Chris Liontas

Really neat photo. The 27th Aero squadron's mechanics and ground personnel returning from France 1919. The Signal Corps guideon is fairly neat--I have never seen one like it before.

Hi Chris! Why so rare?? I dont know anything about the conflict, so what makes this one so rare? How do you store your old photos?? Any problem with fading?

I have to disagree on Rommel. While an outstanding general in every way, he lost one major battle that no one gives him credit for. His decision to defend the beaches of Normandy against overwhelming Allied Naval and Air superiority was a catastrophe. He wasted millions of hours of manpower and massive amounts of resources defending a single line in the sand, rather than a defense in depth (as the Russians did at Kursk). He was warned by men like Von Rundstedt, who had been against allied invasion fleets before, that a single line of defense was insufficient against an untouchable allied fleet bombarding the shore with impunity. Within 24 hours, the Atlantic Wall was breached, and only insufficient American training, the topography of Normandy, and the German feldwebel kept the break from being a rout! I wonder what would have happened, if Rommel would have withdrawn from the beaches and defended France in depth, rather than all at the beach as Kuribayashi did at Iwo Jima. Patton is a great character---not a great general. A good general that did what was needed, but not a great tactician.

weird. I had a wonderful 16th Pioneer LT uniform with one braid on it, which I thought denoted company. Three cords are beyond me. Neat straps none the less!

WOW!!! Amazing photo and great work Rick!! :cheers:

Naxos hit that one, a very VERY nice Litweka, to a very good unit. The 5th Guards actually opposed the US Divisions in the Argonne Forrest with much success. The condition looks outstanding!!

SWEET!!!! Chris how were French Tankers organized?? Were they allotted to Infantry brigades as attached units--or were they permanently attached to the Division? Many experiences I have read of Americans in the Argonne talk about attached French Armor, but they never go into detail of what French unit or how they were attached at the company level. Did HQ allot the tanks at each attack?? Or was it a system of attaching an Armor company to an Infantry company for each action?

WOW! I just saw this thread, Amazing items with great history!!! :cheers:

Tony has an awesome site--that Tschapka is beautiful. Here is a Reserve Officer's Helmet to a Rittermiester, Hanoversches Ulanen-Regt. 14 before they were allowed to change the wrappen

Awesome!! I was thinking either Weimar or Riechwehr, but I was not sure. Either one, a very nice and rare hat. I am always surprised how little fuss is made over hats from this age, even though they are much more rare than most Imperial or III Reich hats. A super find, as always, Chris!! :cheers:

Impressive artwork Chris!! Thank you for sharing.

Looks like a Waffen SS Unterscharfuhrer (Sergent I think). M43 tunic with Russian Front ribbon and looks like the KvKII with swords. Possibly a rear echelon troop in one of the Waffen SS Divisions. A very nice photo

I think the first guy is definitely Landstrum. I have a photo of a guy in similar uniform. Interesting rifle though...never would have placed that one :)

OOO!!! A nice find to a very good unit!! That could not have been easy to find!

And I believe the 2nd was a silver wrappen with silver buttons. The 1st Rgt was in Gold. That is a great photo of the Chevauleger escorting the prisoners. I am surprised he still holds a lance, as I would have thought by 1915 those would have been completely dropped. Is that photo taken in Russia? Those look like French Prisoners-- but I am not sure.

Awesome Ulanka Chris!! That one looks in top shape too! :)

I always knew it was a matter of time. And now they hit the market. Reproduction metal chaplain's crosses. Now instead of a absolutely silly caps out there with the terrible bullion insignia, fakers are going to start to use these. There are many aspects of these that are wrong, but I doubt anyone will ever know the difference. It's sad really http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:ES5ZSUF2iOYJ:cgi.ebay.com/GERMAN-ARMY-CHAPLAIN-HAT-CROSS--EXCELLENT!!_W0QQitemZ150388895270QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20091115%3FIMSfp%3DTL091115162001r38006+german+chaplain+visor&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Hi Chris It looks like your guys got two listing for the Silver Star Citation. That is a very impressive find. It was not unusually for individuals to get several SSC for bravery. A friend of mine has a Navy Corpsman group who won three SCC and the Navy Cross. Two SSCs were for Belleau Wood also It is

SWEET!! Nice Chris!! A GREAT WWI Group!!

Amazing PH Chris! One of the rarest out there. Do you have the print of the AGO card to go with it??

HI Chris! Really hard to figure out, since they could apply for years after the war. I have asked a medal collector friend to see if he might know. I've had several SS that were issued around the 40s to WWI vets, and seen some nice BBB which were issued much earlier.

Wow! Now that is nice!!

Robin, What time frame are we looking at here?? 1919? These are amazing!

Awesome photo--really neat Field Grey Hussar uniform there!! What would the individual be, second from left next to the Hussar? Dragoons?

Thanks a ton guys! This is one of the pieces I never thought I would own, let alone have attached to an orignal tunic (photos to follow later today ) I appreciate all the information. Is there a definitive (for the current information) reference on the makers/badges of the German Air Service for both private and issue pieces. I know the air service badges are heavily faked, and it takes a while to get comfortable with them. I am grabbing all references on WWI Wings I can find, and any information on German (or Austrian for that matter) references would be great!