renfield Posted July 16, 2013 Share #1 Posted July 16, 2013 This is my latest Ebay pick up. It will make a great addition to my display. I really enjoy these personalized items. They are history you can touch. It is from the 306th BG 368th BS the "EAGER BEAVERS". It also has the letters W.B.Q. I guess are the mans name. I will have to do some research as I do not know of too many last names that start with the letter Q. I thought some of you might enjoy seeing it. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renfield Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted July 16, 2013 The art work on the back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted July 16, 2013 Share #3 Posted July 16, 2013 Great snag. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted July 16, 2013 Share #4 Posted July 16, 2013 Great find! I'm jealous! Congrats.....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted July 16, 2013 Share #5 Posted July 16, 2013 Very cool! Thanks for sharing! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renfield Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted July 16, 2013 Thanks guys. This forum has taught me to wait for these kinds of personal items. I paid just a bit more for this great piece of trench art than if I had bought a mass produced cigarette case with the AAF logo. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAF_Collection Posted July 21, 2013 Share #7 Posted July 21, 2013 Nice catch Steve, I have seen similar cases from other 8th Air Force units and was told they were produced to order by Italian POW's, a kind of "cottage industry" rather like the bone models made by French prisoners during the Napoleonic War, though how true that story is I don't know!. Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine O Nine Posted July 22, 2013 Share #8 Posted July 22, 2013 Hi Steve/ Matt. I have a cigarette case almost exactly the same that belonged to someone based at first air division HQ at Brampton grange and the stuff that came with the group states that he got his made by an Italian POW. Does it have anything on the inside Steve? Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted July 22, 2013 Share #9 Posted July 22, 2013 Steve, gimme gimme !!! love it buddy !! as you know i like this sort of thing !!! LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27thdivcollector Posted July 22, 2013 Share #10 Posted July 22, 2013 What a lovely thing to own, fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renfield Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted July 22, 2013 Thanks for the kind words. As a matter of fact it has a bunch of grapes on the inside. I had no idea why there would be grapes. It could be a home sick Italian POW adding a touch of his home. I would have never thought of that connection, thanks for the info Nine O Nine. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine O Nine Posted July 22, 2013 Share #12 Posted July 22, 2013 No problems Steve. I will try and get some pictures of mine done in the next couple of days. The interior of mine has a pin up inside maybe grapes and wine weren't the only thing the Italian POWs were missing! Thurleigh and Brampton aren't far away at all and the 306th were a first air division group so could even have been made by the same guy? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAF_Collection Posted July 23, 2013 Share #13 Posted July 23, 2013 The example I saw was also 1st Air Division-351st at Polebrook. Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted July 24, 2013 Share #14 Posted July 24, 2013 Thanks for posting that very nice piece. It's great to get to see these unique items. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine O Nine Posted July 27, 2013 Share #15 Posted July 27, 2013 Hi Steve,all. Hope you don't mind but i thought i would post the cigerette case from my own collection as a comparison. As i said in a previous post my case belonged to an enlistedman based at First Air Division HQ at Brampton Grange. I think he paid a pound for it (But i'd have to check) as you can see its more of a generic 8th Air Force type as opposed to a crew specific one like yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine O Nine Posted July 27, 2013 Share #16 Posted July 27, 2013 The back of the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine O Nine Posted July 27, 2013 Share #17 Posted July 27, 2013 Interior 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine O Nine Posted July 27, 2013 Share #18 Posted July 27, 2013 Interior 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renfield Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted July 28, 2013 Thanks for posting your case Nine O Nine. It does look as if it could have been made by the same person. It would be great to know the story behind them. The pin up girl is classic 8th AAF. Super great item Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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