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LOT 3400
Collection of Memorabilia and Medals for a Pilot of the
64th Fighter Squadron, the “Black Scorpions” - Born in
Massachusetts in 1919, Ralph S. Lucardi was a graduate from the
American International College in Springfield when he signed up as
an Aviation Cadet. After completing his training, he joined up with
the 64th Fighter Squadron, part of the 57th Fighter Group under
the 12th Air Force. Previously heavily engaged in North Africa in
support of action at El Alamein and the pursuit of Rommel, the
64th had worked its way up from Africa to Sicily and to Corsica and
Mainland Italy flying P-40s and P-47s against the Axis. The 64th
was in Corsica when Lucardi joined them, running attack missions
into Italy as part of Operation Strangle in an attempt to cut off the
German Gustav Line from supply. While not successful in starving
out the Germans, they greatly impacted rail mobility of supplies
and tactical mobility of German forces, complicating their defense
of Central Italy. Lucardi himself flew 111 missions with the unit,
including leading an air raid on an enemy aerodrome where he
destroyed 14 aircraft on the ground and earned the Distinguished
Flying Cross. Rotating back to the States to help run the Fighter
Gunnery School in Las Vegas, he was released from service in
December of 1945. In between the end of WWII and the start of the
Korean War, he earned a master’s degree in physical chemistry and
went to work as a research chemist. Returning to service during
Korea, he would train in biological warfare, serve at the Pentagon,
and participate in the 425L Program of the Air Force Research and
Development Command, which was responsible for designing,
developing, testing and constructing the hardware of the NORAD
Combat Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain. He would retire
at the rank of Colonel in 1972. A number of medals and insignias
are in the group, along with Lucardi’s dog tags and a set of four
vintage photos featuring the 64th Fighter Squadron, Lucardi
himself and Lucardi’s P-47 named “Jane II”. A 5 3/8 inch diameter
leather patch features the 64th emblem, a black scorpion over a
pyramid, and a finely bullion embroidered cloth patch bears the logo and motto of the 57th Fighter
group. A pair of Army Air Force patches and a “winged propeller” patch are present, with three metal
1st Lieutenant’s bars, 3 sets of pilot wings (two bullion, one unmarked silver), and a 12th Air Force
patch. Full sized medals include the Legion of Merit, Air Medal, World War II Medal, American Campaign
Medal and European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign, miniature medals for the Distinguished
Service Cross, Air Medal (with 3 oak leaves), American Campaign, European, African and Middle Eastern
Campaign, World War II and Armed Forces Reserve medals. A number of ribbons are also included,
among them 4 Distinguished Unit Citations (two with 2 oak leaves, two with 3 oak leaves).
CONDITION: Very good overall. Some of the medals show folding and creasing of the ribbons, and
some staining is present on the Army Air Force patches. The vintage photos show some creasing and
curling but remain good overall. The leather patch shows some staining along the edge, with one hole
in the top quadrant.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
LOT 3401
Patch for the 414th Night Fighter Squadron and Photographs for the Same, Attributed to
a Pilot of the 414th - The grouping includes a bullion patch for the 414th Night Fighter Squadron
(depicting a black panther pouncing through a night sky), and a number of photographs. Among the
photos are shots of unidentified aircraft/unit insignia, shots of the P-61 “Black Widow” night fighter,
and pictures of American aviators and ground crew, three of which are labeled as men/officers of
the 414th. Two of the 414th pictures (one of a single officer and a group shot in the Officer’s Club
with notations) and the patch are noted to a “Lieutenant Frank Northcutt”; online records confirm a
Grover Frank Northcutt of McFarlan, North Carolina as a pilot and officer with the 414th and three
time recipient of the Air Medal. A college instructor, business manager and talented singer in civilian
life, Northcutt was with the 414th when they earned the Presidential Unit Citation for action over the
Anzio Beachhead, and returned to service for Korea as an instructor for night fighters.
CONDITION: Very good overall.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500