#4394776 - 12/14/1701:59 PMOT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
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L'Etoile du Nord
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Greetings All,
I just wanted to share with you my latest, and quite possibly favorite, addition to my collection of WWI items. It is the aviator’s certificate issued by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale to Jerome Bishop Eberts, and it is beautiful.
Lieutenant J.B. Eberts, from what I’ve gathered so far, was commissioned on 30 May 1916 as an officer in the 141st Infantry Battalion, C.E.F. In early 1918 he was granted transfer to the RFC, and on his pilot training card, dated 14 May 1918, after a six-week course, he is noted as “Fit as Pilot (for) Reconnaissance & Bombing Squadron Pilot” and further “Recommended for: Camels”. This would indicate he had been a student of fair abilities as the-powers-that-be did not tend to recommend the ham-fisted for Camel service.
Lt. Eberts was assigned to 32 Squadron in late summer/early fall of 1918, (though I am not sure of the exact date), flying the SE5a around the Arras area. He was with this unit until his repatriation in 1919. According to squadron records he filed no claims during his few months of combat service with 32 Squadron.
Upon his return to Canada it appears he continued in military service as a member of the 96th Lake Superior Regiment. Also, according to his officer’s dispersal certificate, his occupation in civilian life was that of reporter.
Here are a few photos showing this marvelous certificate, now nearly 100 years old. And I’ve a hunch, given his photo and his status as a pilot, that Lt. Eberts was a fair hit with the young ladies.
Honestly, the photos don't begin to do this piece of history justice, you need to hold it in your hands to truly enjoy and appreciate its presence.
.
Three RFC Brass Hats were strolling down a street in London. Two walked into a bar, the third one ducked. _________________________________________________________________________
Former Cold War Warrior, USAF Security Service 1974-1978, E-4, Morse Systems Intercept, England, Europe, and points above. "pippy-pahpah-pippy pah-pip-pah"
#4394777 - 12/14/1702:15 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
A very nice piece of History Lou. I am sure it has found a loving home that will take the best care of it. It is an amazing feeling to hold such History in one's hands! To try to imagine what went on and how everyone was affected is as close as one can come to being there. A very nice find. John
#4394783 - 12/14/1703:12 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 7,993Robert_Wiggins
BWOC Survivor!...So Far!!
Hi Lou, I echo Mr_Dirt's sentiments. I know you will cherish it. A very nice find indeed, and may I say, someone from my home turf across the 49th.
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#4394786 - 12/14/1703:30 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
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L'Etoile du Nord
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Thank you John and Robert, I will certainly give the best of care to this old certificate. Robert, I figured you would appreciate the fact that Eberts was a countryman of yours. I appreciate the fact that he lived not even an hour away from my home state, and I hope to drive up to where Fort William used to be and see if I can't find the old address that he listed on his attestation paper: Suite 4, Dyke Block, Fort William.
.
#4394818 - 12/14/1706:23 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Very nice, Lou! The picture appears to be pasted in?
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
#4394987 - 12/15/1702:31 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
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Joined: May 2012
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L'Etoile du Nord
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That is correct Rick. The certificate was filled in with the pilot's information; the pilot's photo was pasted in and an official stamp placed partially on the photo and partially on the certificate, (I imagine to make it harder to replace the photo with someone else's without showing signs of tampering); the certificate was then signed by all concerned, dated, numbered, and handed to the pilot to be kept on his person.
.
#4395008 - 12/15/1704:16 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Lou, if you had access to a time machine along with your collection of artifacts, no one would bat an eye if you suddenly appeared on the flight line at any aerodrome on the Western front!
“With Major Lawrence, mercy is a passion. With me it is merely good manners. You may judge which motive is the more reliable.”
#4395013 - 12/15/1704:54 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Great acquisition, Lou. I went hunting for the signing authorities and was interested to find the Chairman of the Aero Club to be Colonel Sir Henry Lofft Capel-Holden, the founder of the racing circuit at Brooklands. You can find a brief bio here.
#4395058 - 12/15/1710:01 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
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Joined: May 2012
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L'Etoile du Nord
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Thanks for the link Raine, interesting stuff. And as you and others here appreciate such things, I am attaching a pair of scans I've located of 2nd Lt. Eberts flight training card - more interesting stuff.
(right-click on an image and open it in a new window to view it full size)
.
#4395060 - 12/15/1710:19 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
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Joined: May 2012
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L'Etoile du Nord
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By the way, take note of the fact that after a meager total of just over eight-and-a-half hours of flying time on Shorthorns this fellow was passed through and recommended for Camels. Further proof of how desperately pilots were needed at the front as the war was chewing them up as soon as they arrived.
.
#4395067 - 12/15/1711:33 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 7,993Robert_Wiggins
BWOC Survivor!...So Far!!
By the way, take note of the fact that after a meager total of just over eight-and-a-half hours of flying time on Shorthorns this fellow was passed through and recommended for Camels. Further proof of how desperately pilots were needed at the front as the war was chewing them up as soon as they arrived.
.
"Further proof of how desperately pilots were needed at the front as the war was chewing them up as soon as they arrived."
No doubt, with such meagre flying hours, and to think they were put directly into Camels!! Talk about a meat grinder!
(System_Specs)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Trooper PSU: Ultra X3,1000-Watt MB: Asus Maximus VI Extreme Mem: Corsair Vengeance (2x 8GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, Unbuffered CPU: Intel i7-4770K, OC to 4.427Ghz CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler Vid Card: ASUS GTX 980Ti STRIX 6GB OS and Games on separate: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD Monitor: Primary ASUS PG27AQ 4k; Secondary Samsung SyncMaster BX2450L Periphs: MS Sidewinder FFB2 Pro, TrackIR 4
#4395080 - 12/16/1702:10 AMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 3,704Rick_Rawlings
Senior Member
Fascinating stuff, Lou. I wonder how many hours total he had before getting to France.
#4395306 - 12/17/1703:21 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,879
L'Etoile du Nord
.
That I do not know Raine. I've been sifting through the various document scans I have concerning Eberts' war service and while I am learning a great many interesting things his total flying hours during his training is not one of them.
Rick, the "six words per minute" is in reference to keying Morse Code, not typing. And I am betting that even if it were typing, you Sir could master six words a minute. By the way, (and yes I am bragging a bit now), during my stint in the USAFSS I was transcribing Morse Code at the rate of 45 to 50 words per minute, without errors, when the need to do so arose, (and it arose fairly often).
.
#4395404 - 12/18/1708:39 AMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
What a remarkable historical item you've managed to acquire, Lou! I've had the pleasure of looking at some comparable German documents at auctions and collector meetings, but never a British one. It goes without saying that they have been preserved to our days only in rare cases. Fortunately this one couldn't have gone to a better new home. Congrats!
The very small amount of flying hours really does make you wonder. Nobody can become a competent pilot in only a few hours. Heck, you don't learn to drive a car properly in that amount of time!
German fighter pilots usually had more experience when they were assigned to Jastas, because most of them had first served as two-seater pilots.
"Upon my word I've had as much excitement on a car as in the air, especially since the R.F.C. have had women drivers."
James McCudden, Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps
#4395428 - 12/18/1702:22 PMRe: OT: A new treasure has found its way to my home
[Re: JJJ65]