Belleauwood Posted September 16, 2011 Share #1 Posted September 16, 2011 For those of you who know me, this is not my field of expertise. However, that being said, it's hard to turn down a little group like this. I have known of the medal and jacket for a while now and I got the call today. Prior to my purchasing it however, I borrowed the medal and sent photos of the engraving on the DSC to several distinguished forum members to validate as to era and style/type. All confirmed in the affirmative. The pilot has "gone west" a few years ago, but gave this to a friend of mine when he was an older man. The wings trouble me somewhat but they were in the DSC Box with a single Army guilt button and an 8th AF patch. The Ike is beautiful. Below is his bio for the DSC. Pretty incredible. ANY comments, are welcome. I do not want to move something that is not 100%. DEGENARO, AUGUST V. Synopsis: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to August V. DeGenaro (0-79281), Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 14 July 1943, in the European Theater of Operations. While escorting bombers which attacked an airfield at Amiens, Second Lieutenant DeGenaro destroyed two FW-190s and damaged another. During combat, however, he was severely injured in both hands, his right knee and both ankles. Because of his injuries, he had to fly his Thunderbolt with his forearms. His instruments were shot out, his right aileron was gone, his right wing was badly shot up, and his tail surfaces were damaged. Although barely able to maneuver the plane, he found the English Channel and headed across, ducking into low clouds to evade three pursuing FW-190s which followed him almost to the British coast. He had planned on making a crash landing, but after crossing the coast he discovered his safety belt was unfastened (he had unhooked it in combat) and was unable to fasten it again because of his wounds. Realizing that baling out over land would mean his aircraft would crash into a coastal town, he headed out to sea again, baling out in view of a fishing boat which then rescued him. With great courage Lieutenant DeGenaro risked drowning rather than let his plane crash into a town. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant DeGenaro on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 58 (1943) Photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted September 16, 2011 2 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted September 16, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted September 16, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted September 16, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted September 16, 2011 Comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 16, 2011 Share #7 Posted September 16, 2011 Comments? Interesting that there is no Purple Heart here -- did he receive one? G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted September 16, 2011 Share #8 Posted September 16, 2011 This guy really had a time of it in the air.....almost sounds like MOH material...what a pilot. Beautiful find. +1 on the Purple Heart inquiry, wonder why it's not present..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted September 17, 2011 This guy really had a time of it in the air.....almost sounds like MOH material...what a pilot. Beautiful find. +1 on the Purple Heart inquiry, wonder why it's not present..... Other artifacts (many) are in the possession of the family. DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted September 17, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 17, 2011 Hi Dennis I love the cut of that uniform! I only have 2 concerns 1. The Purple Heart ribbon is not on the ribbon bar and if he was wounded when he earned the DSC I would expect to see both on the bar. 2. The DSC does not have his full name engraved on it. It is missing his middle initial and it would be there if the engraving were definately official. The engraving style is what I would expect to see in the 1950's. The engraving is not from WWII. It would be hand engraved if it were. Maybe he received the #d DSC in WWII and had it engraved himself later? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted September 17, 2011 Share #11 Posted September 17, 2011 :drool2: :drool2: :drool2: :drool2: :drool2: I think I just fainted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted September 17, 2011 Share #12 Posted September 17, 2011 I absolutely LOVE those custom tailored cut down jacket such as yours. Incredible grouping with an incredible story! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 17, 2011 Share #13 Posted September 17, 2011 Vey cool...love it!! