30-30remchester Posted March 22, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 22, 2015 I seldom post, but sitting here alone as my wife is visiting our grandkids, I started a search online for the owner of a knife I have in my collection. I bought this knife over 25 years ago in a pawn shop in Grand Junction, Colorado. The knife is a plain vanilla type of homemade knife with a well built sheath. On the sheath an inscription reading " AAF Jack L. Zimmatore 0-782102". For years I have hit a brick wall researching the knife. I was and still am quite computer illiterate. Today I sat down and started again. Through dumb luck I got a whiff of a possible missing airman report with the same last name. Finally after several hours I have accumulated enough information to make a report. Jack was a P-38 pilot and stationed at Shemya air force base in Alaska. This is a small island near Attu. On July 22, 1946 Jack had just completed his required time and was scheduled to return home the following day. With permission he took one last flight in his P-38 with another pilot as a wingman to get photos of him flying his plane. Something went wrong and his plane nosed into the water 3 miles off a remote island. His body was never recovered. Finally I have completed a long quest. How this knife ended up in a Colorado pawn shop will never be known. If the forum is interested I can have my wife post a picture of the knife when she returns Wednesday. A written copy of my finding will be kept with this knife, so it will forever be a reminder of a lost airman. Goodnight Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillus Posted March 22, 2015 Share #2 Posted March 22, 2015 that is a sad story, but it is good that you know who the original owner was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted March 22, 2015 Share #3 Posted March 22, 2015 Awesome story. Would love to see a picture of the knife... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted March 22, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 22, 2015 Yes I would like to see the knife too. Thanks for sharing the story! Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles1966 Posted March 23, 2015 Share #5 Posted March 23, 2015 Likewise, good story all be it sad. Most likely, it's been quite a long time, since it's been told... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted March 23, 2015 Share #6 Posted March 23, 2015 Ditto on seeing the knife. Rest in peace flyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-30remchester Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted March 23, 2015 My misses will be home tomorrow and I will have her send pictures. As stated in my original post, I am quite tech challenged. Hell my laptop is so old it is a woodburner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdonzi Posted March 24, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 24, 2015 wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poch Posted March 25, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 25, 2015 Thank you for this interesting story. RIP Jack L. Zimmatore.I am looking forward seeing photo of this knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted March 25, 2015 Share #10 Posted March 25, 2015 Excellent story....I am glad you were able to identify him and his service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-30remchester Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted March 26, 2015 My wife is home and I have posted the pictures twice and they will not post. Can anyone assist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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