Lt Howard W Danks flew as a P-47 fighter pilot with the 8th Army Air Corps and 12th Army Air Corps (66th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group) before becoming a fighter pilot instructor in Byran, Texas.  On 05/05/1945 Lt Danks was tragically killed when his At-6 aircraft collided with another aircraft during a training exercise.

This uniform group includes:

• Beautiful English-Made Ike Jacket with brown Bakelite buttons, satin lining, and smartly tailored lapels.  Danks penned his name and the date May 1943 on the name tag inside the inner pocket.  The jacket has the following insignia:
  • Felt AAC shoulder sleeve insignia (right shoulder)
  • Embroidered 8th AAC shoulder sleeve insignia (left shoulder)
  • Officer AAC props and “US” pins with WWII smooth-back clutches
  • 2nd Lieutenant pin-back insignia on the epaulets
  • Air Medal ribbon bar with 2 oakleaf clusters
  • Purple Heart ribbon bar
  • 3 inch pin-back aviator wings marked “Amcraft” and “sterling”
  • Presidential Unit Citation
• Officer quality overseas cap with a pin-back 2nd Lieutenant bar
• Pin-back AAC photo ID badge
• Copy of a document verifying eligibility to wear 3 oakleaf clusters on his Air Medal (from G.O. No. 122, Hq. Twelfth Air Force, August 7, 1944)
• Copy of a 6 page document involving a plane crash of a fellow squadron member during a bombing run in Italy on 09/07/1944.  Includes Lt Dank’s eye witness account.
• Copy of a 6 page aircraft accident report where Lt. Danks crashed his plane during flight school.
• Copy of a 38 page report involving Lt. Danks’ fatal collision.  The report includes periods images of the wreckage.

Price: SOLD

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The 6th Infantry fought hard in New Guinea and the Philippines during WWII and judging by campaign ribbons, this veteran was present for all the fighting.  The jacket is Australian made and 1944 dated with the name “Kelly” marked inside with pen.  The insignia includes:

• “US” collar cipher w/ smooth back clutches
• Screw-back Infantry collar cipher with an “F” to denote F Company
• Two enamel DIs (Distinctive Insignia).  One is pin-back the other screw-back. “Semper Primus” is 1st Infanty Regiment, which was attached to the 6th Division during WWII.
• Sterling CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) with silver smooth back clutches
• Ribbon bars for: WWII Victory, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1 invasion arrowhead, 2 campaign stars), American Theater, Philippine Campaign (1 star), American Defense Service, and Good Conduct.
• Ruptured Duck
• Staff Sgt Chevrons
• 4 Overseas Stripes
• 6th Infantry Division Patch
• Pacific Theater Command Patch

I did a google search for “F Company 1st Infantry 6th Division” and found a WWII 6th Infantry website that has a photo of a Jack Kelley from F Co. 1st Regiment posing by a jeep in HBT coveralls at Camp Young, CA.  There is plenty of research potential with this Aussie-made Ike Jacket!

Price: SOLD

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Offered is an Ike jacket I purchased directly from the veteran several years ago.  The veteran served as a radio operator in HQ (head quarters), 9th F.A. (Field Artillery Regiment), 3rd Army Division.  His dates of service are from 5/12/1952 – 2/09/1954.

The 9th F.A. participated in the following campaigns in Korea:

•    UN Defensive;
•    UN Offensive
•    CCF Intervention
•    First UN Counteroffensive
•    CCF Spring Offensive
•    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
•    Second Korean Winter
•    Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
•    Third Korean Winter
•    Korea, Summer 1953

Here is a great site with information and photos of “The Mighty Ninth” during the Korean War: http://9thfakorea.org/index.html

The Ike jacket is in excellent condition and has WWII era EM/NCO collar ciphers for Artillery, with crossed cannons and “US”.  All the patches are nicely machine sewn on and the 3rd Division patch is on khaki twill.  The Ike is dated 12/16/1944 and is a size “38 R”.  It also has a Korea Campaign Medal ribbon with two bronze campaign stars.

Included is a copy of the FOIA form I received from NARA detailing the veteran’s military service.

Price: Sold

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This uniform was worn by a two-war veteran (WWII and Korea). In WWII, this soldier received Ranger training at the divisional level and was attached to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Division. He was more than likely a Scout. I was able to verify his receipt of the CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) in 1944 from 100th Division General Orders (GO#26).

