I bought a large manual grouping from my uncle a few months ago. I started doing resesrch to the guy and it seems he had the dfc and was apart of the crew that set a time record. I posted on the Facebook page so here is a link to it for information found on the guy https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B9EqYrZWN/

I may make a cast mould of the handle or get one machined for the future, should my one pop and fall apart I’d at least be able to make a sympathetic restoration of sorts. 

Here's a couple C.B.I. related 

One knock at that handle will fall apart, maybe today maybe tomorrow but it absolutely will do so sadly. It’s irreversible, I do wonder if some form of resin binding could be used to retain the structural integrity for a little longer.  Impurities in the original construction of these handles are the cause, humidity also increases the rate of degradation too. The control measures in material would most likely explain the examples that don’t exhibit the rot, coupled with the storage environment over the last 80 or so years.   

DI 1334A1 found. it was redesignated the 115tgh Engineer Bn 31 Jul 1968.

I’d forgotten that they had the patches on the front. I have a couple of those too somewhere. This is the only cap I held onto. 

Thanks, I enjoy all of the items you post.

That’s a really nice cartridge box! I agree with ScottG and really think it’ll be best left untreated.    Frank

Lieutenant Joseph A. Carnevale 2nd Platoon, Company B. 393rd Infantry Regiment. 99th Infantry Division.   Joseph Anthony Carnevale was born on August 4, 1913, in Mount Vernon, New York, United States. He graduated in 1935 from La Salle Military Academy and the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the United States Army. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and concluded his service with the rank of captain.   From 1942 until August 1944, Lieutenant Carnevale served as executive officer of a rifle company in the 140th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. He was responsible for the administration and training of the company and trained personnel from other branches to become infantrymen. In August 1944, he requested “Preparation for Overseas Replacement,” stating that no promotions were available in the regiment and that he had served two years in grade, including six months as a company commander, and therefore felt entitled to an overseas assignment.   On September 3, 1944, Lt. Carnevale was transferred to the 99th Infantry Division at Camp Maxey. He deployed overseas later that month with the 2nd Platoon, Company B, 393rd Infantry Regiment, arriving in Europe on October 10, 1944.   On November 8, 1944, Company B, 393rd Infantry Regiment, relieved elements of the 9th Infantry Division near the twin villages of Rocherath–Krinkelt.   On November 14, Major General Walter E. Lauer, commanding general of the 99th Infantry Division, and Major General Leonard T. Gerow, commanding general of V Corps, paid a notable visit to the front line. There, they spoke personally with 1st Lt. Joseph A. Carnevale and discussed operational plans with him, an exceptional distinction and responsibility for an officer of his rank so close to the fighting. Technician Fifth Grade Robert P. Runyan of the 165th Signal Photo Company took the well-known photograph of the two officers standing side by side. This moment was also captured on motion-picture film, in which Major General Leonard T. Gerow can also be seen.   On December 13, 1944, the 2nd Platoon was selected to conduct a diversionary attack in support of the 395th Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Infantry Division’s assault into the Siegfried Line toward the Roer River dams in Germany. This action became known as the “Dewey Demonstration.” During the attack, Lt. Carnevale was struck by enemy mortar fire and wounded by shrapnel on the left side of his chest. He was evacuated to the 44th Evacuation Hospital in Malmedy and later to the 77th Evacuation Hospital in Verviers, near Liège.   After recovering, Lt. Carnevale returned to the 99th Infantry Division and was assigned to Company A, 393rd Infantry Regiment. In 1945, he was promoted to captain and became commander of Company A. Near the end of the war, Captain Carnevale was transferred to the 83rd Infantry Division as a company commander, where he served until the end of the war.   After the war, on March 31, 1946, he married Louise DePamphilis.   In 1948, he co-founded the Algen Press printing company in Queens, where he worked as an executive. He retired in 1972 after 24 years with the company and moved from Mount Vernon to Stuart, Florida.   Joseph A. Carnevale died on May 29, 2004, at the age of 90 in Stuart, Florida.   We are extremely honored to be the new caretakers of his officer’s uniform jacket, the one he wore at his wedding,a beautifully framed portrait, his officer’s ID-card, dog tags, and rank insignia and many photo’s.  

Re Westwind Commemorative JPSK: I bought about 20 of these (mixed aircraft) at a yard sale in Orchard Lake, MI in the mid-late 1980s.  Condition was varied, and some had minor rust/discoloration. I believe I paid $5 each. I later sold all of them at local Gun Shows. Jim