AustinO Posted November 9, 2021 Share #1 Posted November 9, 2021 Here’s a nice grouping I picked up from the daughter of the pilot, who flew from 41-45 (and reserves after). He was a dive bomber pilot in the pacific 1943-45, and in looking at the war diaries made a few direct hits that resulted in ships sinking (well after his craft was out of the area, unfortunately). Between the war diaries on fold3 and the paperwork his daughter has, it's been a fun research project so far. Needless to say a nice keeper USN pilot grouping! The MK1 vest has a hand painted insignia on the front, which I believe was an early or unofficial logo for Bombing Eight. His log books cover the entirety of 41-45, with 43-44 flying off the Intrepid and Bunker Hill. In early 1945 he returned to CONUS and was flying shuttle missions in various aircraft on the east coast. Numerous other smalls came with the grouping, and the daughter is slowly selling me other items as she finds them. Our pilot is standing on the left in the below, possibly wearing the same lifevest before the insignia was added. His radioman named Campbell is standing to his left. This was probably taken aboard the Bunker Hill in 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 9, 2021 Share #2 Posted November 9, 2021 WOW! Very nice! Ive seen that insignia before. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted November 10, 2021 Share #3 Posted November 10, 2021 Killer grouping, thanks for photos! Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted November 10, 2021 Share #4 Posted November 10, 2021 What a wonderful grouping. I would venture to guess that image you have of him and his gunner were aboard the Intrepid in 1943 based on clothing and accruements. It is possible its the same vest but they would have had several. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted December 13, 2023 Share #5 Posted December 13, 2023 @AustinO there is a chance to consider of the selling this grouping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share #6 Posted December 13, 2023 52 minutes ago, jerry_k said: @AustinO there is a chance to consider of the selling this grouping? Nope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 12 Share #7 Posted January 12 I’d love to see some of the entries in the flight log Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted January 25 Author Share #8 Posted January 25 On 1/12/2024 at 3:19 PM, KASTAUFFER said: I’d love to see some of the entries in the flight log Any particular entries/dates your interested in? Or just the ones with good content? I can pull them out later this week @KASTAUFFER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sensei Posted January 25 Share #9 Posted January 25 Great grouping! Tobias Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted January 25 Share #10 Posted January 25 Spectacular group! Any log entries with notes about the mission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted January 26 Author Share #11 Posted January 26 A few pages of combat related entries. The last photo was on fold3 and per the war diaries there shows a tanker he had a direct hit on on Sept 24th 1944, the ship sunk shortly after the squadron left the area. It's afire in the center of the photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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