Page 292 - 4091-BOOK2
P. 292
LOT 1377
Excellent Historic World War II Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol Issued to B-17 Co- Pilot Arthur C. “Bud” Stipe of the Legendary “Bloody Hundredth” 100th Bombardment Group - Serial no. 1043298, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., Du-Lite finish, plastic grips. This immensely historic, excellent condition, Model 1911A1 pistol was originally manufactured by Union Switch & Signal in 1943, and is accompanied by strong letters of provenance indicating it was carried on various combat missions by World War II B-17 Co-Pilot Arthur C. “Bud” Stipe (December 22, 1917-August 8, 2015) of the legendary “Bloody Hundredth” 100th Bombardment Group. An included typed letter by retired Lieutenant Colonel Arthur C. Stipe states, “The pistol was issued to me as a B-17 pilot for the 8th Air Force while stationed in England and flying daylight missions over German occupied territory in 1943. It was used for my protection and primarily to destroy all classified material on the plane if I was forced down in enemy territory- the most highly secret piece being, at that time, the Norden bomb sight. I was a 2nd
Lt. in England at the time it was issued to me.” Another accompanying October 30, 1997 dated signed and notarized original letter handwritten by Arthur C. Stipe mentions this gun, a Union Switch with serial number 1043298, was acquired by him in August 1943, and states, “I flew in the big raids over Regensburg and Schweinfurt [August 17, 1943 and October 14, 1943] when B-17 losses were approximately 50 planes on both raids, I flew on 1st shuttle run from England base to North Africa.” and he further indicates his service period during World War II between October 1940-October 1945, final rank of Captain in the U.S.A.F. during World War II, awarded 5
air medals and 2 unit presidential citations, affiliation with the 349th Squadron 100th Bombardment Group (also known as the “Bloody Hundredth”) of the 8th Air Force, 7th Ferrying Group of the Air Transport Command, and mentions that he also operated 25 different prop aircraft for ferrying command.
290
