CNY Militaria Posted April 11, 2018 Share #1 Posted April 11, 2018 Remarkable group from one of the first airmen to bomb Europe, S/Sgt and later Lt. Wayne W. Hart who was in the 306th Bomb Group during his first tour and the 381st BG on his second. He began flying missions as an Aerial Gunner in early Fall 1942, completing the twenty required ones and earning three Air Medals. He became a gunnery instructor in England, and was later commissioned a Lieutenant, becoming an Aerial Observer. He flew nine more missions as an officer, for a total of 29. On April 23, 1945, while flying from England to Ireland on R&R, his plane crashed on the Isle of Man killing all 31 service members on board. His two brothers also served in the Army, Lester in the 69th Infantry Division and Gaylord in the 97th Infantry Division. The group contains a ton of original material from all three brothers to include the following highlights: -Slot Broach Purple Heart (not named/numbered) -RARE Air Medal Numbered 59! One of the first awarded in WWII. -English made Aircrew Wings -Sterling Observer Wings -Enlisted Dog Tags -Four Bomb pins/tags -Shrapnel pulled out of his plane -Throat Mic -Colorized Framed Photo of Lt. Hart -Large group of censored letters from him to his parents, from both tours. -Group of Letters from both brothers home -ORIGINAL Gen. Hap Arnold Signed condolence letter to the family -ALL THREE 1943 dated ORIGINAL Citation Documents for each Air Medal he received (So early that other awardees on the list include Curtis LeMay and Leon Johnson (MOH)) -Telegrams to family about returning his body to the US -Original certificates, discharges, promotions, etc. -Large box of condolence letters and sympathy cards from hid death -RARE original framed photo of him wearing early Aviation S/Sgt rank and wings with the short lived "AG" letters in the center. -Original flight mission records -Original German propaganda leaflet dropped from the air -Baby photo and baby book detailing his childhood -Misc. Booklets, papers, etc. I read through about a dozen letters and he is very careful about what he says due to the censor. I did find an interesting excerpt below written on Dec 22, 1942, where he disregards the censor and says what he wants about the war. “I am still with the same crew and hope I can stay with them. The censor will probably cut some of this out, but if he does, he does. I have seen a lot of France and it looks peaceful from the air. I frosted my finger a little the other day and they are a little sore but they will be all right in a few days. 42 below zero is a lot of cold. When Sherman said that war was hell he certainly didn’t miss it a bit but still we don’t see the worst of it. You probably read in the paper about what we do and worry about me but don’t worry because worry does no good and there isn’t much to worry about. We are doing a good job on Hitler’s wonderful fighters. I think that he is getting down to the end of his rope but he can still injure us.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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CNY Militaria Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted April 11, 2018 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted April 11, 2018 Share #9 Posted April 11, 2018 Amazing grouping! Would be an honor to have a grouping like that to display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted April 11, 2018 Share #10 Posted April 11, 2018 This is a very nice grouping! Thank you for sharing!Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted April 11, 2018 Share #11 Posted April 11, 2018 man this is absolute fantastic Justin - congrats -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decwriter Posted April 12, 2018 Share #12 Posted April 12, 2018 That's a top-notch Air Corps grouping! The early AM, paperwork, and flight logs are awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted April 12, 2018 Share #13 Posted April 12, 2018 Spectacular group! So sad to die on an R&R flight accident so close to the end of the war in Europe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted April 13, 2018 Share #14 Posted April 13, 2018 That is a remarkable group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted April 13, 2018 Share #15 Posted April 13, 2018 Heart breaking. Glad his story has been kept together. Thanks for sharing it with us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY Militaria Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share #16 Posted April 17, 2018 Thanks for all of the comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibertyDivision Posted July 11, 2018 Share #17 Posted July 11, 2018 Womderful grouping you found here ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Will_ Posted July 22, 2018 Share #18 Posted July 22, 2018 Fantastic grouping! Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packratt713 Posted July 29, 2018 Share #19 Posted July 29, 2018 Very Nice Grouping!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVR Posted August 18, 2018 Share #20 Posted August 18, 2018 Very nice grouping, waauw... I see his wing has the blue backing but wasn't that normally done for a Fighter Pilot? Or am i wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted August 18, 2018 Share #21 Posted August 18, 2018 No, the 8th and 9th alike used the blue back for bomber as well as fighter pilots. The crew of the rest of the bomber would likely use it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted August 21, 2018 Share #22 Posted August 21, 2018 An amazing group...congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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