The Ike jacket is WWII era (dated June 9th, 1944) and has Korean War era SSGT “combat” chevrons, a 100th Division patch, a red Ranger tab, a 4th Army Patch, “US” EM/NCO collar cipher, and a Chemical Corps cipher. The officer quality shirt also has Korean War era SSGT combat chevrons, and a 4th Army patch. The Ike, shirt, and trousers all have the soldier’s laundry ID printed inside. The Ike and shirt have serious moth damage, with concentrations of damage on the lower sleeves and armpits. The trousers also show mothing, but to a lesser extant than the other uniform pieces.

The Vet’s WWII enlisted record is listed at NARA here.

Price: Sold

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This Ike jacket was worn by a WWII veteran that served as an Airplane Maintenance Technician  in the 596th Bomb Squadron (Medium), 397th Bomb Group in England.  He was inducted into the service on 04/02/1942 and was discharged on 10/20/1945.

His discharge (copy included with Ike) verifies is participation in the following campaigns:

• Air Offensive-Europe
• Normandy
• Northern France
• Rhineland
• Ardennes
• Central Europe

He received the following Decorations and Citations:

• Good Conduct Medal (GO 3, 416th Bomb Group 1943)
• Distinguished Unit Badge (1944)
• Bronze Star Medal (GO 189, 9th AF 1944)

The ike jacket has a beautiful bullion on wool 9th AAC shoulder sleeve insignia.  All the insignia is original to the jacket and has not been messed with.  The ETO campaign ribbon has nice English oversized campaign stars.  The jacket has a moth nip here and there, but nothing that detracts from the display on this wonderful, original uniform.

Price: Sold

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This uniform group is an exceptional offering to a member of the famed ‘Devil’s Brigade’, the First Special Service Force.  John P. Grantz was a member of 5-3 and is listed as such in the roster in the official First Special Service Force unit history, written by Robert D. Burhans (p. 343).

The WWII era Ike jacket shows minor wear, with a few tiny rub spots and holes, but they are small and can hardly be seen.  All insignia is original to the jacket and has never been removed.  The 3 place ribbon bar includes: EAME (European-African-Middle Eastern) campaign ribbon with an invasion arrowhead plus 4 campaign stars, a Pacific campaign ribbon with one star (for the assault on Kiska), and a Good Conduct ribbon.  The red/white/blue Force shoulder cord is magnificent along with the enlisted crossed arrows disc.  The FSSF shoulder patch is a known variant that was made and purchased in Nice, France.

Both the jacket and cap are named to Grantz.  The O/S cap is textbook with the correct FSSF braid and tape to the piping.

Another stunning part of this group (aside from the theater made patch), is Grantz’s V-42 knife.  This knife is in superb condition as is its leather sheath.  He must have sent this knife home rather than bringing it overseas.  The scabbard shows some minor rust on the rivet heads, but is otherwise excellent.  It still retains its original length, as many of these were cut down.

You would be hard pressed to find another named Force group with its original V-42 knife!

Price: SOLD

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This is a well-documented Airborne uniform, photograph, and paperwork grouping from my personal collection. The veteran (Anthony A. Gutberlet Jr.) had been with H&S Co. 78th Engineer Bn., 27th Division prior to completing paratrooper training at Sendai Jump School (Japan), and being assigned to 127th AEB (Airborne Engineering Battalion), 11th Airborne Division.

This grouping includes the following:

1. Enlisted/NCO Ike jacket in a size 38R and dated June 10, 1944. The lapels have EM “US” and Engineering collar devices with early, flat-faced clutches. The left (combat) sleeve has a 27th Division shoulder sleeve insignia that is decoratively hand stitched to the uniform in a cross-stitch pattern. The right sleeve has an 11th Airborne patch with engineering cap braid beautifully hand stitched around border. There are two overseas stripes on the cuff. The left breast has a sterling marked, pin-back set of jump wings, a three-piece, pin-back ribbon bar with an Army of Occupation ribbon (for Japan), a WWII Victory ribbon, and an Asiatic Pacific Campaign ribbon. Directly above the three-piece ribbon bar is a pin-back Good Conduct ribbon. There are a few tiny moth nips in the jacket, but you have to really look hard in strong light to find them. It displays perfectly.

2. Enlisted overseas cap with engineer braid and a beautiful, Japanese-made heavy bullion airborne cap badge. The red wool backing is excellent with no mothing. The cap is lined in silk with a leather sweatband. There is no size, but I would guess it’s about a 7.

3. Brass roller belt buckle that has been customized by affixing sterling jump wings on the face of the buckle then overlaying officers Engineer collar device on top of the jump wings! Very sharp!

4. Early enamel Engineering DI w/ threaded post

5. Single dog tag (named to the vet)

6. An original jump certificate from the Sendai Jump School; that is hand signed by General Swing. This is a rare document!

