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I purchased this S&W Navy marked Victory revolver along with the pilot holster from a local dealer about 2 years ago and the adventure began there. Amazingly enough, there was a name (Bert Morgan) and flight group (VT-1) still inked on the back of the strap. The revolver is the standard issue U.S.NAVY marked version.
The strap, clearly a riggers addition, holds 31 rounds...have no idea why 31.
After two years of researching military records, identifying the location(s) of VT-1 in WWII (carrier USS BENNINGTON by the way), I was able to contact some of the original surviving crew members. They were able to confirm AMM3 Morgan was indeed on the USS BENNINGTON and provided an "on deck" photo. He was the third crew member on an "Avenger". Planes from the USS BENNINGTON also helped sink the Japanese Battleship Yamato and also overflew the Japanese signing of the surrender onboard the USS MISSOURI.
The only other info they had was he was listed as a student/farmer from Aredale, Iowa. The wife and I saddled the Electra Glide and traveled to Iowa one weekend, just on the off chance we could find more info. After many "have you heard of" and "do you knows", we were able to locate AMM3 Morgan.
We were able to meet his wife and she supplied the "rest" of the story along with a photograph of her husband. Emotional day. As we rode back toward home, I couldn't help think how bittersweet this was. This chapter on my Victory Model and holster was closed, but more importantly, I came a little closer to a common man from Iowa that stepped forward one day when we needed him...and he flew into history.
Thought you might enjoy this story. Rarely do we get to tie the gun to the man. Makes it just a little more "special".



The strap, clearly a riggers addition, holds 31 rounds...have no idea why 31.

After two years of researching military records, identifying the location(s) of VT-1 in WWII (carrier USS BENNINGTON by the way), I was able to contact some of the original surviving crew members. They were able to confirm AMM3 Morgan was indeed on the USS BENNINGTON and provided an "on deck" photo. He was the third crew member on an "Avenger". Planes from the USS BENNINGTON also helped sink the Japanese Battleship Yamato and also overflew the Japanese signing of the surrender onboard the USS MISSOURI.



The only other info they had was he was listed as a student/farmer from Aredale, Iowa. The wife and I saddled the Electra Glide and traveled to Iowa one weekend, just on the off chance we could find more info. After many "have you heard of" and "do you knows", we were able to locate AMM3 Morgan.



We were able to meet his wife and she supplied the "rest" of the story along with a photograph of her husband. Emotional day. As we rode back toward home, I couldn't help think how bittersweet this was. This chapter on my Victory Model and holster was closed, but more importantly, I came a little closer to a common man from Iowa that stepped forward one day when we needed him...and he flew into history.

Thought you might enjoy this story. Rarely do we get to tie the gun to the man. Makes it just a little more "special".
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