Height x Width x Depth: 12 × 4 1/4 × 4 1/2 in. (30.48 × 10.8 × 11.43 cm)
Type:
Employee Gear
Place:
United States of America
Date:
1918-1919
Description:
Pilot Eddie Gardner owned and wore these leather leggings while working as an airmail pilot for the Post Office Department (August 1918- April 1919). Gardner wore these leggings over his pants when warmer weather allowed him to leave his heavy, leather flight suit on the ground. The leggings were held in place by leather straps at the top.
Gardner left the airmail service in April 1919 and became a promoter for Nebraska Aviation. He died on May 6, 1921, after crashing while flying stunts in Holdrege, Nebraska.
This pair of leggings and other gear worn and used by Eddie Gardner were eventually presented to Benjamin Lipsner, who had befriended Gardner during the time they worked together.
References:
National Archives and Reference Administration, record group 28
Bruns, James H. Turk Bird: The High-Flying Life and Times of Eddie Gardner, Washington, DC: National Postal Museum, 1998.
