Letters of Second Lieutenant Charles Wesley Chapman, Jr. December 19, 1894 - May 3, 1918.
(Waterloo, IA): For Private Circulation, (February, 1919),
First Edition, one of perhaps 100 copies issued. large octavo, grey heavy paper wrappers with embossed USAF wings in silver and black on front wrapper and American Service Flag in gilt, red and blue on back wrapper. 146 pp., sewn. For Private Circulation, Item #25614
Charles Wesley Chapman, known as Carl, was born in Dubuque, Iowa. He was killed in combat Northeast of Toul, France on May 3rd 1918 and fell behind the German lines. He is buried near Remoncourt on the Franco-German border. He was a Junior at Amherst College when he enlisted in the Franco-American Ambulance Corps. On arrival there was great need for flyers so he joined the Franco-American Flying Corps. In 1918 he transferred to the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lt. and went to the front with the 94th Aero Squadron. These letters were published so his family and friends might have the story of his months in service in his own words. With illustrations from photographs in the text and mounted frontispiece portrait of Chapman. Very slight wear to extremities, slightly dusty and soiled at back cover. At some point the book was water damaged which shows on the back cover and spine at the back hinge. There is also wear to the spine at back hinge. The damp damage has gone into the book at the inner hing at the last several leaves. This book contains a reproduction of Chapman's "La Fayette Flying Corps" certificate which is reproduced as a folding plate toward the end of the book. This plate has been separated at the fold (this could be repaired). Never-the-less, this is still an acceptable copy of a rare Memorial Volume.
Price: $750.00