rcranch Posted November 5, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 5, 2013 Picked up this "cased" Beretta at an antique shop in Fredericksburg, TX. Sgt. James L. Henke had mailed it home to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Alex Henke of Fredericksburg. It is difficult to read any post mark date, but some of the labels inside the original box were dated 7 Jan 44. I have not had time to research Sgt. Henke to see if he made it home from the war. I am sure he took this Beretta 7.65 automatic dated 1942 from a high ranking German Officer?? Of course he may have traded a box of cigarettes for it also?? Interesting that it took 42 cents to mail it home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted November 5, 2013 Postage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted November 5, 2013 Return address: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted November 5, 2013 Inside original box: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim2 Posted November 5, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 5, 2013 Awesome find I found this info online Looks like he made it home and enjoyed quite a few years afterwards. Birth: Apr. 9, 1921 Death: Sep. 30, 2004 Son of Alexander W and Ella Henke Name: James L Henke Birth Year: 1921 Race: White, citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: Texas State of Residence: Texas County or City: Gillespie Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1942 Enlistment State: Texas Enlistment City: Fort Sam Houston Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: 4 years of high school Civil Occupation: Farm hands, animal and livestock Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 68 Weight: 146 Source Information: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Family links: Parents:Alexander William Henke (1895 - 1960) Inscription: SGT US ARMY WORLD WAR II Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Fredericksburg Gillespie County Texas, USA Created by: Paula J Record added: Jun 25, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial# 54103406 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tball101 Posted November 6, 2013 Share #6 Posted November 6, 2013 Wow, what a beautiful piece!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted November 6, 2013 Share #7 Posted November 6, 2013 Very nice pistol! And so awesome to still have the box! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted November 6, 2013 Thanks for the comments and appreciate all the great info from Jim2. Next time I am in the Fredericksburg area I will locate his grave and pay my respects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combat Diver Posted November 6, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 6, 2013 Nice Beretta and great documented history. CD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badash5946 Posted November 6, 2013 Share #10 Posted November 6, 2013 That's way cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BROBS Posted November 6, 2013 Share #11 Posted November 6, 2013 Does it have any markings on it like RE or RM? or 4UT near the backstrap? These weren't used by Germans except for the very late war produced versions (very rarely).. so he took it from an Italian soldier. still a very nice find especially with the box! too bad about the corrosion on it -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted November 6, 2013 The only marking that I see other than on the slide, is what appears to be a "CM" inside a circle on the back left side of the frame. You can see it somewhat in the close-up photo of the pistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BROBS Posted November 6, 2013 Share #13 Posted November 6, 2013 Model 1935 from post October 1942 and CM is a Navy inspector mark.. so this was issued to someone in the Italian navy. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted November 6, 2013 Thanks Brian, that is interesting. Perhaps the corrosion is from the sea water? The pitting is very heavy at the bottom of the grip and on the bottom of the magazine, almost like it was cause by acid or something. There was no rust marks on any of the packing material, so I have often wondered about this. I am not a gun guy, so I appreciate the help on the markings. Tommy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 6, 2013 Share #15 Posted November 6, 2013 APO 650 is the APO used by HQ 12th AAF, and was located in North Africa and Italy during WWII. in 1944 it was mainly in Italy. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted November 6, 2013 Share #16 Posted November 6, 2013 Very little known pistol. In the mass media the most popular was in the British TV series "The Saint" where Roger Moore used it in initial seasons, I am sure he took this Beretta 7.65 automatic dated 1942 from a high ranking German Officer? The M1935 Brevettata first of all was a pistol of the Regia Marina (Italian Navy) and Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Forces). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BROBS Posted November 6, 2013 Share #17 Posted November 6, 2013 and army... Regio Esercito Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted November 6, 2013 Share #18 Posted November 6, 2013 Yes, that's right, but for RE those pistols were manufactured since 1941. Main RE pistol was M1934. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Heritage Posted November 6, 2013 Share #19 Posted November 6, 2013 APO 650 is the APO used by HQ 12th AAF, and was located in North Africa and Italy during WWII. in 1944 it was mainly in Italy. Kurt Great info Kurt! really nails the origins down on this nice pistol. Great find!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted November 9, 2013 Share #20 Posted November 9, 2013 Very nice pistol. Thank you for posting! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted November 12, 2013 Share #21 Posted November 12, 2013 Awesome find! I love the shipping crate. Hey Kastauffer are the various APOs listed somewhere? Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcranch Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share #22 Posted November 16, 2013 Thanks for everyone's help and comments. It is always nice to see confirmation in the details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 16, 2013 Share #23 Posted November 16, 2013 Yes, if you go to the Military Postal History Societies website they sell a book that lists APOs and their locations. http://www.militaryphs.org/pubs/apobook.html Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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