KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 18, 2011 I saw this group on E-cheap a couple weeks ago with a bad description and horrible pictures, but I knew I had to take a chance and bid on it. I could tell from the pics the DFC had to be numbered even though the description didnt say it was. I also didnt ask the seller if it was numbered, because I didnt want then to post it so everyone else would know too. This DFC was awarded in 1943 to a Gunner with the 345th Bomb Squadron, 98th Bomb Group who flew 35 missions between 1942-1943 ona B-24 named " The Chief" . He did not make the Ploesti mission however. The DFC is numbered and unoficially named and the Air Medal is oficially hand engraved. The lot also had his wings which and he put a sticker on the back with his name. A buddy of mine has GO#1 of 1943 from the US Army in the Middle East. This man's 1st Air Medal award is listed in it. The GO also has the medal numbers recorded in it for the DFCs awarded to everyone. They were all in the 5400 range. This one is DFC # 5418 . His DFC is not in that GO because his DFC was not awarded until February 1943. GO#1 is dated January 1, 1943. These DFCs were hand engraved prior to presentation ( according to annotations in the GO ). This almost looks like USN style engraving! I had to share this one, because of how cool it looks. Once I get the GO, I will post more information Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted February 18, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted February 18, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted February 18, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 18, 2011 Kurt.......Is this one now FIRMLY in your hands?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted February 18, 2011 Kurt.......Is this one now FIRMLY in your hands?? I am holding it now. Ive learned my lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted February 18, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 18, 2011 Too bad the AAF didn't engrave all their DFS's like this! Best Salmon catch I've seen in awhile. (I bet the label on the reverse of the wings came off of some sort of food tin.) Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted February 18, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 18, 2011 I am holding it now. Ive learned my lesson. I'm VERY Happy for you ........it's a beautiful medal!! :bravo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted February 18, 2011 and the DFC is not in FS condition :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted February 18, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2011 I'm sure you'll hear from Frank!! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted February 18, 2011 update from my buddy on the GO "Interestingly, the numbers are all over the place from around 3900 to 5600. The note says "Medals requisitioned for engraving 2-20-43 except those MIA or Deceased" It also looks like some guys got their before that date, so maybe their's were not engraved.? The medal number of the DFC my buddy owns is 5406 Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegsmodell Posted February 18, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 18, 2011 Kurt.......Is this one now FIRMLY in your hands?? I am holding it now. Ive learned my lesson. I guess there's an inside joke or private story here. Either of you care to enlighten the rest of us poor uninformed souls? Or are we just left to try and decypher these quips on our own ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted February 18, 2011 Kurt.......Is this one now FIRMLY in your hands?? I am holding it now. Ive learned my lesson. I guess there's an inside joke or private story here. Either of you care to enlighten the rest of us poor uninformed souls? Or are we just left to try and decypher these quips on our own ...... I posted a group after it had shipped FEDEX, before I had it in my hands and the seller HAD IT RETURNED to them. It got to my door and the Fedex guy said," sorry I have to send it back, the sender requested it" ! I got refunded. The seller said the family wanted it back. Arghhhhh Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted February 18, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 18, 2011 Nice one Kurt! Beautiful engraving on the DFC! COngratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegsmodell Posted February 18, 2011 Share #14 Posted February 18, 2011 I posted a group after it had shipped FEDEX and before I had it in my hands and the seller HAD IT RETURNED to them. It got to my door and the Fedex guy said," sorry I have to send it back, the sender requested it" ! Arghhhhh Kurt Ouch, my word what a turn of events. A buyer's nightmare. I've worried about those kinds of things myself! A great group here Kurt, thanks for sharing. Love the engraving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted February 18, 2011 Share #15 Posted February 18, 2011 It got to my door and the Fedex guy said," sorry I have to send it back, the sender requested it" ! I got refunded. The seller said the family wanted it back. Can they do that? I know they refunded you but they can return it before you get it? I have never heard of that....Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted February 18, 2011 Can they do that? I know they refunded you but they can return it before you get it? I have never heard of that....Kat They sure can with FEDEX. The person whose account is used to send it has total control until its signed for. I found out the hard way. USPS doesnt have that " feature". Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted February 18, 2011 Share #17 Posted February 18, 2011 ............USPS doesnt have that " feature".Kurt Actually......I've been told that USPS has that feature also. If it's "traceable" it's not yours until it is delivered!! Maybe a phone call is in order! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted February 18, 2011 Share #18 Posted February 18, 2011 Nice pickup Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank_Smith Posted February 18, 2011 Share #19 Posted February 18, 2011 Yep. That group is one of my all-time favorates. Just think, I only had to pay the seller $500 more than you originally "bought" it for. Thanks for letting me know about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted February 18, 2011 Yep. That group is one of my all-time favorates. Just think, I only had to pay the seller $500 more than you originally "bought" it for. Thanks for letting me know about it! Nice buddy! Is it in FS condition? Here is a DFC group I bought earlier this year to a POW from the 98th BG who was captured in Dec 1942 and his DFC was also awarded on GO #1 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...7278&hl=dfc Interesting enough, his DFC number was not listed on the GO because he was MIA at the time and his NOK was sent an officially named DFC. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted February 18, 2011 Share #21 Posted February 18, 2011 Another great pick-up, good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share #22 Posted February 18, 2011 Another great pick-up, good job! Thanks Dexter I like to call Ebay E-Cheap in response to those who call it E-Ripoff , E-Fake , E-Pay ETC. There is good stuff out there. You just have to be persistant when looking for it and not be afraid to take a chance once in a while when there is a bad pic or description. If I had asked " is it numbered" and the seller posted my question, I never would have gotton it for the price it did, not to mention the engraving. You couldnt even see it in the pic. Lots of people want it handed to them on a platter with a good description and a good pic. I will take the bad pics and description any day!!! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted February 18, 2011 Share #23 Posted February 18, 2011 Beautiful medaL, Kurt!.....See you at SoS. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share #24 Posted February 19, 2011 Beautiful medaL, Kurt!.....See you at SoS. Bob See you there too Bob! Found some pics of the veteran and his crew: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share #25 Posted February 20, 2011 you can see the engraving better when you inverse the image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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