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LOT 3412
Very Scarce Documented U.S. Inspected and Shipped World War II L. C. Smith/Hunter Arms Co. Field Grade Double Barrel Shotgun with Factory Letter - Serial no. R200941, 12 gauge, 32 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The right barrel flat is stamped with an ordnance flaming bomb, and this shotgun is accompanied by a Hunter Arms Co. factory letter that confirms its current configuration as a regular weight 12 gauge Field Grade with 32 inch barrels when finished on September 8, 1942 and shipped to the Rochester
Ordnance Depot in New York on December 5, 1942 as part of order
number 52738. The letter further states “It was not recorded as a Wild Fowl or Long Range shotgun but that was not uncommon for military
shotguns.” The barrel lug is marked “WILD FOWL” on bottom. These U.S. inspected L. C. Smith Field Grades were used for training aerial gunners on how to lead targets during World War II. Rochester Ordnance ordered these double barrel shotguns between May 9th, 1942 to April 9th, 1943, in the 197321-202813 serial range. Reference page 203 of William Brophy’s “L. C. Smith Shotguns”. The factory letter
states, “Three hundred and twenty-two of the 1,512 Field Grades sold to Rochester Ordnance had 32-inch barrels.” Blued Armor steel barrels with dual bead sights, “L.C. SMITH field GRADE” and “HUNTER ARMS CO. INC. M’F’R’S FULTON, N.Y., U.S.A” marked on top of the
barrels. Standard casehardened receiver and locks, double triggers, and automatic tang safety. Multi-point checkered splinter forend and pistol
grip stock with hard rubber buttplate. Chambers measure 2 3/4” with single extractor, chokes measure improved modified/full, and 14 inch length of pull. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% original blue finish on the barrels with a few areas lightly thinning and smooth brown patina on the balance, and 70% muted original case colors with some areas of scattered minor surface freckling. Wood is also very fine, with crisp checkering, a few small chips behind the left lock, a few light handling marks, a chipped section at the toe of the buttplate, and distinct edges and checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3413
Identified World War II USAAF B-24 “Shoo Shoo Baby” A-2 Flight Jacket with Extremely Scarce Caterpillar Club Lapel Pin - This USAAF A-2 flight jacket was manufactured by Star Sportswear Mfg. Co., is a size 42, has a Talon zipper, and was worn by a member of the 707th Bomb Squadron, 446th Bomb Group of the 8th AF. On the lining just under the data label is the name “GRANT L. FARNSWORTH” hand marked in ink, which has been crossed out. The unmistakable 707th BS patch is sewn to the left chest. Above the patch is the name “Bill” in white paint. The back of the jacket served as the leather canvas for painted artwork associated with the B-24 “Shoo Shoo Baby.”
Our consignor reports that “Bill” is Technical Sergeant William H. Sunday who was the engineer aboard the B-24 “Shoo Shoo Baby” assigned to the 707th BS. Per the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, “Shoo Shoo Baby” serial number (serial no. 42 – 52747) crashed in Belgium on December 27, 1944. On that day “Shoo Shoo Baby” was on a mission to strike the rail bridge and train yards at Kaiserslautern, Germany. About an hour away from the target “Shoo Shoo Baby” was forced to abort the mission as the number three engine had stopped. The pilot, Second Lieutenant William Woodburn, dropped out of formation and headed for a British held airfield in Brussels, Belgium. Along the approach the radioman failed to transmit the recognition code for friend and the aircraft was immediately met with anti-aircraft fire from British guns. The crew fired signal rockets and was officially recognized but was waved off due to a change in the wind direction. Heavy fog rolled in and in the climb out of Brussels the number two engine quit. Without enough power, Woodburn barely got out of the way of church steeples. The loss of two engines meant the bomber could not get above 300 feet, and Woodburn gave the order to drop the 500 lbs. bombs along with anything else not tied down over an empty field. The lightened bomber climbed to 4,000 feet and the crew bailed out. All crewmembers survived but not without hardship. Woodburn was meet with a group of locals who mistook him for a German and was immediately beaten. Woodburn feared for his life believing he was about to be hanged but was saved by a local official who recognized the pilot as American. Eventually, Woodburn and his crew returned to combat duty to complete 33 missions before returning to the U.S. in 1945. Harold Dodge was the navigator on “Shoo Shoo Baby” but was not aboard the B-24 for the ill fated mission. Dodge was a self-taught artist and in the post-war years was known for his urban and natural scenes in acrylic paint. Dodge is therefore a good candidate as the artist who painted this flight jacket.
Included is Technical Sergeant William H. Sunday’s Caterpillar Club card and distinctive caterpillar lapel pin with ruby eyes. Both items are extremely rare. The Caterpillar Club was the name of the informal association of people who successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled aircraft. The Caterpillar Club recognized the debt survivors owned to the silk worm which produced the silk thread used in parachutes. The club motto said it all: “Life depends on a silken thread.” The included Air Medal case is missing the medal.
Sunday’s 8th AF Enlisted Service Dress Coat: Right sleeve has a USAAF patch, left sleeve has an 8th AF patch, and both sleeves carry technical sergeant rank. The left chest carries a sterling aircrew member wing badge, two rows of service ribbons (Air Medal with 5 clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with star, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Air Medal) as worn on the jacket when it was received, qualification marksman badge with marksman and rifle bars, and technician badge with AP mechanic bar. CONDITION: The A-2 jacket is good showing authentic battle wear, repairs to the left cuff, and a few tears in the lining. The leather remains supple. The paint has faded leaving the outlines of the original artwork. The patch is fine. The service dress coat is very good. Identified to an air crewman of a 707th BS B-24 and Caterpillar Club member, this grouping has a story to tell!
Provenance: The Saloga Collection. 237 Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000