Page 349 - 88-BOOK1

LOT 423
Grouping of Airborne Infantry Insignia and Memorabilia from a Combat Medic with the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion - Established in 1941, the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion would gain the distinction of being the first American paratrooper unit to perform a live combat jump, dropping
into North Africa as part of the joint U.S./British opening of Operation Torch. The drop was, to be polite, a learning experience; after a long-haul flight from England to Africa, only about a quarter of the passengers actually jumped, the remainder dismounting after an improvised landing on a dry lake, though even
the 509th still reached the target by marching the old fashioned way. Later, the 509th would deploy for the invasions of Italy and Southern France, the former leading to an incident where a 46-man Pathfinder detachment bluffed the Germans into surrendering an entire island, which would later be documented
in John Steinbeck’s article collection “Once There Was A War”. During these actions the 509th would make air drops and also act as an amphibious assault and mountain warfare unit. They also saw combat during the Battle of the Bulge in the vicinity of Sadzot during the initial German counteroffensive, eventually fighting their way forward to retake St. Vith. While successful, the Bulge was effectively the end of the
war for the 509th, having been left with around 7% of the unit still effective; they would be disbanded in March of 1945, with the remaining men rolled into the 82nd Airborne Division as replacements. The unit would be reactivated after World War II, and remains on the Army rolls as the 509th Infantry Regiment to this day. The items in this lot are attributed as the wartime property of a Private Edwin Solak, a Combat Medic who served with Company C and the Headquarters Company of the 509th. Per the online history record of the unit, Solak is noted as having been with the 509th for the amphibious landing at Anzio and the airborne landing for Operation Dragoon in Southern France. The record does not note how exactly
his service ended, but he is documented as having participated in at least one post-war unit reunion. The contents include a vintage picture postcard of Solak in uniform (showing the Parachute tab and Fifth Army patch elsewhere in this lot), a nickel plated Combat medic badge, a silver-finished set of jump wings on a yellow trimmed black patch, and a brass badge for the French 3rd Zouave Regiment; a Vichy French unit that was defending the 509th’s intended target during the Torch drop, the commander of the 3rd instead opted to extend a hand of friendship, pinning a 3rd ZR badge on the 509th’s leader and turning their
guns on the Germans. The 3rd Zouave badge would become an authorized part of the 509th’s uniform to
commemorate the encounter. Also included are four cloth patches, reportedly hand-made in Naples, with
a “PARACHUTE” tab (white cord lettering on blue field), a 5th Army Patch (wire bullion on blue with a red
field), and two versions of the unofficial but authorized “Man in the Door”/”Gingerbread Man” insignia,
both featuring a simplified rendering of a paratrooper about to jump with “509” above and “Geronimo” below, one in yellow thread and the other in bullion wire. CONDITION: Very good overall, with the Zouave badge showing significant polishing, some light wear on the patches and Medic badge, and good detail overall. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000
LOT 424
Grouping of Airborne Infantry Insignia for a Medic with the 509th
Parachute Infantry Battalion - Established in 1941, the 509th Parachute
Infantry Battalion would gain the distinction of being the first American
paratrooper unit to perform a live combat jump, dropping into North Africa
as part of the joint U.S./British opening of Operation Torch. The drop was,
to be polite, a learning experience; after a long-haul flight from England to
Africa, only about a quarter of the passengers actually jumped, the remainder
dismounting after an improvised landing on a dry lake, though even the 509th
still reached the target by marching the old fashioned way. Later, the 509th
would deploy for the invasions of Italy and Southern France, the former leading
to an incident where a 46-man Pathfinder detachment bluffed the Germans
into surrendering an entire island, which would later be documented in John
Steinbeck’s article collection “Once There Was A War”. During these actions
the 509th would make air drops and also act as an amphibious assault and
mountain warfare unit. They also saw combat during the Battle of the Bulge
in the vicinity of Sadzot during the initial German counteroffensive, eventually
fighting their way forward to retake St. Vith. While successful, the Bulge was
effectively the end of the war for the 509th, having been left with around 7%
of the unit still effective; they would be disbanded in March of 1945, with the
remaining men rolled into the 82nd Airborne Division as replacements. The
unit would be reactivated after World War II, and remains on the Army rolls as
the 509th Infantry Regiment to this day. An attached note from the consignor
indicates that the items in the lot are the former property of a Richard D.
Adams of Lincoln, Nebraska, a Sergeant with the 509th; records are limited, but online records confirm Adams as a member of the 509th (but listed as a Private instead of a Sergeant). The grouping includes a set of silver bullion embroidered parachutists badge, “PARACHUTE” tab, and 5th Army patch, a pair of metal pins from the French 3rd Zouaves, and a pair of bullion embroidered “Man in the Door”/”Gingerbread Man” insignia patches, featuring a simplified rendering of a paratrooper about to jump with “509” above and “Geronimo” below.
CONDITION: Good overall. One of the Gingerbread Men shows some loss of wire in the embroidering, and the remainder of the items show mild wear and stains.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 10,000
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