KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Share #1 Posted July 18, 2007 I just got this " E-Cheap" lot in the mail today !!!! It is a fantastic grouping to a Naval Aviator who flew Avengers with Torpedo Squadron 87 off of the USS Ticonderoga . He earned the Navy Cross for his part in attacking the Japanese Battleship Hyuga at Kure Japan on July 24, 1945 . Earlier in the war he flew with VC-55 off of the USS Block Island and was present when she was sunk on May 29, 1944. The lot includes lots of items, but the highlights are his B-4 May West , 1942 dated Naval Aviator Certificate , Flight Helmet , and original VT-87 un-cut squadron patch . I feel very fortunate to be the caretaker of this lot and it also shows that cool items can still be found on " E-pay " without having to spend an arm and a leg. Here is his photo from the 1942 Pensacola Annual as an Aviation Cadet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted July 18, 2007 His B-4 is a US Navy contract issue , which is scarcer than AAF ones. This one is stencilled with his name and dated Nov 5, 1943 . His Flight Helmet is the tan cotton version and has seen lots of use. It still has all of the avionics . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted July 18, 2007 This is a close up of his Naval Aviator certificate from Pensacola . He earned his wings of gold in 1942 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted July 18, 2007 Share #4 Posted July 18, 2007 Nice Find, Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted July 18, 2007 This is a shipboard made squadron patch for VT-87 stencilled on canvas . It is uncut and was never sewn on a jacket. I bet it is scarcer than an Alamo Scouts patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted July 18, 2007 Here are entries from his Naval Aviator's Flight Logbook. The first picture is the certification of his flight time for the logbook that went down witht he USS Block Island in May 1944 The following pages have his combat entries from May to July 1945 including July 24, 1945 which was the day he earned the Navy Cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted July 18, 2007 Here is his copy of the CBI " Pointie Talkie " for use in China in case he was shot down, and his USN survival guide . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted July 18, 2007 Nice Find, Kurt! Thanks Bob! I am hoping to get the medals too! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted July 18, 2007 Share #9 Posted July 18, 2007 Kurt, That is a great grouping. And I think you are right about that squadron patch. Very nice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted July 18, 2007 Share #10 Posted July 18, 2007 Wow sweet grouping! it looks as if the flight helmet was adapted for the boom mic as you can see the bracket for it attached to the right ear cup. you made an interesting comment about the navy contract B-4's are scarcer which they are so I did some calculations from known navy contracts and knowing what a B-4 costs to manufacturer and came up with a figure of approximately 300,000 B-4 life preservers were manufactured from 1942-45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted July 18, 2007 Share #11 Posted July 18, 2007 Very complet and NICE group!!! Thank you for sharing Kurt!! Best regards, Ricardo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted July 18, 2007 Wow sweet grouping! it looks as if the flight helmet was adapted for the boom mic as you can see the bracket for it attached to the right ear cup.you made an interesting comment about the navy contract B-4's are scarcer which they are so I did some calculations from known navy contracts and knowing what a B-4 costs to manufacturer and came up with a figure of approximately 300,000 B-4 life preservers were manufactured from 1942-45 Hi Dustin Based on the contract number on the helmet, I think he may have been issued it post war . What do you think ? It looks like it has been through a war, but he stayed in the reserves and flew up to at least 1955 according to his logbook. I havent seen a USN issue B-4 sell on Ebay for a while. It would be interesting to see how much they run these days. I LOVE this one since it has his name stencilled on the front. That adds quite a bit to it . I'd rather have one like this than a minty fresh one that was never issued . Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted July 19, 2007 Share #13 Posted July 19, 2007 Kurt ,the helmet was contracted in april 1945 and completed in october 1945 so at best he was issued this helmet very late war but by the looks of it it saw much use so it seems he must have used this helmet considerably after the war ended but that could be storage gime also, especially if the helmet and vest was stored like on a shelf in a dusty shed,barn or garage and just tossed around for many many years and the other possibility would be children played with it which is probably the case with other items he brought home like flight jacket etc..which falls into typical stories you here from vets.IMO as for the vest I do not think the contractor makes much of a value difference they seem to sell for the same either AAC or USN as most people I do not think make that distinction but there is a difference on very early navy contracted vests especially when there is the USN stenciled on collar from what I have noticed as I do search life preservers regularly on Ebay.Now if yours had the USN on collar it would make it more desirable for example your vest on it's own might reach the average $125 mark but with USN on collar it might reach the $200 just little aspects like this change value considerably Also I think people want the MK-1 vest for thier navy displays over the B-4's.Your vest as two nice points it is credited with the grouping and the bonus of the name stencil, without the name and seperate from the grouping it is just a grimmy vest and a very good addition and unique to find in such a grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share #14 Posted July 20, 2007 Kurt ,the helmet was contracted in april 1945 and completed in october 1945 so at best he was issued this helmet very late war but by the looks of it it saw much use so it seems he must have used this helmet considerably after the war ended but that could be storage gime also, especially if the helmet and vest was stored like on a shelf in a dusty shed,barn or garage and just tossed around for many many years and the other possibility would be children played with it which is probably the case with other items he brought home like flight jacket etc..which falls into typical stories you here from vets.IMO as for the vest I do not think the contractor makes much of a value difference they seem to sell for the same either AAC or USN as most people I do not think make that distinction but there is a difference on very early navy contracted vests especially when there is the USN stenciled on collar from what I have noticed as I do search life preservers regularly on Ebay.Now if yours had the USN on collar it would make it more desirable for example your vest on it's own might reach the average $125 mark but with USN on collar it might reach the $200 just little aspects like this change value considerably Also I think people want the MK-1 vest for thier navy displays over the B-4's.Your vest as two nice points it is credited with the grouping and the bonus of the name stencil, without the name and seperate from the grouping it is just a grimmy vest and a very good addition and unique to find in such a grouping. Hi Dustin Thanks for your insight and info It certainly helps put each of these items in context as they relate to the grouping. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Cain Posted July 20, 2007 Share #15 Posted July 20, 2007 Nice pickup Kurt! I agree US Navy is very undervalued. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted July 20, 2007 Nice pickup Kurt! I agree US Navy is very undervalued.Gary I agree Gary! Here is a cool photo of VT-87 I found online Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted July 21, 2007 Share #17 Posted July 21, 2007 Very nice haul Kurt, yes USN is very much overlooked. Especially nice to a Navy Cross Winner. Please remember to look me up when you get to the Gopher State!! Kurt Barickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADMIN Posted July 21, 2007 Share #18 Posted July 21, 2007 GREAT find, Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share #19 Posted May 11, 2009 Just got copies of his medal citations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share #20 Posted May 11, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share #21 Posted May 11, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted May 11, 2009 Share #22 Posted May 11, 2009 Very nice! That really adds depth to the grouping. Can't beat having all that great info. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted May 12, 2009 Share #23 Posted May 12, 2009 What I can say: WOW!!!! You are a USN aviation grouping hunter!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 14, 2009 Share #24 Posted May 14, 2009 WOW, you sure have a habit of coming up with some terrific USN material! Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share #25 Posted April 13, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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