WWII Grouping of AVG Pilot Lester Hall incl. a 'Christmas' Scarf

This is a grouping formerly belonging to Pilot Instructor Lester Hall, an American Volunteer Group (AVG) member. The grouping includes a nicely preserved example of the white silk so-called "Christmas Scarf". These scarves were given to all AVG members by Madame Chiang Kai-shek with the Generalissimo's chop in red silk hand embroidery, as a present. This particular scarf is one of the extremely rare Long scarves that were only presented to pilots. The pilots scarves were approximately 62" long and only about 16" wide, whereas the ground personnel received a smaller roughly 30" x 30" square scarf. Also included are original newspaper articles (one wartime - 1943 and one post-war -1956) covering his time in the AVG and the story about the scarf, an original framed 5" x 8" wartime photo of Hall in the cockpit of his P-40, an original AVG membership card (#55), an original discharge letter dated July 19, 1942 and signed by General Claire Chennault releasing him from AVG service, Hall's original wartime AVG photo ID membership card issued in China and a period copy of it, the 1945 booklet titled "Americans Valiant and Glorious" listing the Flying Tigers who were killed in action, and a double-sided color copy of his discharge certificate signed by General Chennault noting that although hired as an Instructor, Hall did indeed fly combat missions with the AVG.

Circa 1942 unless otherwise noted.

Various sizes. Scarf is approximately 5'2" long by 15-1/2" wide. It is huge!

Items are of expected materials: paper, photographic paper, and the scarf is made of fine Chinese silk.

Handwriting on reverse of photo.

This is from an American Volunteer Group collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. LIJJJX3/10 SGEJJX2/11

8+ (Excellent): Overall the items are in excellent condition. The scarf has a couple of light age spots, but otherwise is near perfect.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.