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On 7 July the target was the synthetic oil refineries in Blechhammer, Germany, another “double points” mission. The flak was noted as very heavy as well as a lot of enemy aircraft activity to and from the target. However, it is noted that their friendly fighter coverage was good, and all of their planes managed to return home. Moss found himself with 49 points, needing just one more to return home, and he wouldn’t have long to wait. The following day, 8 July, the target was the oil storage at Korneuburg, Austria, another “double points” mission. One can only imagine what he must have been feeling that day, needing only one point to go home, but knowing a very difficult mission was still at hand. The flak was noted as accurate and intense, but the fighter cover was good, and all B-24s managed to make it home. During the month of July, the squadron lost seven bombers and was credited with destroying 28 enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Thomas Moss along with S/Sgt. Drezek were the first members of the 765th to complete 50 mission points and earn their ticket home. Moss is credited with 51 mission points and flying 279 combat hours over Europe.
Moss then made his way to Naples for a transport ship home, which he got not long after and landed in New York. After some brief R&R, he continued on as an instructor in B-24s and C-54s, as well as later taking part in the “Berlin Airlift” as a C-54 pilot. In 1957, he received nuclear weapons officer training and was briefly assigned as director of quality control at a classified weapons storage site in South Dakota before being sent to Korea in 1961. In 1964, Thomas Moss retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel with a command pilot rating. Moss and his wife Marguerite had three daughters and were married for 63 years in which they loved traveling the world together. Thomas Randolph Moss died in Denver in 2020 at the age of 99.
This exceptionally fine and historic Singer Model 1911A1 pistol was manufactured in 1941 along with the other 499 standard production Singer pistols, many of which have not survived to this day. The left of the slide on this example has the standard “S. MFG. CO./ELIZABETH, N.J. ,U.S.A.” address, the right is unmarked, and there is a “P” proof on top just in front of the rear sight. The right side of the frame has the “JKC” inspection mark of Colonel John K. Clement, which is found on all government accepted Singer manufactured pistols, as well as another “P” proof. The full blue, non-factory replacement barrel is marked “S P” on the left of the lug. The right side of the frame has the correct U.S. property markings, “S” prefixed serial number, and “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” marking. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, short stamped trigger, long grip safety, checkered wide hammer, checkered slide stop, magazine release, and thumb safety; arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, correct non-reinforced “hollow back” grips, and a replacement “S” marked full blued contractor-made magazine.
Included with the pistol is a signed statement from Thomas R. Moss, which includes a copy of his military identification card, that lists this pistol by serial number stating that it was issued to him new and in the box, and that it is unaltered and never went to the armory for repair. It goes on to state that the pistol flew with him for his entire career and on all his missions and was not out of his possession until 12 March 2018. Also included is a copy of Moss’ mission record. More information about Moss can be found at https://461st.org/ as well as in an hour long video interview with Moss which can is available through the Library of Congress website. Also includes a “US” marked Boyt leather holster, green canvas belt, a Russell canvas magazine pouch, and two extra magazines (one “L” marked, one “S” marked).
A scarce, historic, documented Singer Model 1911A1 such as this could easily be the centerpiece of even the most prestigious public or private U.S. military collections. These Singer pistols have truly become the “holy grail” of 1911 and 1911A1 collecting for a variety of reasons. Their quality of manufacture is without question, even surpassing that of some of the best Colt manufactured automatics, and certainly being the finest of the World War II production 1911A1 pistols. There is also the fact that these pistols were issued and carried by young men of “the greatest generation”, many of whom were flying high over Europe and the Pacific, and many of whom never returned home. Finally, they are a palpable piece of the awakening of American industrial might and an enduring symbol of this country’s ability to adapt and overcome.
If the Singer Manufacturing Company could drop everything and make a weapon as fine as this, then there was nothing we couldn’t overcome. Then there are pistols like this one, having the added allure of being documented as the personal sidearm of one of those brave aviators. It seems only fitting that a Singer pistol such as this, a tangible symbol of the indomitable spirit of the American people, should be indelibly linked to Thomas Randolph Moss, as well as his loving wife Marguerite, who named his aircraft “Invictus”, likely after the poem of the same name which carries these lines:
“In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.”
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 80% of the original, high polish blue finish with some light holster/handling wear and some scattered light handling marks, typical of a pistol carried by a B-24 pilot for 35 combat missions over Europe during World War II. The grips are excellent with a few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster, belt, and magazine pouch are all very fine with some light wear. This is not only
an incredible opportunity to add an immensely collectible Singer Model 1911A1 pistol to your collection, but also an opportunity to take up the solemn duty of remembrance, making sure that the stories of these heroes like Thomas Moss are never forgotten.
Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas R. Moss; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 275,000 - 425,000
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