KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 28, 2009 This group belonged to a true hero in my opinion. Bill flew a tour of 25 missions as a bomber pilot with the 381st Bomb Group in 1943-44 and then went back for more! In his second tour he became a P-47 fighter pilot and flew with the famous 56th Fighter Group until he was shot down and captured on Sept 18, 1944. Prior to being captured he shot down 2 German fighters including one on D-Day. He was interned in Stalag Luft I and survived the war. He stayed in the USAF and retired as a Major. The 56th Fighter group amassed a record score in the ETO and was the home of pilots such as Hub Zemke and Gabby Gabreski. I recently bought this group on Ebay. Bill's officially named DFC and Air medal. These were issued to his NOK while he was a POW. The other DFC is not named and was awarded to him after his 1st tour with the 381st BG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted May 28, 2009 A couple of Photos . The smaller photo was taken on June 6, 1944 after he shot down his first German fighter plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted May 28, 2009 Set of miniature medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted May 28, 2009 His wings. There are some very nice WWII wings in this lot. The first one is his post war senior pilots wing made by Vanguard and the other a nice pair of Amico pinback sterling wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted May 28, 2009 Pair of NS Meyer pinback wings and a very heavy set of sterling pinback wings that are not maker marked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted May 28, 2009 Original citations for his DFC and Air Medals earned while a bomber pilot with the 381st Bomb Group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted May 28, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted May 28, 2009 These 2 documents are copies from the national archives. In each report he details how he scored his 2 kills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted May 28, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted May 28, 2009 Finally a document that " sums it all up " . It is a commendation to the 56th Fighter Group for their part in the invasion of France from June 6 to June 27 1944. Bill passed away in 1988. The WWII generation is slowly disappearing. They will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom2001 Posted May 28, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 28, 2009 Incredibly cool group, Kurt!! Great story there!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted May 28, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 28, 2009 Kurt - FANTASTIC! You always seem to find these top shelf groups that are rich in history! Reminds me of the thing Belleuawood and CDG posted. Thanks for posting! John EDIT - now to research and find his gun camera shots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted May 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 28, 2009 Outstanding group Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted May 28, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 28, 2009 Very interesting grouping. I especially like the photos of that pilot. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w4uvv Posted May 28, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 28, 2009 Finally a document that " sums it all up " . It is a commendation to the 56th Fighter Group for their part in the invasion of France from June 6 to June 27 1944. Bill passed away in 1988. The WWII generation is slowly disappearing. They will be missed. Excellent grouping and documentation. He should have been promoted during his career to at least 05 or 06. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted May 28, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 28, 2009 Kurt, another superb group... congrat's - thank you for preserving and sharing his history with us. s/f Darrell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted May 28, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 28, 2009 Kurt, This is a really nice group. I love it when there are photos. Its always cool to see a face. Thanks for sharing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted May 28, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 28, 2009 Great group!!!! My best, Ricardo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Cain Posted May 28, 2009 Share #19 Posted May 28, 2009 Fantastic grouping Kurt! I will see if Hub Jr. has any information on the man for you. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicjoy1945 Posted May 28, 2009 Share #20 Posted May 28, 2009 Hey Kurt !! Fantastic grouping !!! Two thumbs way up You're gonna make me dig into that bunker !! Thanks again for showing !! Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted May 28, 2009 Share #21 Posted May 28, 2009 Kurt: Yet another great group your showing! Between you and BobG the collection "eye candy" is always amazing. The USS San Diego log book entry was also a nice addition to that thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted May 29, 2009 Share #22 Posted May 29, 2009 Super group! Congrats! I was the 2nd underbidder on this one. Definitely a keeper. I'm glad a guy like yourself ended up with it. I thought it was pretty neat that he finished a bomber tour, and then went on to fly fighters scoring 2 vics with the 56th of all groups! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted May 29, 2009 Share #23 Posted May 29, 2009 Finally a document that " sums it all up " . It is a commendation to the 56th Fighter Group for their part in the invasion of France from June 6 to June 27 1944. Bill passed away in 1988. The WWII generation is slowly disappearing. They will be missed. Kurt, Another great grouping. Thanks for showing it in such detail. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captaxe Posted May 29, 2009 Share #24 Posted May 29, 2009 Kurt- Couple of brief mentions (and a photo) of him in the 56th FG History. Do you want me to pass them along? Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 29, 2009 Author Share #25 Posted May 29, 2009 Kurt- Couple of brief mentions (and a photo) of him in the 56th FG History. Do you want me to pass them along? Greg Thanks for all your comments guys! Greg- I would love scans of the pages if you can email them to me! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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