62nd Fighter Squadron Sign - WWII

[Steindaddie]

Dave Schilling was a CO of the 62nd during WW2 and I am guessing this hung outside his office. Pretty cool piece if you are a P-47 fan !

 

On the back is the manufacturer's name in Cambridge England. I found this at a Florida flea market a few years ago. Looks real to me !

 

Will

[Lee Ragan]

The 62nd is still alive and well today. I believe they are now a Tactical Fighter Training Sqd. or maybe just a Tac. Fighter Sqd. Can't remember where they are now stationed but it may be at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

Back in the 60's the 62nd was a Fighter Interceptor Squadron stationed at K.I. Sawyer AFB Michigan as a tenant unit. I was in the 410th Supply Sqd. at the time (SAC), and remember the 62nd well as their area of the base was close to where I worked. I even got to get a back seat ride in one of the three T-33's they had at the time. Then the 62nd flew F-101B Voodoo interceptors as part of the old Air Defense Command. Over at the 62nd's Ops building they had a large display of old photos taken in WWII when they were in the UK as part of the 56th Fighter Group. Photos of all the aces like Schilling, Bob Johnson and others I can't remember now were on display. Their patch design of a bulldog in boxing gloves and leather aviators helmet with scarf dated from WWII, and they still to this day, use a variation of that patch.

A sign like this is really a neat piece to have in your collection. I LIKE it!! I think old military signs of all kinds can really add to a collection & display.

[Teamski]

You need to verify it's authenticity. If it is original, you have a massively historic article there. Schilling's Manor was a farmhouse on Halesworth when the 56th FG was there before their move to Boxted. That is a really cool sign! Somehow, you need to get it verified.

 

-Ski

[Steindaddie]

Ski - thanks for the info ! With that in hand, I just emailed the Halesworth museum and hopefully they can give me some additional information.

 

Will

[JERRY COBB]

The 62nd is now designated as a Fighter Squadron and is stationed at Luke AFB, AZ. For more info about the squadron check the link below.

 

 

http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_...ges/0062fs.html

 

 

Hope this helps.

[Teamski]

Makes you wonder if the the sign was for the 62nd "Hooch" bar recently (post-1991). Fighter Squadrons do this sort of thing for the novelty of it. Definately worth the research.....

 

-Ski

[Steindaddie]

Makes you wonder if the the sign was for the 62nd "Hooch" bar recently (post-1991). Fighter Squadrons do this sort of thing for the novelty of it. Definately worth the research.....

 

-Ski

 

Well, the "few years ago" I got it was 1987 (Funny how 20 years turns in to only "a few" the older we get)

 

It was old then, in a broken dusty frame.

 

Will

[Teamski]

Well that rules that out!

 

-Ski

[Croix de Guerre]

Very Cool! Please let us know what you find out!

[Steindaddie]

With the urgings of fellow forum members, (thanks, boys) I did my research, fired off numerous emails, and made a phone call or two. Photos of the sign in question were examined by the Chairman of the RAF Boxted Airfield Historical Group in the UK. Boxted of course was once home to the 62nd Fighter Squadron.

 

He has confirmed that the sign was in fact once the property of Lt. Col. Dave Schilling, CO of the 62nd. It hung outside his door in an old English manor home that the unit used while based at RAF Halesworth in 1943. The man who confirmed this went on to say that Schilling was a colorful character. I quote: "Very charismatic character, loved being the centre of attention, liked the ladies ...and this sign highlighted his headquarters...another way of highlighting his self importance..."

 

Schilling scored 22.5 kills and was one of the top American aces in the ETO. He was killed in the crash of his sports car in 1956.

[Teamski]

Excellent! Um....how much do you want for it?

 

Anyways, you have a real important piece. By the way, I used to drive by Schilling's accident site everyday going to work at RAF Mildenhall. He hit a concrete pole on a small bridge between Mildenhall and Lakenheath. Talking to a retired SMSgt ex-patriot who was there when it happened, Dave was pretty drunk at the time. He went on to tell me that a good number of wartime pilots went on to be alcoholics afterwards. His squadron commander was a real lush.

 

A real sad end to one hell of a pilot.

 

-Ski

[Wailuna]

My wife was an Air Force brat living at Smoky Hill AFB, Kansas, when It was renamed Schilling AFB in 1957. Though probably an unrelated coincidence, there was a "Schilling Manor" at this base as well. After Schilling AFB closed in the mid-1960s, the Army was given the mission of operating the base family housing area for dependents of service personnel in Vietnam. Schilling Manor Sub­Post (of Ft. Riley) was formally established in January 1967 to provide housing for the "Waiting Wives" program until about 1970.

[Dave Schilling]

Good evening. My name is Dave Schilling. I saw the post you made about 10 years ago concerning a sign that once belonged to my Grandfather, Colonel Dave Schilling. I was wondering if you would be willing to sell it to me. Please contact me at your earliest convenience if you are interested.