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LOT 1329
Grouping of Pins,
Patches and Other
Artifacts for an
Enlisted Army Air
Force Man in the
China-Burma-India
Theater - Born in
1920 in Pennsylvania,
Wilbert J. Zimmerman
was a high school
graduate and railroad
brakeman before
enlisting in the Army
in December of 1942.
Newspaper articles
from 1945 note him
as a Sergeant of
General Chennault’s
“Flying Tigers” with
the “Hawkeye Photo
Squadron”; this likely
means the 35th Photo
Reconnaissance
Squadron, which operated P-38 and F-5 Lightning photo recon aircraft in the China-Burma-India Theater under
General Chennault’s command following his return to the Army Air Force. Further records note a return to civilian
life and the railroad business by 1946, later branching out into education, spending most of his post-war life as
a teacher before passing on in 1999. In the grouping are a pair of dogtags and a bracelet bearing Zimmerman’s
name and service number, four pictures (unlabeled, but showing the same man in Army uniform with visible
AAF/CBI insignia), a large patch for the 35th Photo Recon Squadron (leather on leather, red hawk with camera on
blue and gold background, hand marked “Zimmerman” on the back) and 23rd Fighter Group (embroidered silk,
winged tiger diving with lightning in background, unmarked), smaller “flying tiger”, CBI and AAF patches, three
23rd FG pins, two CBI pins, Air Corps Technical Training Command pin, Nationalist Chinese pin, Good Conduct
Medal with bar (medal engraved to Zimmerman), Victory over Japan commemorative medal, Presidential Unit
Citation bar with oak leaf, two ribbon bars (one with American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (3 oak leaves),
and World War II Victory ribbons, the other with Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (3 oak leaves), World War II Victory and
an unidentified third ribbon) and a small ring with Army Air Force themed decoration.
CONDITION: Good overall, with minor wear and handling marks. The ring has a break in the band, some of the
ribbons show minor bleeding, and the 23rd FG patch some stains.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1328
Grouping of China-Burma-
India Aviation Items, Chiefly
Related to the 373rd Bomb
Squadron - Grouping includes a
large China-Burma-India “shield”
patch (5 inches wide and 7 inches
tall), leather American flag patch
(9 inches wide, 7 inches tall), a
leather patch for the 373rd Bomb
Squadron (5 7/8 inch diameter,
depicting a dragon winding
up to throw a bomb with a
white star and green field in the
background), and a silk banner
bearing the 373rd and CBI “shield”
insignias with a “1943” date and
Chinese text (52 inches long, 9
inches wide, with red/white/blue
tassels at the ends). Established
in 1942, the 373rd deployed
to Kunming in 1943, and was
actively engaged in supporting
Chinese ground forces, hitting
Japanese ground facilities
throughout the region, and
performing shipping interdiction.
The unit would move to Okinawa in 1945 for action against the Japanese Home Islands. Later, they would be
redesignated a strategic missile squadron, operating Titan II ICBMs located in Arkansas.
CONDITION: Very good, with minor stains and wear overall. The CBI patch and banner show some loose stitching,
but overall the patterns are solid and legible. The flag patch shows removed stitching from the edges, likely
having been formerly attached to a flight jacket or similar wardrobe item.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,100 - 1,600
LOT 1330
Leather American China-Burma-India
“Blood Chit” - Most famous for their use by
the pilots of the Flying Tigers and the aircrews
of the “Hump” long-haul logistics pipeline,
the blood chit was a way for foreign pilots,
who often lacked local language skills, to
seek civilian aid in the event of a bail-out or
forced landing. In short, the chit informs the
reader that the person carrying it is an ally of
China, and requests their help returning them
to Nationalist authorities. Seen in multiple
patterns, this chit measures about 9 inches
tall and 10 inches wide, with the top half filled
with American and Nationalist Chinese flags,
and the text below. No markings are present
on the back, or any stamps or seals. The
Nationalist flag is decorated with a set of gold
bullion embroidered wings accented with a
Nationalist star.
CONDITION: Good overall, with mild scuffs and
stains, and a small tear in the lower right section of the chit.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
LOT 1327
Grouping of Patches
from The Chinese
Commandos - The
product of a plan
established in January
of 1945, the Chinese
Commando formations
were intended to be elite
parachute-capable units
consisting of Chinese
troopers supported and
trained by American OSS
officers and men. Twenty
were planned, but due
to supply and logistics
issues only seven
completed training
and saw action before
war’s end. The grouping
includes a set of gold
bullion jump wings, two
paratrooper patches (round with an open canopy, one in silver bullion on purple silk, one white emboridered on
red with a Nationalist star),two variants of the Commando shoulder sleeve insignia (one with a winged Nationalist
star over an open canopy, three with Nationalist and American stars over a canopy and “large flying bird” text),
a pair of “arrow through sun” lapel patches, three rocker patches (two “CHINESE 14 COMMANDO”, one “SPECIAL
RECON. BN.”), and a Nationalist ID patch (bullion/embroidered on blue cloth, no markings on back).
CONDITION: Good, with mild wear and tear overall. All show evidence of having been installed in a scrapbook,
with some staining from the glue.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500