Raynors HCA 2019-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/21/2019
Rare D-Day diary kept by Wilson Buford of Ranger, Texas, kept for the year 1944. This bomber lists dozens of missions with several good entries including: “ [February 25, 1944] Mission #9 - Poor bombing today. We had to go through an overcast and then everything went wrong. The 558th was jumped by 30 FW-190’s ten miles from Holland. We lost 4 out of 11 ships and 29 men. Among them was George Robertson, our Navigator and my bunk mate Robert Jansing...[June 5, 1944] Mission #36 INVASION. We bomed the shore of Normandy Penisula at 4000’. I’m just surprised that I’m alive. I can’t describe the sight but I can surely pity those poor devils below. [June 6, 1944] Mission #37 - We went to the beach head again and bombed the railway lines and trains at 2000’ with 500lb bombs. The fighter’s take care of the flak and enemy fighters...[June 25, 1944] Mission #48 - We went to Bernay, France to a fuel and ammo dump. It wasn’t there when we left. No flak; good fighter escort...[July 18, 1944] Mission #52 - To Carn again. Dropped frags on troops. Intense, accurate flak. No trouble for me. Wegell and his crew [Including Slavatore, my R.O.] caught fire over Welford and crashed. Too bad....[August 8, 1944] An ammo dump today. We had the most and the most accurate flak I’ve ever seen. Jordan got it. He went down in flames. I think they had a chance to get out...” Fine condition. Attached to this diary are Buford’s dog tags. With several copy photographs and one original image of his war buddies and artifacts.
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