Lot 688

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Description:

USS BUNKER HILL SQUADRON READY ROOM SEAT
One of the rarest, most evocative Navy relics one could hope to obtain, a pilot's chair from the "ready room" of the USS BUNKER HILL, CV-17, an aircraft carrier that served with great distinction in the Pacific, enduring enormous damage and suffered enormous loss of life. The solid aluminum chair, 41" tall, 25" wide, 30" deep, bears a comfortable leather seat which remains entirely intact. Arm rests have been painted brown to offer the impression of wood, and the left arm rest ends in a square ashtray. On the right is a solid, folding desk top which may be lifted from the side of the chair and opened before the pilot for use in taking notes, reading charts, etc. All components of the chair - frame, leather, desk top and fittings - remain completely intact and undamaged, in fine condition. Relics such as this are virtually unobtainable. The letter of provenance from a naval historian (included) indicates that the chair was given to him by Admiral James Condit (1915-2003), who served on the USS Yorktown, became a Japanese prisoner of war, and was later present at the surrender of Japan. Condit befriended the historian whom he met via the USS Yorktown Association and gave him the chair. Condit related that the Navy had presented him with the chair, and further mentioned that he believed that only admirals could acquire such important relics from naval vessels.

The USS BUNKER HILL reported to the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the autumn of 1943. The vessel participated in carrier operations during the crucial air raid on Rabaul, support of the landings on Tarawa Atoll, air raids on Kavieng, the Marshall Islands, Truk Atoll, the Marianas Islands (Guam, Saipan, and Tinian), Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai in the Palau Islands, Satawan, and Ponape, Saipan and Guam, and the titanic Battle of the Philippine Sea.


On June 19, 1944 during the landings in the Marianas, BUNKER HILL was damaged when a Japanese bomb hit the deck. Two sailors were killed, and about 80 more were wounded. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, about 476 Japanese warplanes were destroyed; nearly all of them shot down by Navy F6F Hellcat fighter planes, such as those carried by BUNKER HILL. During September, Bunker Hill carried out air raids in the Western Caroline Islands, and then she and her task force steamed a to the north to launch air raids on Luzon, Formosa, and Okinawa, through early November.

During the remaining months of World War II, BUNKER HILL fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima and in support of the Battle of Okinawa. Her planes also attacked the Yamato, one light cruiser, and four destroyers which were sunk during Operation Ten-Go, as it was called by the Japanese Navy.

On the morning of May 11, 1945, while supporting the invasion of Okinawa, BUNKER HILL was struck and severely damaged by two Japanese kamikaze planes within a minute of each other. A Zero crashed onto the carrier's flight deck, destroying parked warplanes full of aviation fuel and ammunition, causing a large fire. Then, a short 30 seconds later, a second Zero went through the antiaircraft fire, dropped a 550-pound bomb, and crashed into the flight deck near the carrier's "island". BUNKER HILL lost a total of 346 sailors and airmen killed in the engagement, 43 more missing (and never found), and 264 wounded. She was heavily damaged and was sent to the Bremerton Naval Shipyard for repairs. She would serve but five more months, ferrying troops home, and would see active duty again.

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Shipments are sent via USPS Priority, USPS International Priority, DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 14 - 21 days for shipments to arrive after receipt of payment due to the high volume of package being shipped.

March 18, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
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 + $10,000