SkyMan says, "Show me a '47, a '56 or a 1941 -1945 coin, or World War II items.

[SkyMan]

Last week I was browsing through some autographed space memorabilia for an auction, when I noticed a sub-section dealing with aviation material. I saw something that no-one else was bidding on, decided to bid on it, and was lucky enough to win it. It was a pilot's manual for the P-47 Thunderbolt, signed by 4 of the top US aces of all time, all members of the 56th Fighter Group.

 

During World War II, the two highest scoring US Fighter Groups in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) were the 56th and the 4th. They had a friendly competition going on as to which Group could shoot down more Germans. The 4th Fighter group ended up destroying a few more German aircraft (including shooting up planes on the ground) than the 56th, while the 56th shot down more Germans than the 4th. The 56th was credited with 665.5 aerial victories (a pilot could get partial credit if he helped in the kill of an enemy plane).

 

The fighter aircraft that the 56th flew was the P-47 Thunderbolt. At first it could not climb as fast as the best European fighters (Spitfire, Me-109, FW-190 etc.). It also was not as maneuverable as some of the better European fighters, but it could take more punishment, it could outdive them, and it had better performance at high altitudes. Later on in the war the P-47 was upgraded to where it could climb quickly too.

 

The 56th was nicknamed Zemke's Wolfpack, after the name of their commander Hubert Zemke. The top US fighter pilot in the ETO, Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, 28 kills, was in the 56th. Two other top fighter pilots of the 56th were Gerald Johnson and Walker Mahurin. All 4 of them signed the manual; from top to bottom, Gabreski, Johnson, Mahurin and Zemke.

 

For those of you interested in the history of the 56th in WWII here's a link:

 

56th

 

Here's the Manual:

 

 

 

Here's some pix of the pilots and P-47's.

 

Zemke

 

P-47's in flight.

 

Gabreski

 

G. Johnson

 

G. Johnson's plane at take-off.

 

Mahurin

 

Post a coin from '47 or '56 (any century) or 1941 - 1945 in remembrance of these men, or some WWII memorabilia in remembrance of all the Vets that served.

 

 

[RWB]

"1942" pattern one cent War Series. Prototype for urea formaldehyde cent.

 

[PennyGuy]

I live in Jackson County, Michigan..........

 

In Honor of my father SSgt CW Anderson, 9th AAF, 344th BG, 496 Sqdn.

 

 

The motto of the 344th Bomb Group says it all.........here is an enlargement of the DUI pin

 

[PennyGuy]

I live in Jackson County, Michigan..........

 

In Honor of my father SSgt CW Anderson, 9th AAF, 344th BG, 496 Sqdn.

 

 

The motto of the 344th Bomb Group says it all.........here is an enlargement of the DUI pin

 

[SkyMan]

Some good stuff here guys! (thumbs u

[C.I.]

Hello SkyMan

 

A few photo's from the troops up north in the Aleutian Islands. Dad was stationed in the Alaska Defense Command (Polar Bear and North Star Patch) in Amchitka, Kiska and Adak. Radioman Tec 5 Detached Unit moving from Island to Island. A good deal west of Dutch Harbor and the Deadleist Catch. A brutal climate.

 

Chet

[lehigh96]

How about a war nickel collection:

 

[mkman123]

lehigh, love your NGC war nickel set!

[nunfa0]

Fantastic pickup Skyman!!

 

The P47 was a wonderful fighter and a true workhorse. The hell that it went through once it was shifted to ground attack was beyond belief.

[rrantique]

[Oldtrader3]

 

A couple of WLH's, 1945-S.