#1 - WW2 B17 flying fortress pilots grouping.
Lieutenant Clifford Magnuson, who was the pilot of the B-17 Bomber "Sad Sack" and member of the 429th Bomber Squadron in Italy. Lt Magnuson's aircraft was disabled while on an attack against Villa Orba airfield In Italy on 3/18/44. He parachuted into Slovenia with other survivors and was able to resist capture by enemy forces with the help of Yugoslavian patriots.
MISSION 162, MARCH 18, 1944 VILLAORBA, ITALY, AIRDROME The enemy fighters had been rising from this airdrome in northeastern Italy to oppose Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers going to targets in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Clustered fragmentation bombs were dropped, with good results. Of the 27 airplanes on the ground, 7 were destroyed and 6 damaged. Bombs covered the landing area, part of a dispersal area and damaged or destroyed several buildings and installations. Many fighters were in the air to protect this vital installation, however, and three Group airplanes were lost. The fighters started their attack thirty-three minutes before target time and continued until shortly after bombs were away. They shot down three airplanes, damaged another twenty-four and slightly wounded two crewmen. Four fighters were downed in the exchange. One observer stated that four Ju-88s attacked the 20th Squadron with rockets. They lined up 4 "Let's go a 'hunting. " abreast about 600 yards out at 6:00 o'clock, and took turns firing their weapons. The third or fourth rocket destroyed the left horizontal stabilizer and most of the vertical stabilizer of 1st. Lt. Williard O. Butler Jr.'s airplane, number 42-31749. The airplane nosed up sharply as if to do a chandelle then went into a falling leaf spin. No one saw any parachutes emerge. The bombardier, 2nd Lt. Adam J. Pyzyna was the only survivor, and no statement was taken from him.i5 He evaded with the help of the Yugoslavian Partisans, joined other evaders, and was flown out forty-six days later with a group of 102 evaders. 1st Lt. Clifford E. Magnuson, and crew, flying "Sad Sack," airplane number 42-29584, 429th Squadron, were last seen headed toward the interior of Yugoslavia with 10 or 12 fighters attacking. Six parachutes were seen. Of Magnuson's crew, S/Sgt. Lawrence H. Meidl, LTG, was killed; navigator, 2nd Lt. Raymond E. Home, Jr. and 2nd Lt. Raymond R. McKee, bombardier, became prisoners of war; the rest
evaded and returned to Allied control. Lts. Horne and McKee were members of the 775th Squadron as were two of the evaders, Sgt. Irl Parker Jr., TG, and Sgt. Vernon A. Jansen, ROG. Lt. Magnuson reported that the first hit was in the right wing and the next in the cockpit, where a fire started in the oxygen and hydraulic systems. Magnuson slid out of the formation to jettison the bombs clear of other airplanes and gave the order to bailout. Crew members reported that Sgt. Meidl was the first one to the waist door, but for reasons that are not known, he did not immediately bailout. He and SISgt. Leo C. Rossi, LWG, were standing next to the door when what appeared to be 20mm shells hit the airplane at approximately their location. Later Lt. Magnuson was told by Partisans that Sgt. Meidl was found dead in the vicinity of the airplane crash, and was buried at a village nearby. Also, that Sgt. Rossi was in a Partisan hospital with a severe arm injury.
