my Italian references.

It does not appear as if he was assigned to a US unit at the front before 11 November and what little I have in post-armistice assignments does not show him either.

If you haven't already done so, I recommend picking upa copy of Jack Hilliard's "Capronis, Farmans and SIAs" It's a 600 page treatise of Jacks compiled first hand accounts of the training at Foggia. It's the best work so far on Foggia and published in cooperation with the Caproni Museum.

If I bump into you man in my travels, I'll pitch you a note...

Mike

[Yank44]

Mike, thank you for checking in your reference books for me. I am always amazed at how willing people are to help one another here. This website and its members are an enormous asset to both the aviation historian and aviation collector communities alike. I'm going to see if I can get a copy of Hilliard's book. Thanks for the tip.

Yank

[Yank44]

I want to add that I purchased this grouping from Ron Burkey, Jr. of flyingtigerantiques.com . If you are looking for WWI aviation material, he is the best source I know. Ron's material is always 100% and of the highest quality. He is also a leading expert on wings, so you can utilize his expertise for appraisals or acquisitions.

If you are looking for wings, he currently has a good variety available on his website. If you are looking for something that is not on his website, keep in mind, he can get it for you. Some of the higher end things just are not available anymore unless you know somebody. Once a family or collector is willing to sell these rare items, your dealer will be the liaison between you and your potential prize.

Good hunting,
Yank

[ONEALM]

Yank -

Thanks, I know Ron fairly well. I acquired an observers tunic from him about two years ago that belonged to a N.J. man - my particular interest. Also recently acquired a beautiful Haltom wing from him as well. I see him a couple times a year when he comes down to N.J. You are correct, he's been a pleasure to work with and a straight shooter.

Foggia particularly interests me as well, the one very complete grouping of mostly paper, logbook, travel orders, letters home, footlocker, wings and some other odds and ends are from a pilot who was at Foggia contemporary with your man. I loaned most of this material to Jack Hilliard when he was putting his book together.

Another resource you may want to look into for related Foggia material is the USAFM. They have a couple of Foggiani's photo albums (James Bahl, KIA 28 Oct 18 & I am fairly certain they have George Cronin's - may also have Allen Bevins as well...) so you may find contemporary material there. Unfortunately, my Foggiani was not big on photos so I have exactly 4 from his time there...

Thanks for sharing the shot of the grouping. It looks super...
Mike

[Yank44]

Thank you for your information once again. I will be looking into your sources shortly.

Yank