7. Three-page hand written lyric sheets for the song, “Blood on the Risers”

8. Hard cover photo album containing 244 photographs of the veteran in the 27th Division and 11th Airborne. There are many photographs of the vet and his buddies in jump boots and signature 11th A/B “swing caps”, doing parachute jumps, etc. Most of the photographs have nice descriptions written under them. There is a wealth of information here. The back cover of the album contains written entries of important dates for the veteran.

9. Twenty-nine loose photographs (some 5×7). Of the 5×7 images, One of the photos is of the vet in a jeep w/ a khaki overseas cap with airborne patch, khaki Class B’s with his pants blouses into his boots. His shirt has a jump oval and wings and his 11th Airborne SSI has engineering cap braid around it. The other image is of the vet in a jeep in HBTs. He is wearing his jump wings around his neck by threading them through dog tag chain!

10. Original certificates for completed courses including infantry training, blueprint reading, etc.

11. On original copy of a general order (HQ 127th A/B Engineer Bn)

12. Two original prints of 6×11 unit photos for 78th Engineer Bn w/ the names of all the vets on the back.

13. Seventeen pieces of paper occupational currency

14. Several paper items (immunization record, temporary passes, motor vehicle permits, ration cards, programs, etc).
All the items have been carefully stored in archival quality sleeves (included). It is difficult to find WWII era uniforms groupings that come with any paperwork. This one has plenty!

Price: SOLD

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This uniform was worn by the Battalion Surgeon for the 466th PFA (17th Airborne). He jumped near Wesel, Germany on March 24, 1945 during Operation Varsity and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his actions on this day. When the 17th Airborne disbanded, he went to the 463rd PFA (101st Airborne), then the 456th PFA (82nd Airborne). This veteran is credited with creating an irrigation device for eye wounds that is still used by medical personnel in the field today.

The group includes:

• Officers overseas cap w/ para glider patch and pin-back Captain bars
• Ike jacket with the following attached:
  • 17th Airborne patch
  • 82nd Airborne patch
  • Officer Medical ciphers
  • Officer “US” ciphers
  • Pin-back Captain bars
  • Presidential Unit Citation
  • Sterling Pin-back Combat Medic Badge
  • Belgium Fourragere (shoulder cord)
  • French Fourragere (shoulder cord)
  • Three-place sewn on ribbon bar with Bronze Star Medal (For Valor), American Campaign, ETO Campaign w/ 1 Invasion Arrowhead (for Operation Varsity) and 3 Campaign Stars (Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe)
  • Red Wool Parachute Oval (for Artillery)
  • Pinback “Sterling” marked jump wings with a combat star affixed (for Operation Varsity)
  • Three overseas stripes
• Wool trousers w/ name penned in two places (see pics)
• Tan web belt
• Jump Boots w/ vet’s name inked on both tongues (see pic).  They are size 10 1/2 D and dated July 26, 1943.
• Original print of veteran posing beside his uniform
• Copies of WWII images of veteran posing with his family
• Copy of Separation Record
• Copy of General Order for Bronze Star Medal
• Copy of the write up for the 466th PFA’s recommendation for the Unit Citation, in which the veteran is mentioned several times
• Copy of General Order for Combat Medic Badge
• Copies of Special/Transfer Orders
• Photocopies of Unit related articles the veteran kept

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This 503rd RCT / 511th PIR uniform was worn by a paratrooper that served from April 7th, 1944 through May 10th, 1946. He participated in the Negros Campaign (Southern Philippines) with the 503rd Regimental Combat Team (attached to the 11th Airborne Division) before being transferred to the 511th PIR, 11th Airborne.

The Ike jacket has a beautiful, hand embroidered, Japanese-made, 503rd RCT patch on his combat sleeve and a pin-back Combat Infantry Badge.

The grouping included his knife, dog tags, some occupation currency, photographs, paperwork, ephemera, and a hand painted silk scarf that is named to the veteran across the neck.

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Here is a WWII uniform from my personal collection. It is not for sale.

This uniform grouping was worn by a PFC in Service Company 401st GIF, 101st Airborne. The vet was a post D-Day replacement and fought in Holland (Operation Market Garden), where he was seriously wounded and spent the next year and a half in hospitals recovering.
His uniform has a three-place ribbon bar an with ETO ribbon w/ two campaign stars, Good Conduct ribbon, and Purple Heart ribbon. The ribbon bar pin is broken and the insignia was sewn to the uniform upside down, causing the ribbons to be in reverse order, but that is how the uniform was received from the vet, so it was left as is.

Included with the group are several V-Mail and regular letters he sent home, a 101st Airborne unit history book and booklet, and recent photos of the vet holding the uniform pieces. His overseas cap has an interesting para/glider patch variant.

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