Description:

U.S.S. COMFORT KAMIKAZE ATTACK RELICS
Excellent group of relics and ephemera related to the U.S. Navy hospital ship U.S.S. COMFORT, in particular the kamikaze attack she suffered during the Battle of Okinawa on April 28, 1945. This attack left 28 Americans dead, including six U.S. Army nurses. The collection includes a large fragment of aluminum aircraft skin, 6 1/2" x 13", a relic of the Japanese airplane which struck the ship. A row of rivet holes appears at the top edge, and the edges are jagged where the piece was cut with a hand tool. The typed caption "Part of fanatical Jap suicide plane which struck the U.S.S. COMFORT (AH-6), top-deck, starboard side, killing 29 [sic] including six nurses" is affixed to the relic with contemporary cello tape, along with a contemporary cut newspaper article, dared April 30, reporting on the attack and its aftermath. The fragment has clearly seen some major trauma and is coated on one side with black soot. Also present is a commercially rolled, filterless cigarette, with the paper printed with a Japanese cherry blossom symbol and several characters. The cigarette is taped to a 4to. sheet of paper, labeled "Japanese Cigarette – Kamikaze Pilot" in red ink. The two relics were acquired together by our consignor from the 2001 sale of the estate of a Mr. Hassler of York, Pennsylvania, as attested by an included newspaper advertisement. The collection also includes several articles of ephemera surrounding the ship and the Japanese attack. Among these are six L.S.'s, one typed and the remainder autograph, each 1p. 4to. from Lt. Ladd M. Sumner, a medical crewman aboard the Comfort. Three letters date from the days leading up to the attack, with one written the day of and the remainder dated May 1 and 2. None of the letters mention the attack explicitly, but the May 1 example is addressed to Ladd's sweetheart, and is just a simple note informing her that he is fine and telling her not to worry about anything. The May 2 letter, slightly longer, also informs his correspondent that he is "...feeling fine and dandy. Absolutely nothing wrong with me. Hate such a short note but you'll understand eventually..." The final two letters include their original transmittal envelopes. Also present are twelve original press photos, all 8" x 10" b/w, all bearing press agency backstamps and all but two with typed captions. These images depict the Comfort, her crew and medical staff, soldiers receiving medical care aboard, the damage caused by the kamikaze attack, the funeral of some of those killed during the attack, post-attack views of the ship dockside during a War Bond drive, and a B-29 bomber nicknamed "The U.S.S. Comfort's Revenge". A snapshot of this aircraft and a postcard view of the ship are also included. The collection is rounded out by five postwar first-day postal covers honoring the ship, as well as a 31" x 10" blue felt pennant bearing the name of the ship and an American eagle over a shield containing a red cross. An impressive collection altogether.

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July 31, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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