Page 293 - 4092-BOOK2-FLIPBOOK

LOT 1319
Two Fine Display Pieces from the Chinese Commandos of World
War II and the American Submarine Besugo (SS 321) - 1) A fine embroidered silk display for American submarine USS Besugo (SS 321). Dimensions as currently mounted are 15 3/4 inches wide and 13 inches tall, with the top half depicting a unit emblem (a spotted puppy wearing a sailor hat, riding on a torpedo) flanked by American and Nationalist Chinese flags, with “BESUGO SS 321” above, the lower
half showing a side view of
the Besugo over the text
“TSING TAO CHINA”, with
an embroidered felt patch attached to the bottom
bearing the name “WILLIAM
F. FAMILLE”. Famille has not been identified. Launched in 1944, the Besugo completed five combat patrols in the Pacific during World War II, and among other actions penetrated the Bungo Straight to hunt in the waters
of the Japanese Home Islands
and sank German submarine U-183, making Besugo one of
the few American submarines to sink a German warship in WWII.
In 1947, Besugo was posted to Quingdao (also spelled Tsing Tao, then headquarters of the U.S. Western Pacific Fleet) for exercises in the Yellow Sea with the U.S. Seventh Fleet; this is most likely when the work was produced. 2) A display board of photographs and patches, 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, with a handwritten note on top “Presented to Pete/ Waddleton/by C.K. CHAN, Former Captain/of Chinese Parachute/ Commando”, featuring thirteen photographs and two patches. The pictures are chiefly of Chinese soldiers, several wearing gear
and insignia identifiable to joint
American/Nationalist Chinese
paratrooper training programs. One
of the patches is the “OSS Chinese
Commando” patch (embroidered
cloth, Nationalist star with wings over open canopy), the other is a Commando ID patch (printed cloth, Nationalist star and Chinese text on front, markings on back concealed by board).
LOT 1320
Grouping
of World
War II
American
Enlisted
Bomber
Crew
Patches
and
Insignia,
Including
Items
Named
to Individual Airmen - Included with the lot are a number of items named to two American airmen, a Corporal George Dean of the 424th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group and a Sergeant James Bollinger Junior of the 90th Bomb Group. Attributed to Corporal Dean by notes from a previous owner are a set of dog tags, aviator wings with bomb device, a vintage photograph with Dean named as one of the subjects, and two embroidered felt patches, 4 3/4 inch diameter, one for the 424th Squadron (black bomb falling over an ocean sunrise, white background), and one for the 307th Bomb Group (cat in cowboy gear riding a falling bomb marked “LONG/ RANGERS”, red background. Marked to Bollinger are a number of vintage identification cards/permits bearing his name, and general orders attributing multiple Air Medal Cluster awards and at least one air-to-air kill on
an enemy fighter to Bollinger. Also in the lot (some attributed to Bollinger) are four patches for the 90th Bomb Squad (all featuring the “skull over crossed bombs” unit design, one painted brown leather, one white-on-red embroidered felt, one white-on-green embroidered felt, one white-on blue embroidered felt), two patches
for the 5th Air Force (one embroidered, one bullion), three flight wing patches (one embroidered aircrew, one embroidered bomber, one bullion bomber), a triangular gold-on-blue “bomb” patch, two service chevrons on
a green wool patch and two embroidered Sergeants chevrons (with aviation device) on a single piece of cloth. Another photograph of an air crew is included; markings on the back attribute it to neither Dean or Bollinger. CONDITION: Very good overall, with wear and handling appropriate to age. The pin has detached from the metal bomber wings.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 1321
Custom Woodland Painted M1 Helmet - Camo painted M1
Helmet Made with the traditional two piece construction,
with the inner liner constructed from compressed fiber with
canvas and leather webbing, the exterior showing areas of
blue paint over the standard green, and red paint on the
broken chinstrap, and the outer shell showing the refined
pattern swivel bales and rear rim seam. The interior of the
shell is standard army green, with the exterior painted in a
custom paint pattern. The pattern resembles no mainstream
camouflage pattern, American or otherwise, essentially
being a painting of leaves and abstract shapes in assorted
colors, primarily light tans, browns and greens, with some darker leaves and branches, along with yellow, red, and white veins on some of the leaves. Some traces of a lighter blue are present, concentrated on the left rear area of
the helmet.
CONDITION: Very good overall. The shell shows a dent beneath the paint on the left side of the crown, and the webbing shows cracking and tearing, along with some rust buildup on the liner hardware.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,000 - 1,500 291
CONDITION: 1) The Besugo is fine and the embroidery shows minor stains and wear, with a small rough spot near (but not disrupting) the bow of the submarine. 2) Very good, with minor stains on the patches.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000