Description:

UNIFORM, MAP AND MEDAL GROUPING OF IWO JIMA AVIATOR AND USS BISMARCK SURVIVOR
An excellent grouping of material from U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate, First Class and Torpedo Bomber Gunner REGINALD H. FISCHER (1924-2021) who survived the sinking of the escort carrier CVE-95 USS BISMARCK SEA. After having escorted trans-Pacific convoys and operating in the Leyte Gulf, on Feb. 16, 1945 BISMARCK SEA arrived off Iwo Jima in support of the massive landings that would begin on the island a few days later. On Feb. 21, 1945, she sank off of Iwo Jima following two Japanese kamikaze attacks, killing 318 crewmen. Notably, she was the last aircraft carrier in U.S. service to sink due to enemy action. A newspaper interview shortly thereafter recounts Fischer's escape from death: '...'I had just returned from my last flight over Iwo Jima when the ship was hit...I was in the ready room when the first explosion came and was knocked down...most of the ship seemed in flames'...When the order to abandon ship was given, Fischer jumped 40 feet over the side into the icy sea. He was inflating his life belt when a small boat fell from the carrier above him fell and hit his shoulder, breaking his collar bone...He found an empty life raft a few minutes later...other swimmers joined him...Jap planes came over, strafing the water...'I think the worst thing...was to hear men calling for help in the darkness and to be unable to aid them. We knew some of our friends must be drowning.'...' Included in this lot are two inflatable two-chamber life belts, possibly used by Fischer and/or others in the escape from the BISMARCK SEA; a heavily-used 'Mae West' type inflatable life vest typically worn by aviators; Navy in a yellow 'Mae West' life vest, heavily used; Fischer's black gabardine Navy dress jacket and trousers, post-war (he served 40 years in the Navy Reserve), with nine overseas stripes on the sleeve; a pair of lace-up gaiters; Fischer's personal, named Navy ditty bag; a smaller green bag, three of his white cloth Machinist Mate shoulder patches, two white canvas duffel bags which likely held some of his gear on Ulithi while Fischer was at sea and at Iwo Jima, and five caps Fischer wore as a veteran. Also present is an album containing reprints of news articles on Fischer, photographs, his obituary, etc.

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August 25, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
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