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted September 17, 2011 Hi Dennis I love the cut of that uniform! I only have 2 concerns 1. The Purple Heart ribbon is not on the ribbon bar and if he was wounded when he earned the DSC I would expect to see both on the bar. 2. The DSC does not have his full name engraved on it. It is missing his middle initial and it would be there if the engraving were definately official. The engraving style is what I would expect to see in the 1950's. The engraving is not from WWII. It would be hand engraved if it were. Maybe he received the #d DSC in WWII and had it engraved himself later? Kurt Kurt, Your comment on the engraving is exactly as stated by other learned medal collectors here on the forum (late 40's to 1950's on the engraving). Your colleagues thought official 1950's engraving as well. The absence of the middle initial could be that the initial "V" could have been understood as the first syllable of "De" in DeGenaro. That would explain the spacing in the last name. - Just a thought. His wounds and hospitalization may have delayed the DSC award until later. Man, can I build a story! It is also my gut feeling that his other ribbon bars are with his other medals and that this one on the jacket is the lesser rack. These items are from his nephew and was given to him because he "liked to collect militaria". The other medals, photos, etc are with the other family members of which he has seen several years ago. This will wind up in the for sale section, most likely, at some point soon after I post additional shots of the interior of the jacket which is named. I really appreciate your input. Too bad it's not a WW1 pilot or Marine. It would definitely stay in the Belleauwood museum! Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted September 17, 2011 Share #15 Posted September 17, 2011 Dennis, Kurt et al, Just my 2 cents, many soldiers consider the Purple Heart an "enemy marksmen award" or "zigged when I should have zagged" so some did not wear it. Being a hot shot fighter pilot he may have opted to not wearing it when heading down to London to see the babes. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted September 17, 2011 Share #16 Posted September 17, 2011 Hi Dennis I love the cut of that uniform! I only have 2 concerns 1. The Purple Heart ribbon is not on the ribbon bar and if he was wounded when he earned the DSC I would expect to see both on the bar. 2. The DSC does not have his full name engraved on it. It is missing his middle initial and it would be there if the engraving were definately official. The engraving style is what I would expect to see in the 1950's. The engraving is not from WWII. It would be hand engraved if it were. Maybe he received the #d DSC in WWII and had it engraved himself later? Kurt While Kurt makes some good points, I would make the following observations- the absence of the Purple Heart ribbon does not concern me much at all as it is quite obvious that the uniform was worn with the ribbons that were important to the pilot. The DFC and Air Medal ribbons were ones that were easily recognized by fellow airmen as badges of distinction. This guy had been there, and done that. Sure, we as collectors would like to see all of the ribbons, but that really isn't the case with what you usually find coming right out of the woodwork. The most glaringly obvious thing to me as I look at the DSC is that this medal was origianlly manufactured with a wrap brooch! Obviously, the medal now has a slot brooch which makes me think that it is a 1950's (but probably more likely a 1960's) engraving and that the medal was "updated" to the slot brooch so that it would conform to the way other medals from the period would have looked. I think it is original engraving, just much later than WWII era engraving. The entire uniform and medal are great acquisitions! Nice find Dennis! Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #17 Posted September 17, 2011 I'll wrap this up with detail of the jacket. Many thanks for the comments. I learn much from this forum. I am posting this to the for sale section now that i'm satisfied of the legitimacy of the items. Knowing how I got it also helps. Jacket Details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted September 17, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #19 Posted September 17, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted September 17, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 17, 2011 Share #21 Posted September 17, 2011 Wow - that is REALLY cool. With all the stuff I've owned, I've never had a good WW2 uniform & medal DSC group. Something on the bucket list... Anyway, I love it...just one observation though. The Ike should have US Army buttons on it instead of the civilian buttons. My hunch is that the buttons were put on the jacket to "civilianize" it post-war (very common) and then the insignia was added when the nephew got it. It's not the end of the world, of course, but the jacket wouldn't have been worn on active duty like that. IF IT WERE ME, I'd be tempted to replace the buttons for display purposes...but I'm not sure if I'd ever get beyond just being tempted. I'd probably just leave it alone, but that's me. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted September 17, 2011 Share #22 Posted September 17, 2011 Hi Allan The copper colored brooch on that DSC is actually the correct brooch for that number. They went back to wrap brooches in a later numbered contract. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted December 30, 2011 Share #23 Posted December 30, 2011 I have to bump this one. Hands down the MOST beautiful USAAF grouping I have ever seen. This man was a true hero. Thank you for your service DeGenaro! May you rest in peace! :salute: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted December 23, 2016 Share #24 Posted December 23, 2016 Still in love with this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted December 24, 2016 Share #25 Posted December 24, 2016 Can we see the unit patch on this one?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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