Magnuson passed close to where Rossi was, but was not allowed to see him because an offensive was underway in the area. SISgt. Joe E. Ferguson, RWG, likewise, was told about Sgt. Meidl and was given Meidl's dog tags and some personal belongings. Ferguson was told that Sgt. Rossi's severely wounded arm had been amputated and that he was resting comfortably. Two days later when all the evaders were brought together by the Partisans, Ferguson turned Sgt. Meidl's personal effects over to Magnuson. 16 With the aid of the Partisans, the remainder of Magnuson's crew evaded for fortysix days and were part of 102 evaders brought back to Allied control. Lt. Magnuson turned over SISgt. Meidl's personal effects to Intelligence at Fifteenth Air Force Headquarters at Bari. Airplane number 41-24435, "Yankee Do Dit", 429th Squadron, was also lost on this mission. At interrogation, no one in the Group was able to report on what happened to it. The pilot, 1st Lt. Theodore (NMI) Griffith, 2nd Lt. William S. Doyle, copilot, and Sgt. Stephen M. Murinchack, UTG, went down with the plane and were killed. Sgt. Murinchack was from the 775th Squadron. The rest of the crew bailed out safely. Five became POWs and two evaded. Three of the POWs were members of the 775th. Some of the surviving crew members stated they bailed out about 15 miles northeast of Trieste, Italy, at approximately 13,000 feet. They could give no conclusive reason why the pilot, copilot, and engineer, did not abandon the airplane, but SISgt. Edward A. Greenlaw, TG, offered a supposition. Lt. Griffith had been informed that a waist gunner had been hit and his parachute ruined. Lt. Griffith told the other waist gunner to put the spare chute on the injured man. Griffith had no way of knowing this had been done because by then the intercom was out of commission and the passageway to the fight deck was barred by fire. The supposition was that the crew on the flight deck - pilot, copilot and engineer - stayed with the airplane to attempt a crash landing believing that one or more crew members were still in the waist. After SISgt. Greenlaw bailed out and was descending in his chute, he saw a plane very low, apparently under control, but trailing smoke and flame. Suddenly it nosed over and crashed to the ground. 17 216 This crew flew the durable "Wabash Cannon Ball, " with 90 missions, 9 aerial victories and 4 ships to its credit.
Silver pilot Wings name tag + Air Navigation Chart from
Paris to Rome - Special Air Navigation Chart - A colored contour map that covers much of Europe including Paris, Caen, Munich, Budapest, Rome & Naples and part of Sardenia, east coast of Spain and west coast of Yugoslavia. Map shows every railroad with legend for 1 & 2 tracks and also mine quarries. No roads.
I may take trades for a very nice antique S&W top break. Or?
Have something I may be interested in just send me a message! I'm fairly easy within reason.
$400
Added 10/12:
#2 - Antique Austrian knife manufactured by Gebrüder Kellner - wein.
14.5" overall length wide sweeping bayonet style blade. Stag handle. Steel fittings are tight with no movement. No pitting in blade. Nice high carbon steel, razor sharp. I did have the blades edge restored as it had a couple Knicks and dings and was fairly dull. Original sheath nicely marked. $600
#3 added 10/14
Ww2 American flag manufactured by United service flag co. Nyc. 48 star. Huge 9x5.5 feet
Has been stored folded in a box since the war. From James w. Harris lieutenant air forces army.
I believe never to have been used. Need more photos? Send over a message
New unused from a veteran. Vibrant stunning. Excellent condition. - sold
#4 added 10/14
Three u.s Vietnam war era demolition kit knives.
One left 1967 with lightly sharpened blade $35
#5 added 10/27
Ww2 Italian youth dagger. Very good condition no sheath. Some spotting on blade that should clean up nice. Tight handle and fittings. This one came in a grouping from a b17 bomber pilot that was shot down over northeastern Italy. I have no clue where he got it and can only assume it was acquired as a war trophy in his travels. Found in his footlocker, have more information on the veteran if desired. $250 ships in a medium flat rate box
#6 added 11/8
Cold war east German Soviet helmets _ have 18 available.New unissued. Adjustable liner. These came in three shell sizes I II III. This is a size III. Comes with new net. I have 18 left.
I was surprised to see the ballistic protection these offer watching a video on YouTube. These are new unissued coming out of an old airplane hanger in the eastern plains of Colorado..
$100 each
#7 added 11/10 Original ww2 period calvary visor.
100% legit. A couple moth nips abit dusty. Displays very well. Original insignia. Nice shape sized 56 1/2 - SOLD
PayPal friend and family option or postal office money order acceptable.
