militbuff Posted December 12, 2018 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2018 I just picked up this vertical stabilizer from a ME109 tail. It even has a bullet hole in it. I purchased a whole group of items (USAAF uniforms and paperwork) directly from the son of a WWII vet who was a B24 pilot stationed in Italy during the war. He somehow had it shipped back with his gear! I figured it would be appreciated here since my wife and kids dont like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militbuff Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted December 12, 2018 Whole pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militbuff Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted December 12, 2018 Bullet hole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted December 12, 2018 Share #4 Posted December 12, 2018 OH HELL!! That is super cool. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEABEE SON Posted December 12, 2018 Share #5 Posted December 12, 2018 Incredible! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpstout Posted December 12, 2018 Share #6 Posted December 12, 2018 Double WOW!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted December 12, 2018 Share #7 Posted December 12, 2018 Now that is a relic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDermut99 Posted December 12, 2018 Share #8 Posted December 12, 2018 Amazing find! If only the veteran were still here to tell the story of how he got that shipped home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMarineCorps Posted December 12, 2018 Share #9 Posted December 12, 2018 That's the greatest thing I've seen in a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryant U. Posted December 12, 2018 Share #10 Posted December 12, 2018 Wow! Outstanding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militbuff Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted December 12, 2018 Thanks to all for the comments! Amazing find! If only the veteran were still here to tell the story of how he got that shipped home.Believe it or not, I think he shipped it home in a foot locker! Here is a customs declaration that states what he shipped home and on Line 24, it says Quantity 2 and then Italian Markings (?), Tail Old Plane. I have 2 of his foot lockers and neither would fit the tail, so maybe it came in a third. I did get an Italian Naval Helmet in MINT condition, two German sea flags with ropes and two Italian Sea flags also with ropes. But no Italian pistol or leather A2 jacket. These two must have disappeared over time. Ill show the helmet and flags later. The helmet is in such good condition I thought it was fake at first. Its amazing how well things can survive for 75 years when theyre in a trunk in an attic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbmilitaria Posted December 12, 2018 Share #12 Posted December 12, 2018 I agree that is one of the coolest bring back item I have seen in a long time. You must be living right!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 13, 2018 Share #13 Posted December 13, 2018 Well your wife probably appreciated you putting that blanket under it to protect that floor. I agree with everyone else - a great item. I suppose that stuff was spread all over Europe as the war ended and just considered junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted December 13, 2018 Share #14 Posted December 13, 2018 Man. This takes the cake. I have a cut swastika from a BF 109 the vet sent from Sicily...but this is incredible. What bomb group was he with in Italy? It wasn't the 454th by chance was it? Thanks, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nack Posted December 13, 2018 Share #15 Posted December 13, 2018 Ha! What a souvenir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted December 13, 2018 Share #16 Posted December 13, 2018 Forgot to mention how awesome it is to have the paperwork and other artifacts to go with it. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navybean Posted December 13, 2018 Share #17 Posted December 13, 2018 Wow that is cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIBuff1945 Posted December 13, 2018 Share #18 Posted December 13, 2018 WOW that vet sure brought back a lot of items!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted December 13, 2018 Share #19 Posted December 13, 2018 Nice item. Please also add this to a thread on our new World Militaria Forum along with any other foreign items you may have picked up. We want to build up content on that Forum as well. Thanks! http://www.worldmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/forum/57-military-aircraft-aviation/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted December 13, 2018 Share #20 Posted December 13, 2018 Simply incredible! It is wholly and fully appreciated, here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militbuff Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share #21 Posted December 13, 2018 Man. This takes the cake. I have a cut swastika from a BF 109 the vet sent from Sicily...but this is incredible. What bomb group was he with in Italy? It wasn't the 454th by chance was it? Thanks, Paul He was with the 450th bomb group, 772nd Bomb Squadron, a B24 group. Whats cool is he was a Lt. Col. as you can see in the document. Im not sure where they flew out of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militbuff Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share #22 Posted December 13, 2018 Nice item. Please also add this to a thread on our new World Militaria Forum along with any other foreign items you may have picked up. We want to build up content on that Forum as well. Thanks! http://www.worldmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/forum/57-military-aircraft-aviation/ Ill be sure to do that this weekend. Its nice to put them up for posterity sake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted December 13, 2018 Share #23 Posted December 13, 2018 Really cool war trophy! The bullet hole adds even more character! Fank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted December 14, 2018 Share #24 Posted December 14, 2018 I also meant to note that the WK 18582 is the Werk Nummer, or Work Number I believe. It was a number that identified this specific aircraft. See page 305 in the following on-line version of German Aircraft Industry and Production, 1933 to 1945. https://books.google.com/books?id=Elfmh6eJFrMC&pg=PA303&lpg=PA303&dq=messerschmitt+109+work+number+list&source=bl&ots=wowcvQu-pe&sig=Xl3XHOlUKjmXRxH1IR9KEyfHIk8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj688SP-ZvfAhUq7IMKHVMtAvM4ChDoATABegQICBAB#v=snippet&q=messerschmitt%20109%20werk%20number&f=false Unfortunately complete lists of WK numbers apparently do not exist, but the book holds out the possibility of partial lists. You might do some digging to see if someone can trace down more information on this particular aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted December 14, 2018 Share #25 Posted December 14, 2018 This is one of the most amazing things I have seen on here in a long time! What an incredible bring back. Would love to know how he was able to ship it back with his "haul" of booty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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