How do I research a WW! Veteran?

[a2jacketpatches]

I just bought a WW1 Gas Mask along with a 20th AF and AAF HQ patches. Maybe the same guy owned all or maybe someone else in the family owned the patches, but it would be cool to find Sgt. Reeder serial# 1622365 to be an Air Service vet. This info is carefully printed on the gas mask pouch but it doesn't seem like an easy thing to research. Anyone else know the ropes on this kind of thing?

 

[handworn]

Go to the National Archives website here:

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=WR26

It's better with personal details than with service. It might tell you he was in the AAF, might not.

I just bought a WW1 Gas Mask along with a 20th AF and AAF HQ patches. Maybe the same guy owned all or maybe someone else in the family owned the patches, but it would be cool to find Sgt. Reeder serial# 1622365 to be an Air Service vet. This info is carefully printed on the gas mask pouch but it doesn't seem like an easy thing to research. Anyone else know the ropes on this kind of thing?

 

[crazyace]

You can also try on this forum. You will be suprised what the guys in this community can come up with.There might be threads posted with links for researching USAAF veterans from threads started from people like you trying to find information on a person.

http://forum.armyairforces.com/default.aspx

 

[a2jacketpatches]

Actually, this is all I have written on a WW! Gas Mask Bag. But I got some AAF Patches as well and thought it might be the same guy serving in two wars, but probably not.