Lieutenant Clifford Magnuson, who was the pilot of the B-17 Bomber "Sad Sack" and member of the 429th Bomber Squadron in Italy. Lt Magnuson's aircraft was disabled while on an attack against Villa Orba airfield In Italy on 3/18/44. He parachuted into Slovenia with other survivors and was able to resist capture by enemy forces with the help of Yugoslavian patriots.
MISSION 162, MARCH 18, 1944 VILLAORBA, ITALY, AIRDROME The enemy fighters had been rising from this airdrome in northeastern Italy to oppose Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers going to targets in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Clustered fragmentation bombs were dropped, with good results. Of the 27 airplanes on the ground, 7 were destroyed and 6 damaged. Bombs covered the landing area, part of a dispersal area and damaged or destroyed several buildings and installations. Many fighters were in the air to protect this vital installation, however, and three Group airplanes were lost. The fighters started their attack thirty-three minutes before target time and continued until shortly after bombs were away. They shot down three airplanes, damaged another twenty-four and slightly wounded two crewmen. Four fighters were downed in the exchange. One observer stated that four Ju-88s attacked the 20th Squadron with rockets. They lined up 4 "Let's go a 'hunting. " abreast about 600 yards out at 6:00 o'clock, and took turns firing their weapons. The third or fourth rocket destroyed the left horizontal stabilizer and most of the vertical stabilizer of 1st. Lt. Williard O. Butler Jr.'s airplane, number 42-31749. The airplane nosed up sharply as if to do a chandelle then went into a falling leaf spin. No one saw any parachutes emerge. The bombardier, 2nd Lt. Adam J. Pyzyna was the only survivor, and no statement was taken from him.i5 He evaded with the help of the Yugoslavian Partisans, joined other evaders, and was flown out forty-six days later with a group of 102 evaders. 1st Lt. Clifford E. Magnuson, and crew, flying "Sad Sack," airplane number 42-29584, 429th Squadron, were last seen headed toward the interior of Yugoslavia with 10 or 12 fighters attacking. Six parachutes were seen. Of Magnuson's crew, S/Sgt. Lawrence H. Meidl, LTG, was killed; navigator, 2nd Lt. Raymond E. Home, Jr. and 2nd Lt. Raymond R. McKee, bombardier, became prisoners of war; the rest
evaded and returned to Allied control. Lts. Horne and McKee were members of the 775th Squadron as were two of the evaders, Sgt. Irl Parker Jr., TG, and Sgt. Vernon A. Jansen, ROG. Lt. Magnuson reported that the first hit was in the right wing and the next in the cockpit, where a fire started in the oxygen and hydraulic systems. Magnuson slid out of the formation to jettison the bombs clear of other airplanes and gave the order to bailout. Crew members reported that Sgt. Meidl was the first one to the waist door, but for reasons that are not known, he did not immediately bailout. He and SISgt. Leo C. Rossi, LWG, were standing next to the door when what appeared to be 20mm shells hit the airplane at approximately their location. Later Lt. Magnuson was told by Partisans that Sgt. Meidl was found dead in the vicinity of the airplane crash, and was buried at a village nearby. Also, that Sgt. Rossi was in a Partisan hospital with a severe arm injury.
