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LOT 3390
Highly Desirable, Historic, Identified World War II USAAF 36th Bomb Squadron (8th Air Force’s Only Radar Countermeasures Unit) B-24 “Rum Dum” Painted A-2 Flight Jacket and Massive Archive - Introduction Offered here is a fantastic, historically significant World War II USAAF grouping of personal items, including a painted A-2 flight jacket and numerous photos, which belonged to 1st Lieutenant Sam Ziff, the pilot of the B-24 “Rum
Dum” (RE-4 ASN 42-52130). From September 1944 to March 1945 Ziff flew an impressive 58 missions with the 36th Bomb Squadron, the 8th AF’s only radar countermeasures (RCM) squadron. Ziff retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1970. He was awarded the WWII Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the
Legion of Merit Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal, all of which are included in this grouping.
“Rum Dum” and Ziff are pictured and identified in the included copy of Stephen Hutton’s “Squadron of Deception: The 36th Bomb Squadron in World War II” on page 78. The crew of “Rum Dum” is pictured on page 199.
34th Bomb Squadron History
Active before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 36th BS evolved into a secret electronic countermeasure unit. Designed to deny the enemy’s effective use of radar and radio equipment, electronic countermeasures is a requirement for any modern military force to be successful on the battlefield, and the aircrews of the 36th BS like 1st Lt. Ziff led the way. Today, the 36th BS continues it legacy as the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron.
Initially assigned to the 801st BG, the 36th BS was tasked to defend Alaskan territory following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor and assisted in forcing the withdrawal of Japanese forces that occupied Kiska. In 1943, the squadron began conducting clandestine special operations into German occupied Europe under the direction of the Office of Strategic Services. The OSS, the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), requested the services of the U.S. Army Air Forces to participate in special convert operations over France. Initial operations were dedicated to leaflet dropping missions, but plans quickly become more audacious as the OSS called upon the USAAF to fly under the cover of darkness deep into occupied Europe and drop agents and supplies to resistance groups. These highly dangerous missions operated under the codename Operation Carpetbagger. The bulk of the missions were flown in support of the upcoming invasion
of Normandy. Missions began to taper off once the allies were on the continent. Aircrews always ran the risk of German night fighters and flak as well as crashing into hillsides during low level airdrops.
In August 1944, the 492nd BG assumed all personal and equipment from the Carpetbagger missions of the 801st BG, including its assigned squadrons. The 803rd Bomb Squadron, which had been working with the RAF in RCM operations, was restricted to form the
new 36th BS. The 36th BS was reborn as the 8th AF’s only electronic warfare squadron.
The squadron flew specially equipped B-24s for the purpose of jamming German VHF
communications during 8th AF daylight raids as well as during the nighttime raids
conducted by the Royal Air Force. These electronic countermeasures denied the enemy valuable
information in regards to the size, route, and altitude of the attacking force. The squadron was even deployed on days when no Allied bombing operations took place. These ingenious deception missions used recorded dialogue to simulate bomber formations with the intent of causing confusion and draining enemy resources by activating German defensives to deter the “ghost bombers.” During the Battle of the Bulge, the 36th BS continued to fly missions in extremely bad weather while most other 8th AF squadrons remained grounded. The squadron’s ability to jam German tank communications was considered too valuable to not fly in nearly zero visibility. Its ability to conduct electronic countermeasures earned the squadron the nickname “The Gremlins.” Operations ceased by the end of April 1945.
Lt. Col. Ziff’s Personal Archive
Manufactured by Perry Sportswear, Ziff’s A-2 jacket is a size 42, has a Talon zipper, and remains in beautiful condition. The back of the jacket serves
as the leather canvas for the nose art of Ziff’s B-24, “Rum Dum,” painted in vibrant colors. The B-24 took its name from the cocktail. The crew also took
their nicknames from alcoholic beverages. Painted under the pilot’s window of “Rum Dum” was Ziff’s nickname “Vat 69” in reference to his favorite
drink, scotch. The front of the jacket features a large and wonderful hand painted 36th BS leather patch depicting a gremlin working his RCM magic.
Above the patch is Ziff’s leather embossed nametag. The jacket was featured on the cover of the July 2018 magazine Flight Journal.
Ziff’s post-war Air Force lieutenant colonel uniform includes the coat and trousers. The coat features beautiful silver bullion command pilot badge, U.S.
lapel insignia, and lieutenant colonel shoulder rank, four rows of ribbons, and plastic name tag. A treasure trove of 300 plus original World War II and post-war photographs documenting Ziff’s USAF career up until his retirement in 1970, and a majority are printed on original period paper. A sampling of this photos show Ziff with various aircraft, his World War II crew, and the B-24 “Rum Dum.” A great one-of-a-kind photo archive from the aviator who was there! Other included items: medals, citations, correspondence, letters, wartime artwork, mission lists, flight logs, training manuals, insignia and a mountain of other period paperwork.
CONDITION: The A-2 jacket displays beautifully with much of the fantastic artwork on the back and patch retaining much of the vivid paint, supple leather, a few small tears mostly at the collar on the original lining, and excellent post-war replacement cuffs and waist band. The post-war uniform is very fine with striking silver bullion insignias. A historically significant and impressive A-2 flight jacket and archive from an 8th AF “squadron of deception” B-24 pilot. Now is your chance to own a rare piece of 8th AF history! Provenance: The Saloga Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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