Lot 680

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Description:

B-24 PILOT'S PURPLE HEART, PHOTO, AND DOCUMENT GROUPING, K.I.A. OVER FORMOSA
A superlative grouping relating to the loss in action of Second Lt. Carl L. Middlebrook, Jr. of Waco Texas, the pilot of a B-25 killed in action over Formosa with all but one member of his crew. Middlebrook had been flying at treetop level and engaged in the bombing and strafing of railroads in the northern part of the island when his aircraft was fatally struck by antiaircraft fire on May 17, 1945. According to the sole survivor, a gunner who was thrown clear when the tail broke off, the plane was 'a big ball of scrap' in which he found four bodies before he was captured by the Japanese and beaten. Included in this lot is Middlebrook's original Purple Heart, named to him on the reverse, along with the matching chest ribbon and lapel pin, all in the original case. There is also a collection of photos, documents, letters, and clippings kept by the young pilot's grandparents in remembrance of his service and sacrifice. These include: a large color portrait in uniform; 19 photographs, various sizes, including some of Middlebrook in uniform with his new wife, while training, with various aircraft at Maxwell Field, with his fellow trainees and officers, etc., along with some negatives; two Army Air Corps patches and his leather name patch; booklets from Maxwell Fielde and Columbus Army Flying School; a check sheet for the AT-10 Beechcraft trainer; his calling card; two dog tags, a Japanese five centavos occupation note; period textbooks concerning instrument flying, 'Weather for Pilot Trainees', 'Your Body in Flight', and his training navigation log book, and a number of press notices and letters concerning his death in combat. Also included are nine letters Middlebrook wrote to his grandparents and another family member from Apr. 26, 1943 to April 29, 1945. Middlebrook's letters are typical, mentioning Christmas plans, flight training, his experiences at Maxwell, transfer to Hawaii and the Philippines, his admiration for his aircraft and its capabilities, the damage done to Manila, etc. Of special interest is a prescient letter sent to Middlebrook by his grandparents nine days before his death. His grandmother writes: '...I had a dream about you not long ago...you were a little boy in my dreams. When I awoke it seemed I had returned 20 years. It brought back pleasant memories of my little Carl...Maybe it will not be long till you will be coming home, Maybe that's just a forewarning...' Overall fine condition.

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January 25, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, 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