Mark1 Posted December 3, 2010 Share #1 Posted December 3, 2010 Just picked up a grouping of medals and insignia from R. E. Nelson - V-5 training pin, hallmark Bailey, Banks and Biddle sterling - 2 Lieutenant Jr. rank, hallmark Hilborn and Hamburg sterling - pilot wings, hallmark Amico 1/20 10K gold - officer cap device, hallmark Vanguard sterling and 1/20 10k gold - Distinguished Flying Cross, full wrap brooch with lapel button - Air Medal with 2 stars, full wrap brooch with lapel button - ribbons: 2 Distinguished Flying Cross 1 Air Medal 1 Air Medal with 2 stars 1 Asiatic Pacific Campaign with 2 stars 1 American Campaign 1 World War II Victory 1 Navy President Unit Citation with star 1 Philippine Liberation I'm looking for more Information about this pilot, here is what I know R. E. Nelson flew a F6F-3 or F6F-5 Hellcats For VF-40 (Flying Boars) off of the USS Suwanee (CVL-27) Escort Carrier Group 40 here is a card that came with the grouping thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 3, 2010 Share #2 Posted December 3, 2010 Very nice ! Lets see more pics. I have a KIA group to a pilot KIA with VF-40 over Rabaul. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted December 4, 2010 here are the medals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted December 4, 2010 the insignia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted December 4, 2010 ribbons all the ribbons are the 1/2 inch wide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted December 4, 2010 ribbon rack all the ribbons are the 1/2 inch wide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted December 4, 2010 hat device Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted December 4, 2010 Share #8 Posted December 4, 2010 Your man's unit title/number should read VF-4 not "40" the "Boars" were numbered "4" at the time he was with them , just wanted to let you know . Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted December 4, 2010 Your man's unit title/number should read VF-4 not "40" the "Boars" were numbered "4" at the time he was with them , just wanted to let you know .Johnny National Naval Aviation Mueseum this photo has Lt. Commander Longino and VF-40 off of the Escort Carrier Suwannee. Is that the commanding officer that is on this card? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bebel Posted December 5, 2010 Share #10 Posted December 5, 2010 I have a VF-40 pilot's grouping. In one of his logbooks, the name 'Longino' is mentioned some times as passenger and pilot in 1946 at NAS Vero Beach (Night Fighter School). James C. Longino Jr was commanding VF-40 until April 1945. He became CAG-40 commander when CAG-40 Lcdr Sampson was shot down. Next assignation was NAS Vero Beach. The VF-40 took part in Okinawa and Borneo battles on USS Suwannee. The squadron was disestablished in Nov. 1945. Sorry, I do not find any Nelson's mention in the log. Franck Air Group 40 before the 1945 Pacific campaign. Lcdr Sampson was killed at the beginning (4/4/1945). Lcdr Robinson was the CAG-25 commander. Other pilots are mentioned who were shot down, not from VF-40 but from VT-40 (friends from the vet?) Two pages from the 1943/1950 logbook (note the Ernie Pyle's death mention) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bebel Posted December 5, 2010 Share #11 Posted December 5, 2010 National Naval Aviation Mueseum this photo has Lt. Commander Longino and VF-40 off of the Escort Carrier Suwannee. Is that the commanding officer that is on this card? Mark The grouping I have is from W.H. Neal who is sitting at the left of Lcdr Longino on the NAM photo. Franck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted December 5, 2010 Share #12 Posted December 5, 2010 Well I guess thier emblem must have progressed from VF-4 to 40 later on , I have always seen it listed as VF-4 with the Boars head etc . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted December 6, 2010 I haven't found hardly any info about R.E. Nelson, just know he was a Pilot with VT-40. put his awards and insignia in an frame and put in to the collection Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted December 6, 2010 Very nice ! Lets see more pics. I have a KIA group to a pilot KIA with VF-40 over Rabaul. Kurt while looking for info on R.E. Nelson (still nothing) found some info on VF-40 over Rabaul -1/1/44 LTJR F.G. Dumphy F6F-3 (09005) shot down over Rabaul, missing in action -1/14/44 LTJG A.J. Baranouski F6F-3 (08855) shot down over Rabaul -1/14/44 LTJG T.J. Burton F6F-3 (25880) shot down over Rabaul -1/14/44 ENS K.P. Babkirk F6F-3 (26031) shot down over Rabaul, missing in action -1/22/44 ENS W.L. Simmons F6F-3 (42277) shot down over Rabaul Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bebel Posted December 7, 2010 Share #15 Posted December 7, 2010 Okinawa campaign VF-40 losts: ENS GEORGE W. WARNER 4/1/45 LCDR RICHARD D. SAMPSON (CAG-40 commander) 4/4/45 LTJG JOHN M. MOLSBERGEN 4/17/45 LT ROBERT S. ROTH 4/23/45 LTJG GEORGE W. WARNER 5/11/45 (second time!) LTJG DENNINGS 5/11/45 LTJG MAXWELL F. DENMAN 5/28/45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 7, 2010 Share #16 Posted December 7, 2010 while looking for info on R.E. Nelson (still nothing) found some info on VF-40 over Rabaul -1/1/44 LTJR F.G. Dumphy F6F-3 (09005) shot down over Rabaul, missing in action -1/14/44 LTJG A.J. Baranouski F6F-3 (08855) shot down over Rabaul -1/14/44 LTJG T.J. Burton F6F-3 (25880) shot down over Rabaul -1/14/44 ENS K.P. Babkirk F6F-3 (26031) shot down over Rabaul, missing in action -1/22/44 ENS W.L. Simmons F6F-3 (42277) shot down over Rabaul Mark It is Babkirk whose group I own. He also flew briefly with VF-17. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Sgt CES Posted December 29, 2010 Share #17 Posted December 29, 2010 Great wide Ribbon Bar !!!---Blue Skies 1st Sgt CES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted January 10, 2011 Figured out who the VF-40 pilot is Rubin E. Nelson, going through a ton of his paperwork and finding tons of info Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #19 Posted January 10, 2011 Figured out who the VF-40 pilot is Rubin E. Nelson, going through a ton of his paperwork and finding tons of info Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted January 10, 2011 Group photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #21 Posted January 10, 2011 VF-40 Team 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #22 Posted January 10, 2011 A record for ship's landings from Air Group 40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share #23 Posted January 11, 2011 Rubin E. Nelson also flew F6F-3's and F6F-5's for VF-98, VF-100, VF-99 Team 11 off the USS Attu and VF-40 Team 5 off the USS Suwannee. here is another set of wings. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bebel Posted January 11, 2011 Share #24 Posted January 11, 2011 Interesting to know who was this man and nice to share your infos. I do not have many informations nor photos from William "Bill" Neal when he was in VF-40. Do you have any info or photo from him in your docs? On this one you shown, we do not see very well faces of pilots. Would it be possible to have a biggest copy? Thank you for sharing. Franck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share #25 Posted January 11, 2011 Interesting to know who was this man and nice to share your infos. I do not have many informations nor photos from William "Bill" Neal when he was in VF-40. Do you have any info or photo from him in your docs? On this one you shown, we do not see very well faces of pilots. Would it be possible to have a biggest copy?Thank you for sharing. Franck Lieutenant William H. Neal III was from Shreveport, Louisiana. in the group photo from left to right he is the fourth airman in the front row. Nelson is the airman in the front row all the way on the right. Neal was with the VF-40 from 6/44 to 8/45. Neal could have been in the squadron earlier. There was 6 teams of 5 airman and I think he was a Team leader, can't figure out which one yet. There is a lot of paperwork to go through maybe his name is in there. Here is a photo of him. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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