Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Share #1 Posted February 27, 2012 I was pretty tied up with the Dover Army/Navy table for the entire show. Thanks to all those who dropped by the table. It was a real pleasure to meet all of you! Anyways, on one of my trips to the bathroom, I saw this group and knew it had everything I would want in a group like this. I was thrilled I got it considering what other groups were out there at the same price range. This grouped belonged to Colonel Hugh Mahoney, Navigator, 23rd BS, 42nd BS and Group Navigator for the 498th BG. Here are the bare facts: Born in 1918 Aviation Cadet 1940 At Pearl Harbor during attack with 23rd BS...Flew sorties out of Pearl Harbor in search of Japanese fleet (B-17's) Assigned to 42nd BS during Midway. Awarded SS for action during that period. Assigned 498th BG....Recieved PH for ditching and 5 days alone in a raft (featured in chapter 14 of Journey of the Giants) Received Mao Chi medal in 1947 as part of the US advisory group in China. Served in Korea Retired with LM in 1970 Came with a good amount of original and photocopied paperwork and photos/ articles. Everything verified. Silver Star a numbered BBB example officially named with matching numbered box. LM a wrapped brooch, officially named. No other medals named. As far as I know, he is still alive. I was able to find another photo of him and his crew in 1942. Pilot at the time was Captain Wuertele. Complete records for the 42nd are available online, so I need to print them out. Who ever had the group before me did a lot already. He/she photocopied all of the GO's for the medals, so that helps a lot! I'm pretty sure the naming on the SS is official. Any comments welcome. Thanks for looking! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #2 Posted February 27, 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #7 Posted February 27, 2012 .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted February 27, 2012 ............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted February 27, 2012 Share #11 Posted February 27, 2012 Nice group Ski.Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted February 27, 2012 Here is the Silver Star authorization. He is listed on a further page.... Thanks for looking! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Nier Posted February 27, 2012 Share #13 Posted February 27, 2012 Truly a superb group, especially with his participation at Midway. Would you let me know the number on his BB&B Silver Star? Thanks, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #14 Posted February 27, 2012 Here is the original Legion of Merit citation. Compare this one to ones written today. This is old skool USAF! I have his original USAF Commendation Medal citation and it reads the same. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted February 27, 2012 Truly a superb group, especially with his participation at Midway. Would you let me know the number on his BB&B Silver Star? Thanks, Tom 12172.....Thanks for the comments! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4STARCHRIS Posted February 27, 2012 Share #16 Posted February 27, 2012 ... What medal is this? Nice original issued card/cloth. 4starchris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #17 Posted February 27, 2012 What medal is this? Nice original issued card/cloth.4starchris It is the Mao Chi medal issued by the Nationalist Chinese Government. Others may have more information on it as I have no clue about it outside the official issue orders above. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #18 Posted February 27, 2012 Here is another photo of the front. The envelope is an interesting cloth one. I like that the medal is numbered along with the envelope. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted February 27, 2012 Share #19 Posted February 27, 2012 Great group, Ski. Sorry we didn't connect at SoS. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #20 Posted February 27, 2012 Great group, Ski. Sorry we didn't connect at SoS. Bob No problem. I hope you had a good show. I was surprised at how early dealers left! Must have been a good show for them. Anyways, here is a photo of Mahoney's crew in 1942. (http://11thbombgroup.org/crewsupdate2102012.html) -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted February 27, 2012 Share #21 Posted February 27, 2012 Very NICE, Ski. You've got it all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAF_Collection Posted February 27, 2012 Share #22 Posted February 27, 2012 Super find,I really like this group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #23 Posted February 27, 2012 Thanks guys. I found this article online from 2008. Mahoney is interviewed.... Story and photo by Dr. Philip Breeze 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Several World War II veterans of the Hickam Field attack on December 7, 1941, and their families, gathered here over the weekend to be part of Air Force Remembrance ceremonies. Lou Roffman was a young technical sergeant assigned to the 31st Bombardment Squadron as a B- 17 flight engineer. He remembers having been on alert through most of November of that year and going into town to celebrate their release from alert status. He spent the evening of Saturday, Dec. 6, 1941 letting off a little steam and says he was sleeping it off the following morning when loud booms and the sound of low-flying aircraft awakened him. "I thought, damn those gunners over at Fort Kam. Can't a guy get a little sleep? And it wasn't unusual for us Army Air Corps guys and the Navy fliers over at Pearl to fly over the other fellows if we knew they'd been having a party the night before." But luck was with him that morning. He skipped chow to try to catch a few extra winks and was still in his bunk when the chow hall took a direct hit. His luck continued the next day when he and his crew, one of only two to get into the air that day, were sent south to search for the Japanese fleet. "If we had found them that day, just the two aircraft, I wouldn't be here today to talk about it," he said. Max Baker was a private, also assigned to the 31st. He recalls an over-eager young noncommissioned officer, "who had seen too many John Wayne movies. We went to the armory to get the bombs and ammunition out, and it was locked. This NCO said to everyone, 'Stand back, I'm going to shoot the lock off.' Well, he missed the lock, and the doors were steel and that lead bullet just fell to the ground. "Just about that time, though, the master sergeant arrived from home with the key, and we were able to get the ammunition and bombs out," Baker recalled with a chuckle. The seasoned NCOs from World War I really saved a lot of lives that day. They sprang into action, getting the .30-caliber machine guns into action and cautioning everyone to avoid bunching up, Baker said. Like many on the base that morning, retired Col. Hugh Mahoney, then a second lieutenant, was on the flight line waiting for a flight of new B-17Ds to arrive from Hamilton Field, California. "After the first attack ended I was mad. I wanted to fight, so I jumped in with a mixed crew who needed a navigator, and we launched. Col. Brooke Allen was at the stick. One other plane joined us," Mahoney said. They, too, thought the Japanese fleet was to the south. And it is probably for that reason that Lieutenant Mahoney survived to navigate "Hell on Wings" across the Pacific in the ensuing years, and earn a Silver Star for gallantry in the process. Sixty-seven years later, the veterans returned to take part in various remembrance events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted February 27, 2012 Share #24 Posted February 27, 2012 Who ever had the group before me did a lot already. He/she photocopied all of the GO's for the medals, so that helps a lot! I'm pretty sure the naming on the SS is official. Any comments welcome. Thanks for looking! -Ski Ski I remember looking at this grouping at the show, never bothered to ask price but we got some great early books from the guy at very reasonable prices. From what I was told the previous owner is a dedicated (full time) researcher in the National Archives which would explain the mass of paperwork you got with the grouping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share #25 Posted February 27, 2012 Ski I remember looking at this grouping at the show, never bothered to ask price but we got some great early books from the guy at very reasonable prices. From what I was told the previous owner is a dedicated (full time) researcher in the National Archives which would explain the mass of paperwork you got with the grouping! That would definitely explain it. Thanks! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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