US Army Air Service
Overseas Cap Worn
First Lieutenant
Osric Watkins
(Indianapolis)
Osric Watkins joined the American Field Service, May 23, 1917 and was attached to the American Staff, Boston Office. Once the US entered the war, Watkins returned to the US and then returned to France on October 3, 1917, in U. S. Aviation. He trained at Foggia, Italy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, May 18, 1918. He left Foggia and received more training in France. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron, First Pursuit Group.
Sadly, Watkins did not survive to join his unit. On October 23, 1918, he died of pneumonia on way to the Front, at Bar-le-Duc and was buried Bar-le-Duc, Meuse. Later his body was transferred to Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Overseas cap
worn by Watkins
Gold Star Flag flown by the parents of 1LT Watkins.
Flight Log
Victor Hasselman
(Indianapolis)
Victor M. Hasselman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1885. He was born to an upper class family listed in Dau's blue book. The blue book contained "….selected names of Indianapolis and suburban towns: containing the names and addresses of prominent residents, arranged alphabetically and numerically by streets, also ladies' maiden names, receiving days, and other valuable social information".
In 1915 he enlisted into a Battery A of the Field Artillery Battalion, Indiana National Guard and was part of the troops called up to guard the US/Mexican border against the incursions of Pancho Villa. In June of 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant.
After America's entry into the War, Hasselman's National Guard unit, renamed the 150th Field Artillery was assigned to the 42nd Division.
Hasselman, now an officer was assigned as an aerial observer, serving with the 1st aero squadron, 88th aero squadron and finally assigned to the 6th Corps as the Adjutant of the 6th Corps Observation Group.
Log book used by Hasselman recording some of his missions
Enlisted Aviation Uniform
Corporal Everett Stein
(Richmond)
Everett Henry Stein was born in April 1892 in Richmond, Indiana. Before the war, he listed his occupation as a sheet metal worker. On October 4th, 1917, he was inducted into the Infantry and assigned to the 84th Division. He trained at Camp Taylor, KY, Camp Shelby, MS and Camp Hancock, Georgia.
After Camp Hancock, he was sent to Camp Greene, NC where the Motor Mechanics Regiments were being formed. On January 29th 1918, he was transferred to the Signal Corps for assignment to a regiment. He was initially assigned to the 4th Company, 3rd Regiment, but was later transferred to the 6th Company. It wasn't until October 1918 that the name of the regiment was changed to the Air Service Mechanics (ASM) Regiment. The regiment was broken down into specialties with each specialty forming a company.
He sailed from Jersey City on June 23rd 1918 on the PATRIA. He arrived in Brest on July 5th, 1918. He was stationed at Romorantin, France from July 13th until May 31st, 1919.
Identity Card
First Lieutenant Oliver Stout
Indianapolis
In 1917, Oliver Stout graduated from Princeton and enlisted into the US Army's Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. He trained as a pilot at Foggia, Italy, however the war ended before he was sent to the front.
After the war, he remained in the military joining the Indiana National Guard. During WWII, he was recalled to active duty, serving as the commanding officer at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina.
After the war, Stout returned to the Indiana National Guard. He was promoted to Brigadier General, becoming the Chief of Staff of the state's Air National Guard.
M1917 Helmet
Private James M. Kreuzberger
(South Bend)
PVT James M. Kreuzberger enlisted in Company D, 4th Balloon Squadron in October 1917. In January, he was assigned to Company A, 4th Balloon Squadron which eventually became the 9th Balloon Company.
He served with the 9th until December 1918 when he was transferred to the 7th Balloon Company. Kreuzberger served in the Toul Sector and then participated in the St. Mihiel Offensive followed by the Meuse-Argonne offensive. He was honorably discharged on May 21, 1919.
Repair Tag and Blue Prints Speedway Aviation Repair Depot
The Speedway area became an innovative aviation hub during WWI. Work at the depot increased pilot safety and aircraft structural integrity. Italian Pomilio Bros. Corp. developed aircraft here for the Liberty engine produced by Nordyke & Marmon with parts by Allison Experimental Co. The depot repaired 313 planes and 350 engines in 1918. By fall 1920 it ceased operations. The infield of Indianapolis 500 served as the runway for the depot.
