WWII Possible Official Engraving AIR MEDAL to BRIG GEN

[KASTAUFFER]

I just acquired this unusual Air Medal. It was un-reasearched when I bought it.

 

In the last few days I took a stab at researching it andf found it was awarded on War Dept GO # 25 1946. My experience with medals awarded on WD GO's is that almost always they are officially engraved by the PQMD.

 

This one is engraved in official format in a hand I recognize, but has U.S.A. instead of A.C. My thought is because he was a Brig. General, it was engraved with US ARMY instead of AC.

 

What do you all think?

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave]

That's fantastic! A thought...did general officers switch from "Air Corps" to "US Army" when they became a GO? Since AC is a branch, it would make sense, kind of like it would be unusual to find a GO that was branched, say, FA or something like that. This was one of the reasons the branch insignia were removed when someone was promoted from COL to BG, with only a couple of exceptions, the most notable were the GOs who remained in their branch as the Chief of "X", and thus retained their branch insignia. Otherwise, it was removed and they were "just" a GO.

 

I could be wrong, but it's a thought and it could explain why this was done. I haven't seen any officially engraved posthumous AMs or DFCs to GOs to compare it to, unfortunately (the only posthumous GO awards I've seen are PHs and DSMs...if anyone has a posthumous DFC or AM to a GO from WW2, it would be interesting to see to compare it with this one to see if it has a branch designation or just USA. And yes, I am aware the OP's AM is not a posthumous award, but in my opinion, it's officially engraved still.)

I'm a big fan of this medal!

[Pete-o MSU]

Very interesting medal! Was Nathan Bedford Forrest III awarded a DFC or AM? I remember seeing his PH and DSC. He is the only General I can think of off the top of my head who was KIA and medals I have seen.

[KASTAUFFER]

I just acquired his Brazilian Order Of The Southern Cross Medal presented to him in 1939 for his participation in the B-17 Goodwill Flight Tour to Brazil

 

 

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

 

[KASTAUFFER]

I was able to reunite the majority of the group with help! It has shaped up into a nice grouping.

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

[KASTAUFFER]

 

[CNY Militaria]

I have a WWII DFC engraved to a USAAF Brigadier General, the engraving also ends with "USA" instead of "A.C."

[kanemono]

Here is a named GCM to a 507th PIR, 82nd AB, D-Day which is engraved by the same person.

[KASTAUFFER]

I have a WWII DFC engraved to a USAAF Brigadier General, the engraving also ends with "USA" instead of "A.C."

 

Very cool! Reinforces the fact Officially named DFCs/AMs to Generals should say USA and not AC, INF, FA ETC.

 

Kurt