Need Help preserving artifacts -- 96th aero

[Ausgang]

Due to the recent passing of a close family member, I will be receiving my g-grandfather's U.S Army Signal Corps campaign chest. His name was Henry Lewis, and he was a member of the 96th Aero Squadron, First Day Bombardment Group. He was a colleague of James Norman Hall and Charlie Codman, who included him in their book 'Contact'. (Signed copy in my possession.)

Anyway, I have preliminarily inspected the contents, and have concerns about preservation and safety. First, there is a section of belted amunition, which I presume to be live and unstable. Can anyone advise on a safe means to preserve this without destoying it?

Secondly, like his family members to follow, Henry was a photography nut. There are a signficant number of photographs taken during training in the U.S. and operations in France. I would like to make copies of those available to an organization that can make them publicly available for posterity.

Numerous documents are included, including his work permit, commision papers, and an aerial map of France and Germany, etc. They are in good condition, so hopefully I won't have to have them treated for acid removal --- unless you guys warn me otherwise. There is a lot of hand-written correspondence to/from colleagues, primarily fellow aviators.

There are numerous pieces of cloth, which I am clueless as to their origin. They appear to be portions of uniforms. Did aviators trade such things?

I would be grateful for any assistance fellow members of "The Aerodrome Forum" would offer.

[Makhpiyaluta]

First, there is a section of belted amunition, which I presume to be live and unstable. Can anyone advise on a safe means to preserve this without destoying it?


Take this stuff to an expert to get the explosives out don't try it yourself if you like to keep your eyes and fingers. The nearest shooting club should be the right place.

Willem

[Epee]

The ammunition, which I am assuming is rifle caliber, should be quite safe as long as the primers are not smartly struck with a pointed object, something that is rather hard to do unintentionally. I have heard that soaking cartridges in penetrating oil will render the primers and powder inert some/most of the time. Frankly if it were mine I'd take the bullets from the belt, wipe them down with a silicone cloth to prevent corrosion, and replace them in the belt. Likewise I'd lightly oil the belt if it is metal. Place the partial belt in it's own container where it cannot rattle around very much.

Only if they are larger than rifle caliber would I worry about them being dangerous, in which case I would refrain from handling them and call the police immediately. Rifle caliber bullets will have a diameter of approximately 5/16th's were the bullet and casing join.

Contacting authorities through official channels will likely result in your losing the artifact due to departmental policies and bureaucratic caution.

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by Ausgang

Due to the recent passing of a close family member, I will be receiving my g-grandfather's U.S Army Signal Corps campaign chest. His name was Henry Lewis, and he was a member of the 96th Aero Squadron, First Day Bombardment Group. He was a colleague of James Norman Hall and Charlie Codman, who included him in their book 'Contact'. (Signed copy in my possession.)

Anyway, I have preliminarily inspected the contents, and have concerns about preservation and safety...I would be grateful for any assistance fellow members of "The Aerodrome Forum" would offer.

Greetings Ausgang,
For preservation concerns please contact
Mr. Andy Parks , President of the Lafayette Foundation.

http://www.lafayettefoundation.org/

We have a tremendous amount of info on the 96th Aero. My Great,great uncle served in the 96th in 1918.

[cameldriver]

Hi
It sounds like you've inherited an interesting collection. I, for one, appreciate your willingness to share it with others. With regard to the fabric pieces, they may be fabric taken from shot down or damaged aircraft, or pieces used to patch the fabric on damaged aircraft. I have never heard of men exchanging pieces of uniform, and would be surprised if this were the case. Would love to see more pictures and further descriptions of your material, especially the contents of the letters that describe life in the Air Service and combat experiences.
Bob

[buzz1941]

Resist the urge to store artifacts in anything except acid-free cardboard or Mylar. Keep them generally in a dry, dark place that has little temperature or humidity variation. Encapsulate when possible. Watch for bugs!

[Ausgang]

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

Greetings Ausgang,
For preservation concerns please contact
Mr. Andy Parks , President of the Lafayette Foundation.

http://www.lafayettefoundation.org/

We have a tremendous amount of info on the 96th Aero. My Great,great uncle served in the 96th in 1918.

