WW2 Books, Paper & Photos
Here are 3 framed Certificates to Admiral Berton Aldrich Robbins Jr. who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1931. He was awarded the following WW2 Decorations, The Navy Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star with combat V, Navy Commendation Medal with combat V, the Purple Heart and various Campaign Medals. He retired as a Rear Admiral on November 1, 1959 after serving for 29 years. The Pre-WW2 Certificates are from the USS Portland CA-33 in 1936 and the USS Kitty DD-137 in 1939 while he was still a Lieutenant. The WW2 Certificate is from the USS Leutze DD-481 while he was a Commander. During WW2, Robbins received the Navy Cross on this ship for actions at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He also received a Silver Star for actions on the same ship. Great looking grouping. I can take the certificates out of the frames to cut down on shipping costs if you wish.
How often do you see a "Neptune Certificate" for an Airman for crossing the Atlantic Ocean? It has a copyright of Dec. 1943 and is in unissued condition. Although it has been folded in quarters, it displays very well and the folds really do not affect the overall look. It was printed in Roanoke Va. by "Hylton Mfg. Co.". It would look fantastic framed under glass.
A really neat photograph book on the sights of Switzerland while on leave there. Published in Zurich, measures 8 1/2" by 11 3/4", with 178 pages and the cardboard mailer. There is also enclosed a Special Orders sheet with 9th AAF personnel going on leave and a Lt. Col. Zapponi's name marked with red pencil. All for one money.
Never saw one of these before! It is in book form, hardcover, but the pages lift vertical. Put out by, "Foreign Languages Publishing House - Moscow". Well over 100 pages and in rather nice condition. Not only has calendar dates, but filled with pictures of Russian military notables, Soviet Hero's, stories, text, etc. A really neat item and in English!!
Here is a fantastic hardcover book on the 1939 Massachusetts National Guard, 26th Division. It belonged to Alfred V. Weiss of the 101st QM Regt. This book is 473 pages of photo's and rosters of all the men, including ranks and officers of the entire division in 1939. There are photos of all the armories and history of all the individual units within the division. For a reference book, "it don't get any better"!!!
This is a color photo, signed by the owner, "Don Davidson" former mayor of Nashua, NH sometime during 1982 to 1990, when he raced it in air races - #27. The serial number is 44-72483 and it served with the 354th Fighter Sq of the 355th Fighter Group during WW2. It was eventually sold to a Swiss Museum.
I found these while going through many of my family photo's some time ago and now thought to move them to someone's collection, rather than sit in a box that only I look at. My father, Edward H. Fleck was 1st Sgt. of "G" Company, 501st Regt., 101st A/B Division. Since my father kept these photo's, I can only assume that they were some of his buddies from the 501st. and probably from "G" Company. One has the name "Manuel" on front and back, while another was named "Paul Kramer" from Reading, Pa. These are some really neat photo's of real paratroopers. On my home page is a photo of my father.
When do you see these? A certificate to a worker in the Office of Scientific Research and Development, dated March 1945. Elmer H. Scheibe was an Electrical Engineer and interesting enough, his wife, Hildegarde M. Scheibe was a German teacher who during WW2, worked for the OSS as a German translator until V-E Day. A neat seldom seen document and I will include all of the other research I found.
Here is a super book on Identification of Japanese Merchant and War Ships in 1941-42. The book is filled with over 100 pages of photographs, silhouette's and drawings of Japanese Shipping. This ID book has the original cover/box for these pages. If your into the Japanese Navy and Merchant Fleet, this is the reference book for you. The binding tape on the cover/box is torn in spots, but everything else is excellent.
The title is, "Courage And Devotion Beyond The Call Of Duty". This is the preliminary edition, November, 1944, of a partial record of official citations to medical officers in the US Armed Forces during WW2. The book has 254 pages and if your into the Medical Corps, this is a must have book for you.
Here are two nice 8" X 10" reprint photo's of the B-24/F7BJ "Dear Mrs Mayfield" of the 4th Photo Mapping Sq., 1st Photographic Group. The photo's show both sides of the aircraft, as the left side is marked with the 4th Map Sq. insignia and another painting of a GI on a crutch "And How!" This photo has all the crewmen named and I will send a copy of them with the photos.
A real neat 4 1/2" by 6 1/2" photograph of two GI's on a tractor. The GI on the left is riding shotgun while the other is the operator of the tractor. Take a good look at his patch, as it almost looks like a MTS patch. The photograph is 100% better than my feeble attempt to try to get a good pic of it for this description. Great resolution on the photo and nicely framed.