"Cased" Beretta Mailed Home

[rcranch]

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.

[rcranch]

Postage:

[rcranch]

Return address:

[rcranch]

Inside original box:

[jim2]

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

[tball101]

Wow, what a beautiful piece!!

[Red Devil]

Very nice pistol! And so awesome to still have the box!

[rcranch]

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.

[Combat Diver]

Nice Beretta and great documented history.

 

 

CD

[badash5946]

That's way cool!

[BROBS]

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

[rcranch]

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.

[BROBS]

Model 1935 from post October 1942 and CM is a Navy inspector mark.. so this was issued to someone in the Italian navy.

 

-Brian

[rcranch]

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

[KASTAUFFER]

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

[Gregory]

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).

[BROBS]

and army... Regio Esercito

[Gregory]

Yes, that's right, but for RE those pistols were manufactured since 1941. Main RE pistol was M1934.

[American Heritage]

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!!

[katieony]

Very nice pistol. Thank you for posting!

 

Mike

[USCapturephotos]

Awesome find! I love the shipping crate. Hey Kastauffer are the various APOs listed somewhere?

Paul

[rcranch]

Thanks for everyone's help and comments. It is always nice to see confirmation in the details.

[KASTAUFFER]

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