Sir: The December article “A Flier’s Journal,” by General Kenney, was of special interest to me as the former Commanding Officer of the 2nd Photo Section assigned to the gist Observation Squadron (I succeeded the Lieutenant Suydam who is mentioned).
Perhaps you might be interested to know the story behind the gist insignia accompanying the article. This design was taken from the drawing used on the masthead of the editorial page of the old Life magazine and was adopted as their official insignia. This design was painted on each side of the squadron’s planes, and for every German plane officially confirmed as being brought down by the pilot-observer crew, a black German cross was painted on the shield of their plane. Four or five crosses were not uncommon. …