On a Wing and a Prayer: A 901st FA Liaision Pilot Grouping Lands in the 76th Collection

[carbinephalen]

1st Lt Marshall was born in 1914 in Michigan. He quickly answered the call to service by serving in the Illinois National Guard as a Field Artilleryman in the 122nd Field Artillery Battalion. He worked as a salesman in Peoria, Illinois when he met and married his wive in 1938. Following the war years, he once again felt the call to service and enlisted in March of 1943. Quickly rushed to pilot training to be an Artillery Liaison Pilot he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on March 31, 1944. Qualified to fly in May of 1944, he was shipped to Camp McCoy to join HQ Btry, 901st Field Artillery Bn in the 76th Infantry Division.

He flew many daring missions in his Piper L-4 "Grasshopper" Light Observation Craft over enemy occupied territory and the grouping consists of many maps, translation books, escape and evasion tools, plus so much more.

He was ultimately awarded two Air Medals for his service during the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central European Campaigns.

He passed away in 1952 and is buried in his hometown National Cemetery in Michigan

This grouping originally came straight from the veteran's daughter and will be a centerpiece in the collection for years to come.

 

The full write-up can be found on my website: http://76thdivisioncollection.blogspot.com/2018/07/on-wing-and-prayer-holy-grail-901st-fa.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vernon]

Very nice grouping. Thanks for sharing.

[packratt713]

Very Nice!

[bobgee]

Great group! Congrats! Bobgee