Lot 409

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Description:


Well-detailed journal from an unknown American Navy sailor, 4.5 x 6 in., featuring approx. 25-30 pages of handwritten text from his service in the South Pacific, ranging in date from February 1943 to February, 1944. Earlier entries speak of the tranquility of Guadalcanal, just weeks after the end of the Allied campaign on the island, adding: 'how peaceful! Very beautiful place...Very quiet...no Japs activity...beautiful dawns & sunsets - premonition, too peaceful...' Later entries, however, detail the various landings of near New Guinea, reading in part: 'Asawe Landing - Islands w high cliffs - shooting over them. Jap resistance on beach...Dive bombers over... Cape Gloucester Landing - fire by Australia, Shropshine, Phoenix, and Nashville...60 craft approx...appearance of 2100 toners...beautiful bombardment & bombings by B24's, 25's, A-20's...huge smoke screen...sinking of Bunsen, & attacks on Shaw, Janssen, & Mugford after we left...14,900 men & 30000 tns of equipment by 2nd day..." In addition, an undated handwritten account, written on a lined sheet of paper and folded within the journal, writes of an additional invasion on the Huon Peninsula. In part: 'At dawn on the 4th...Allied force, under command of Sir Thomas Blamey, was landed on the south coast of Huon Peninsula at a point approximately 14 miles east of Lae...stormed ashore under the protective cover of a smoke screen, after naval vessels had prepared the way with a heavy bombardment of the beachhead areas. The Japanese were apparently caught unawares and our landing was unopposed. As the infantry was moving ashore to the East, Allied Liberators heavily attacked Lae, adding 96 tons of bombs...At the same time, Mitchell bombers strafed Japanese positions along the coast and attacked the landing strip and surrounding areas of Hapoi...At midday the Allied fighters protecting the landing operations intercepted and dispersed a formation of Japanese bombers & fighters which were attacking our shipping in Huon Gulf. Our planes shot down 21 of the attackers, including a flying boat which the enemy had pressed into attack service in their desperate need for planes.' Many more shorter entries, including one account of a 'man overboard' and a February 1944 account of the dropping of four depth charges on the way to Gloucester. The journal is in navy blue leather covers, with the front cover bearing a red shield at center with the title: 'My Life in the Service'. Very good to fine condition. Should be researched.

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October 28, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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