Robert Temple I, US Enlisted Pilot

[americankraut]

I would like to say hello since I am new to the forum and if I am posting incorrectly please let me know.

My wives great grandfather the first Robert Temple (currently on number 5) moved from England to the US before WWI. He and his son were rather wealthy business men and inventors. During WWI he was an enlisted Pilot trainer at Kelly Field Texas.

I do not know much about his service and would like to find out more. I primarily study / collect WWII as a hobby. I would like to get a complete uniform display for Robert Temple. Are there any good books / websites for unit research and correct uniforms for an enlisted pilot?

He was awarded the MBE and I was told he was later knighted, he also had many patents for military equipment both in the US and England.

Attached are pictures of his WWI tunic with bullion enlisted wings

Thanks for the help
-Ben

[ONEALM]

Ben -

From what you have, you already have the toughest part of the group to get together - the tunic with that beautiful bullion enlisted pilots wing.

The pants, puttees, undershirt (if you go with one at all) and shoes should be easy pickups. The toughest thing to do will be to match the pant fabric to the jacket. There was a wide variety of materials and colors used for the enlisted men from officer quality material to the coarsest wool you can imagine.

THe enlisted pilots were/are notoriously hard to trace. I know of no single source which lists them all, but the most comprehensive source was published as "They Also Flew" by Lee Arbon. He lists all the known WW I enlisted pilots, names gathered from secondary sources, news articles, etc., so it is certainly incomplete.

Robert Temple does not appear on the list so he would certanly be a new and welcome addition to the roster.

I would like to put you in touch with a good friends and expert in the field of early US aviation badges and fliers. He would be delighted to hear of your wive's g-fathers service and I know he would be helpful in your search.

PM me if you would and I will send along his email address.

Thanks for posting these -
Mike

[americankraut]

Thanks PM sent

[ONEALM]

Americankraut - Check this page for some reference.. Aviation Wings and Badges of WW2 - World War I Wings - United States Army

You'll find another bullion example here. When this was written, only two examples were known, so the badge you have is quite rare.

[Airshipped]

Welcome to the forum.

Robert's patented inventions seem quite interesting:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=p.../US1365869.pdf

Perhaps aspects of his career might be documented in publications on munitions and weaponry?

[americankraut]

Originally Posted by ONEALM

Americankraut - Check this page for some reference.. Aviation Wings and Badges of WW2 - World War I Wings - United States Army

You'll find another bullion example here. When this was written, only two examples were known, so the badge you have is quite rare.

I showed the individual that runs that site my wings in the past. If I remember right the other set is to an unknown pilot and these are the only with a known province.

Thanks for the link I lost it when I got a new computer

[americankraut]

Airshipped, He and his father also have early 1900s pattens for cars, you would think with that much achievement there would be some historical records somewhere?
Thanks for the help Gents