For Steve M's. dedication and hard work in helping bring this site to the War Relics Forum. ......Here ya' go Steve.....
I believe that this is one of the most extensive and significant aviation groups of any era. It is one of the cornerstones of my museum.
I acquired this group from a friend who was kind enough to let me be the next caretaker. To him, I cannot be more grateful. He had owned this group for 40 years after it was given to him by a Rheno family member when he was a young teen. They were neighbors.
This size and scope of this rare group is too large and too cumbersome to post at one time. If there is interest, I will add to this thread as time permits.
Walter Rheno's story is incredible. From a non-blueblood family of Martha's Vineyard, MA - to being rejected by our U.S. Air Service in 1915 - to pilot with the Lafayette Flying Corps of the Spa 80 Escadrille with three victories, (2 confirmed) - more rejected attempts for a commission in our U.S. Air Service while on leave in the States in 1917 - and his return to France in the fall of 1918 to once again fly for France only to become sick with the influenza and die on October 10, 1918. Ironically, he received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Service while returning to France in September 1918. He became an honored hero by the people of the Vineyard.
We'll start here:
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