Magnuson passed close to where Rossi was, but was not allowed to see him because an offensive was underway in the area. SISgt. Joe E. Ferguson, RWG, likewise, was told about Sgt. Meidl and was given Meidl's dog tags and some personal belongings. Ferguson was told that Sgt. Rossi's severely wounded arm had been amputated and that he was resting comfortably. Two days later when all the evaders were brought together by the Partisans, Ferguson turned Sgt. Meidl's personal effects over to Magnuson. 16 With the aid of the Partisans, the remainder of Magnuson's crew evaded for fortysix days and were part of 102 evaders brought back to Allied control. Lt. Magnuson turned over SISgt. Meidl's personal effects to Intelligence at Fifteenth Air Force Headquarters at Bari. Airplane number 41-24435, "Yankee Do Dit", 429th Squadron, was also lost on this mission. At interrogation, no one in the Group was able to report on what happened to it. The pilot, 1st Lt. Theodore (NMI) Griffith, 2nd Lt. William S. Doyle, copilot, and Sgt. Stephen M. Murinchack, UTG, went down with the plane and were killed. Sgt. Murinchack was from the 775th Squadron. The rest of the crew bailed out safely. Five became POWs and two evaded. Three of the POWs were members of the 775th. Some of the surviving crew members stated they bailed out about 15 miles northeast of Trieste, Italy, at approximately 13,000 feet. They could give no conclusive reason why the pilot, copilot, and engineer, did not abandon the airplane, but SISgt. Edward A. Greenlaw, TG, offered a supposition. Lt. Griffith had been informed that a waist gunner had been hit and his parachute ruined. Lt. Griffith told the other waist gunner to put the spare chute on the injured man. Griffith had no way of knowing this had been done because by then the intercom was out of commission and the passageway to the fight deck was barred by fire. The supposition was that the crew on the flight deck - pilot, copilot and engineer - stayed with the airplane to attempt a crash landing believing that one or more crew members were still in the waist. After SISgt. Greenlaw bailed out and was descending in his chute, he saw a plane very low, apparently under control, but trailing smoke and flame. Suddenly it nosed over and crashed to the ground. 17 216 This crew flew the durable "Wabash Cannon Ball, " with 90 missions, 9 aerial victories and 4 ships to its credit.
Silver pilot Wings name tag + Air Navigation Chart from
Paris to Rome - Special Air Navigation Chart - A colored contour map that covers much of Europe including Paris, Caen, Munich, Budapest, Rome & Naples and part of Sardenia, east coast of Spain and west coast of Yugoslavia. Map shows every railroad with legend for 1 & 2 tracks and also mine quarries. No roads.
I may take trades for a very nice antique S&W top break. Or?
Have something I may be interested in just send me a message! I'm fairly easy within reason.
$400
Added 10/12:
#2 - Antique Austrian knife manufactured by Gebrüder Kellner - wein.
14.5" overall length wide sweeping bayonet style blade. Stag handle. Steel fittings are tight with no movement. No pitting in blade. Nice high carbon steel, razor sharp. I did have the blades edge restored as it had a couple Knicks and dings and was fairly dull. Original sheath nicely marked. $600
#3 added 10/14
Ww2 American flag manufactured by United service flag co. Nyc. 48 star. Huge 9x5.5 feet
Has been stored folded in a box since the war. From James w. Harris lieutenant air forces army.
I believe never to have been used. Need more photos? Send over a message
New unused from a veteran. Vibrant stunning. Excellent condition. - sold
#4 added 10/14
Three u.s Vietnam war era demolition kit knives.
One left 1967 with lightly sharpened blade $35
#5 added 10/27
Ww2 Italian youth dagger. Very good condition no sheath. Some spotting on blade that should clean up nice. Tight handle and fittings. This one came in a grouping from a b17 bomber pilot that was shot down over northeastern Italy. I have no clue where he got it and can only assume it was acquired as a war trophy in his travels. Found in his footlocker, have more information on the veteran if desired. $250 ships in a medium flat rate box
#6 added 11/8
Cold war east German Soviet helmets _ have 18 available.New unissued. Adjustable liner. These came in three shell sizes I II III. This is a size III. Comes with new net. I have 18 left.
I was surprised to see the ballistic protection these offer watching a video on YouTube. These are new unissued coming out of an old airplane hanger in the eastern plains of Colorado..
$100 each
#7 added 11/10 Original ww2 period calvary visor.
100% legit. A couple moth nips abit dusty. Displays very well. Original insignia. Nice shape sized 56 1/2 - SOLD
PayPal friend and family option or postal office money order acceptable.
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