Description:

Large grouping of items from American anti-aircraft gunner Sigmund J. "Sonny" Bloom of the 559th A.A.A. Included is over 160 photographs of various sizes (most small, some duplicates) showing Bloom and his crew manning their various guns, in trenches, grouped and singly, aircraft shot down, German searchlights, wrecked bridges, etc. from their positions in and near Belgium, and along the Elbe and Rhine very late in the war. Other images show President Truman visiting Antwerp, scenes in Paris and other liberated locales, and Camp Top Hat, a staging camp established to organize troops returning to the U.S. Also included is a commercial scrapbook in which Bloom pasted photos of his girlfriend, with notes of "close shaves" including being bombed by a jet, circled by a V-2, and a Ruhr bridge being bombed as he crossed it, his postings and assignments, and additional photos. Sold with: four printed map and information sheets an two newspapers from Camp Top Hat, 14 postcards sent by Bloom, most from Paris, to his parents; seven shoulder patches, including a rare patch from Camp Top Hat; private stripes, service stripes, "ruptured duck" insignia and brass collar pins; service ribbon; Good Conduct Medal; a 6 in. diameter white circular center swastika torn as a prize from a German flag; and a musette bag bearing the name of another soldier, likely not associated with the grouping.

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March 31, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000