2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
All the letters are responding to Dwight Stuckey between 1992-1999 and contain thoughtful insight. The letters are all autographed, some typed, some hand written, various sizes and various dates. C.E. Bud Anderson is a WWII Triple Ace who flew the P-51 Mustang Old Crow, "..when you are in a kill or be killed situation I do not think it makes one a natural killer to survive!" ... plus ... John Alison, 6 confirmed, 1 probable, 1 damaged, writes, "All pilots were targets. ... John Hampshire one of the best of the best ... was killed with one bullet while I was hit many times and only wounded once. Just luck or the Lord ... plus ... J.R. Stork, on Doolittle Raiders stationary writes in part, "When people say you were on the 1st raid over Tokyo?? I say yes & that was the last time I volunteered." ... plus ... Col. James Macia on Doolittle Raiders stationary writes in part, "you may be interested in knowing something of the background of our Doolittle Raiders insignia ..." and proceeds to explain its elements. ... plus ... Frank Drury writes in part, "Every time you take off in a combat situation you are a target and you automatically become a killer for self preservation." ... plus ... John Bolt was a member of Marine Fighter Squadron 214, nicknamed the "Black Sheep Squadron," led by Maj. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. The squadron was credited with shooting down 97 Japanese airplanes in 1943 and 1944, six by Bolt (another six in Korea), briefly responds with signature. ... plus ... Bryan Donald flew 140 combat missions, writing in part, "Next to the P-39, the P-38 was without a doubt the worst of WWII. Kids I grew up with got assigned them - they did not survive the war." ... plus ... Melvin Cozzens writes in part, "To answer your question if I liked to kill Japs - Yes. After Pearl Harbor I wanted to kill Japs and DID." ... plus ... Phil Delong writes in part, "Air to air combat is detached from the blood and guts of ground fighting. If you shoot down an aircraft, it doesn't mean you have killed anyone- so the purpose of being a fighter pilot is destroying the enemy's ability - his aircraft." ... plus ... Arthur Fielder writes in part, "Apparently some folks were not opposed to killing, but most of us were doing our duty which did involve killing. For me, flying resulted in a relative absence of blood and guts as opposed to a grunt. It was plane against plane, and the winner took all." ... plus ... Bud Fortier (author of "An Ace of the Eighth: An American Fighter Pilot's Air War in Europe") writes in part, "... in aerial combat, 10% of the fighter pilots shot down 90% of the enemy planes...Several factors ... Aces tended to have much keener eyesight ...A fighter's position in a flight was important ... Certainly some people are more aggressive ..."... plus ... Robert Liles writes in part, "I do not believe women should have a combat role in wars! The WASPS did an outstanding job ferrying all types of Planes in WWII ... Combat would not be appropriate."... plus... J.D. McGraw writes in part, "Had the Japanese captured Pearl Harbor they would still have had to deal with our carrier force which was not in Pearl ... plus the newer fleet BB's based in San Diego ... Women made great Fighter Pilots during WWII. The Russians had two operational squadrons, several pilots becoming Aces.." These excerpts are a just a very small part of the enormous collection. Also included are two signed photos, Copy photo of the Crew of Bockscar signed by Commander Sweeney and Co-Pilot Fred Oliver... plus ...Copy photo of the Crew of Jabit III signed by Co-Pilot Carrington, Bombardier Gruning, Flt Eng Davis and Radio Floweree..
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