{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Black Army Research","home_page_url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com","description":"Black Army Research","author":{"name":"Black Army Research"},"items":[{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/connecting-lemuel-r-custis-and-stephen-t-smith-jr-at-underwood","html_content":"

Research into the postwar careers of Major Lemuel R. Custis and Major Stephen Terhune Smith Jr. reveals an unexpected connection between the two Connecticut veterans. From 1950 to 1952, both men held personnel-managemen...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/connecting-lemuel-r-custis-and-stephen-t-smith-jr-at-underwood","title":"Connecting Lemuel R. Custis and Stephen T. Smith Jr. at Underwood","summary":"Research into the postwar careers of Major Lemuel R. Custis and Major Stephen Terhune Smith Jr. reveals an unexpected connection between the two Connecticut veterans. From 1950 to 1952, both men held personnel-managemen...","date_modified":"2026-09-05T21:43:37Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/inside-the-99th-fighter-squadron-major-lemuel-r-custiss-m1911","html_content":"

The legacy of the 99th Fighter Squadron stands as one of the most distinguished operational records in United States military aviation history. As part of the first graduating class of five pilots from the Tuskegee Army ...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/inside-the-99th-fighter-squadron-major-lemuel-r-custiss-m1911","title":"Inside the 99th Fighter Squadron: Major Lemuel R. Custis's M1911 ","summary":"The legacy of the 99th Fighter Squadron stands as one of the most distinguished operational records in United States military aviation history. As part of the first graduating class of five pilots from the Tuskegee Army ...","date_modified":"2026-09-01T20:10:17Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/wwii-ithaca-1911a1-serial-numbers-by-year-shipping-records","html_content":"

Are you trying to look up an Ithaca 1911A1 serial number by month and year, or discover where it was shipped? During World War II, the Ithaca Gun Company produced over 335,000 Model 1911A1 pistols for the military. Howev...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/wwii-ithaca-1911a1-serial-numbers-by-year-shipping-records","title":"WWII Ithaca 1911A1 Serial Number Lookup & Shipping Records","summary":"Are you trying to look up an Ithaca 1911A1 serial number by month and year, or discover where it was shipped? During World War II, the Ithaca Gun Company produced over 335,000 Model 1911A1 pistols for the military. Howev...","date_modified":"2026-09-01T15:56:31Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/exploring-lem-custiss-p-40l-aircraft-billie-kay","html_content":"

The P-40L and the 99th Fighter Squadron

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/exploring-lem-custiss-p-40l-aircraft-billie-kay","title":"Exploring Maj. Lem Custis's P-40L Aircraft \"Billie Kay\" - 99th FS","summary":"The P-40L and the 99th Fighter Squadron","date_modified":"2026-08-04T16:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/the-early-years-of-the-45-automatic-cartridge","html_content":"

After the trials of the Colt Automatic Pistol models of 1900 and 1902, both chambered in .38 ACP, the cartridge was found to not be powerful enough for the military. A request was subesquently made by the United States ...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/the-early-years-of-the-45-automatic-cartridge","title":"The Early Years of the .45 ACP","summary":"After the trials of the Colt Automatic Pistol models of 1900 and 1902, both chambered in .38 ACP, the cartridge was found to not be powerful enough for the military. A request was subesquently made by the United States ...","date_modified":"2026-08-03T20:25:13Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/99th-fs-p-40l-as-flown-by-capt-lemuel-r-custis-in-italy-1944","html_content":"

This is a 1:48 scale model of the P-40L flown by then-Captain Lemuel Rodney Custis on January 27th, 1944, while shooting down an enemy F.W.190. Additional details below.

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/99th-fs-p-40l-as-flown-by-capt-lemuel-r-custis-in-italy-1944","title":"99th F.S. P-40L \"Eel II\" as flown by Capt. Lemuel R. Custis, 1944","summary":"This is a 1:48 scale model of the P-40L flown by then-Captain Lemuel Rodney Custis on January 27th, 1944, while shooting down an enemy F.W.190. Additional details below.","date_modified":"2026-02-20T20:02:45Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/the-early-1943-du-lite-finished-ithaca-m1911a1-and-the-i-prefix","html_content":"

This study documents two early production changes found among the first few hundred Ithaca M1911A1 pistols manufactured in 1942–1943: the elimination of the “I” prefix from the serial number and a subsequent change in se...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/the-early-1943-du-lite-finished-ithaca-m1911a1-and-the-i-prefix","title":"Early 1943 Du-Lite Finish Ithaca M1911A1 Pistols and the I-prefix","summary":"This study documents two early production changes found among the first few hundred Ithaca M1911A1 pistols manufactured in 1942–1943: the elimination of the “I” prefix from the serial number and a subsequent change in se...","date_modified":"2025-11-07T20:47:56Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/a-father-and-sons-1911","html_content":"

Colt Model 1911 serial 346391 surfaced at a CT Firearms Auction in June of 2025. The Colt Archives letter obtained after the auction notes that it was assembled on June 18, 1918, and shipped June 25, 1918 to Bush Termina...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/a-father-and-sons-1911","title":"A Father and Son's 1911","summary":"Colt Model 1911 serial 346391 surfaced at a CT Firearms Auction in June of 2025. The Colt Archives letter obtained after the auction notes that it was assembled on June 18, 1918, and shipped June 25, 1918 to Bush Termina...","date_modified":"2025-09-12T16:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/ithaca-gun-co---1911a1-serial-856682","html_content":"