Thank you Stephen. I will take your advice and contact Mr. Parks. I now have the items I mentioned previously, and it's an amazing discovery process to see what is included.

Here is one example. Like many others, my g-grandfather (Henry Lewis) had a copy of the two volume set "The Lafayette Flying Corps" by Hall and Nordhoff, as he was a member of the 96th aero. Inside the cover of volume one I found the following letter from Jim Hall which I wanted to share with you all:

June 5th, 1919

Dear old Henry:-

I'm some bird to let a whole month pass before answering your most heartily welcomed letter. You are not to judge of my delight at receiving it by my lack of promptitude in answering it. Oh Lordy! How often I have thought of our Arcadian days when we were the guests of die zweite Herren, Capp, and Rheinstrom. (I don't know if this is good German but let it pass) It is an odd thing Henry that a kriegs-gefangener should look back with a good deal of pleasure to the days of his lagership. Nevertheless I do. Of course the reason is that we had such a darned good crowd at Landshut. I miss you and Bob and Charlie Codman to beat the deuce. Do you remember our walks around the yard! And those fine crisp autumn mornings when we sat along the bench in the sun and talked about the possibility of an armistice!

We didn't have such a bad time for prisoners. I wish, by dad, that my food could taste as good to me now, as old Lager-bearded Robbie's Salisbury stews and rice puddings. Henry, we must get together one of these days for a talk of old times. Furthermore, I have a persistent hunch that I can wallop you four times out of five at Lafayette Special. Therefore, if you want to take the conceit out of me, why you'll just have to come down here to do it.

This reminds me that I haven't told you where I am or what I am doing. Nordhoff, ex-lieutenant U.S.A.S and also ex-Lafayette Corps pilot, and I are writing a sort of History of the Lafayette Flying Corps. We have taken a little shack on Martha's Vineyard, a glorious place, wonderful bathing and all the rest of it. We expect to be through with the job about the last of this month. Then Nordhoff is going home, but I am staying on till the first of August.

Now Henry, can you offer me any reason why you shouldn't come down here for a week end, or longer if you can manage it? I surely would like to see you and I know that you would be delighted with Martha's Vineyard if you have never been down here. If you find our shack too primitive why there are plenty of first class hotels down in Edgartown and Vineyard Haven. Come on down Henry. Bring your mother and all of your family. If you should motor up, you can run your car on the boat at New Bedford and run it off again at Vineyard Haven. Then there is a good state road right down the island to our place. If you come down alone I can put you up. But if you should come with your mother I am afraid she wouldn't like our idea of comfort. Our only bathroom is the Atlantic Ocean, and we have to carry our water from a spring about a quarter of a mile from our house. But it is the most delicious water I've ever tasted, well worth the trouble of carrying it. Now, remember Henry, this is a standing invitation. Come and batch it with me or come and live in lordly comfort at one of the hotels, just as you choose. And come whenever you want to, altho I shall have more leisure after the first of July.

One other thing: Do you want to win my deathless gratitude and, at the same time gain immortal fame? You can easily do both if you are willing to risk loaning me your French brevet pin for a week or two. We expect to have a die made for a gold stamping which is to go on the cover of our History. My pin is in France, where I left most of my belongings in my hasty departure. I remember that you used to have one. If you will let me take it Henry, I promise to return it within two weeks at the latest. I shall take the very best care of it and send it back by registered post. Think of the honor Henry! Your own pin, or more accurately, a stamp made from it, on the cover of that immortal work, The History of the Lafayette Flying Corps! If this generous offer of mine persuades you, will you send it to me toute de suite. Our book is almost ready for the press.

Hoch die Republick Bayern!

Jim Hall
Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
c/o G.G. Hammond.

Note: Included in the envelope is a photograph of Jim Hall upon which is written: "To Henry, from P.O.W. Jim Hall, Landshut Bavaria 1918"

[SCMc]

Ausgang,

You have found a real treasure.

Steve

[pmirl]

If you have an Air Force base close by, contact their E.O.D. (Explosive Ordinance Disposal). Explain what you have and that you would like to have it rendered inop and usually they are happy to do it for you. They will remove the powder and "pop" the primer and replace the bullet in the jacket.
Years ago my local base took care of some 50 cal shells from WWII for me.

Paul