Description:

ARMY AIR CORPS SERGEANT'S CHINA AND INDIA GROUPING
Large and important grouping of material from Army Air Corps Sg.t John P. Kelly of the 1641st Ordnance Co., an aviation supply and maintenance company servicing bombers and fighters in North Africa, Italy, India, and finally at several locations in China until the Chinese Civil War forced Americans to evacuate the country. Among the items in this grouping are: an 8.25 x 11.5 in. 'blood chit' with embroidered Nationalist Chinese flag and Chinese message to potential captors, the red dye having run onto the white portion of the cloth; a rare War Area Service Corps 'Diary for 1945 China', approx. 200pp. 8vo., with message from Sun Yat Sen's will and Nationalist flag, anthem, message from Chiang Kai Shek, etc., printed in Chungking, unused; Kelly's lanyard; nine sets of sergeant stripes; four overseas stripes; two C.B.I. and one A.A.C. shoulder patch; four uniform buttons; Kelly's pay record; Chinese officer's insignia; ammo pouch; a small section of a Japanese parachute; a 14pp. 8vo. booklet: 'A Brief Guide to Chengtu' with a map of the shopping district; USAAF baggage slip issued in Kunming; eight documents listing Kelly's personal effects taken by him as he evacuated Kunming in November, 1945; a life insurance document issued at Hsingching, Oct.3, 1945; Oct. 28, 1945 'CONFIDENTIAL' orders for 'aerial embarkation' (read: evacuation) with minimal equipment for ultimate transport to the U.S.; six small commercial photographs of Kunming, and more. There is also a small grouping of items from his service in India, including a C.B.I. letter writing pad, a guide book, maps and other information for soldiers in Bombay, programs, etc. Rarely seen material.

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November 29, 2023 10:00 AM EST
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 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000