The 278th serial in production, 856682 was manufactured in February of 1943 by the Ithaca Gun Company in Ithaca, NY [1], and shipped in March 1943 to Augusta Arsenal. While this early Ithaca 1911A1 pistol exhibits some ...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/ithaca-gun-co---1911a1-serial-856682","title":"Ithaca 1911A1 Serial 856682 - Du-Lite finish, shipped March 1943","summary":"The 278th serial in production, 856682 was manufactured in February of 1943 by the Ithaca Gun Company in Ithaca, NY [1], and shipped in March 1943 to Augusta Arsenal. While this early Ithaca 1911A1 pistol exhibits some ...","date_modified":"2025-03-25T04:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/colts-patent-firearms-co-model-1902-serial-14857-january-1903","html_content":"

The 144th pistol produced in Colt's commercial Military model, serial 14857 was shipped on January 16, 1903.

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/colts-patent-firearms-co-model-1902-serial-14857-january-1903","title":"Colt's Patent Firearms Co. Model 1902 Serial 14857","summary":"The 144th pistol produced in Colt's commercial Military model, serial 14857 was shipped on January 16, 1903. ","date_modified":"2025-03-25T03:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/officer-summary---colt-1911-serial-85890","html_content":"

On June 14, 1910, Stephen Terhune Smith Jr received his commission in the Connecticut National Guard, taking the Oath of Office in the Coast Artillery Corps, 9th Company, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was immediate...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/officer-summary---colt-1911-serial-85890","title":"Short Summary - 1914 Colt 1911 Serial 85890","summary":"On June 14, 1910, Stephen Terhune Smith Jr received his commission in the Connecticut National Guard, taking the Oath of Office in the Coast Artillery Corps, 9th Company, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was immediate...","date_modified":"2025-03-24T18:43:32Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/officer-short-summary---colt-1911-serial-476738","html_content":"

Graduating in the class of 42-C, Lemuel Rodney Custis was one of the first 5 Tuskegee Airmen pilots. During WWII he flew 92 combat missions as a Captain, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as the Air Me...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/officer-short-summary---colt-1911-serial-476738","title":"Short Summary - Colt 1911 Serial 476738 - Tuskegee Airmen Pistol","summary":"Graduating in the class of 42-C, Lemuel Rodney Custis was one of the first 5 Tuskegee Airmen pilots. During WWII he flew 92 combat missions as a Captain, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as the Air Me...","date_modified":"2025-03-24T18:21:44Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/officer-short-summary---colt-1911-navy-serial-570","html_content":"

It's always interesting when you can tie a pistol to an individual's history, and this 3-digit Colt Navy 1911 didn't disappoint - it connected TWO officers! Colt Navy 1911 serial 570 was part of the first Navy shipment, ...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/officer-short-summary---colt-1911-navy-serial-570","title":"Short Summary - 3-digit Colt Navy 1911 Serial 570","summary":"It's always interesting when you can tie a pistol to an individual's history, and this 3-digit Colt Navy 1911 didn't disappoint - it connected TWO officers! Colt Navy 1911 serial 570 was part of the first Navy shipment, ...","date_modified":"2025-03-23T22:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/part-2","html_content":"

Part 1 is located here

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/part-2","title":"The History Of A 3-Digit Navy 1911 - Part 2","summary":"Part 1 is located here","date_modified":"2025-03-21T20:32:44Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/the-history-of-a-3-digit-navy-1911","html_content":"

The Colt Model of 1911 pistol, serial 570, was assembled in February of 1912 and shipped on March 9 to the General Storekeeper, Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY, as part of a 500-piece shipment. As specified by the Navy contract ...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/the-history-of-a-3-digit-navy-1911","title":"The History Of A 3-Digit Navy 1911 - Part 1","summary":"The Colt Model of 1911 pistol, serial 570, was assembled in February of 1912 and shipped on March 9 to the General Storekeeper, Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY, as part of a 500-piece shipment. As specified by the Navy contract ...","date_modified":"2025-02-23T10:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/connecting-the-dots---an-sts-marked-colt-1911","html_content":"

Colt Model of 1911 US Army, serial 85890, was assembled on June 1, 1914, and shipped on June 3. As part of a 550-piece shipment, it was sent to General George M. Cole at the State Arsenal, located in Hartford, CT.

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/connecting-the-dots---an-sts-marked-colt-1911","title":"Connecting The Dots - An S.T.S. Marked 1914 Colt 1911","summary":"Colt Model of 1911 US Army, serial 85890, was assembled on June 1, 1914, and shipped on June 3. As part of a 550-piece shipment, it was sent to General George M. Cole at the State Arsenal, located in Hartford, CT. ","date_modified":"2025-01-01T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/breaking-barriers---a-tuskegee-airman-and-his-m1911","html_content":"

Editor’s Note: This article was originally written by a Black Army Research member and published in the Summer 2023 quarterly issue of The Rampant Colt, the magazine of the Colt Collectors Association. It is reproduced h...

","url":"https://blackarmyresearch.com/articles/f/breaking-barriers---a-tuskegee-airman-and-his-m1911","title":"Breaking Barriers - A Tuskegee Airman And His M1911","summary":"Editor’s Note: This article was originally written by a Black Army Research member and published in the Summer 2023 quarterly issue of The Rampant Colt, the magazine of the Colt Collectors Association. It is reproduced h...","date_modified":"2023-06-03T09:00:00Z"}]}