Lot 245

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Description:

WORLD WAR II AND KOREAN WAR CORRESPONDENCE OF SGT. JAMES S. ALEXANDER
An extensive correspondence of approximately 250 letters with the original transmittal envelopes dating between 1942 and 1951, mostly sent between James S. Alexander (1922-1977) and his girlfriend and later wife, Marie Aldrich, and of routine content. Most of the letters are original with only one or two examples of photographed V-Mail. Sergeant Alexander trained in Las Vegas as an Army Air Corps gunner in 1943 and was sent to the European Theater in early 1944 and was based in England flying with the 614th Bomb Squadron in the 410st Bomb Group. According to squadron records, Alexander served as the Right Waist Gunner on a B-17 commanded by 2nd Lt. A. L. Kilmer. He flew a total of eight missions between May 1 and May 30, 1944. The last mission, over Oscherslaben on May 30, the aircraft was shot down by German fighters and Alexander was a prisoner of war and held in Germany. The group includes a stack of unopened letters from Marie that were delivered to Alexander's base after his capture and are marked "RETURN TO SENDER" and also marked in manuscript "missing." His next letter is dated "May 16, 1945 Somewhere in France ", following his liberation from a German P.O.W. camp. After the war, Alexander remained in the military and served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force in Korea and was discharged in April 1952. The letters are mostly of a personal nature and poignantly illustrate the stress couples endured during years of separation. The lot is housed in a steel trunk and is accompanied by Alexander's master sergeant patches and his Army Air Corps patches as well as two of his fatigue hats. The group also includes some family photographs, German military currency, and a letter from then-Senator Richard Nixon (secretarial signature) concerning the status of the 452nd Bomb Wing. A fine group of material, worthy of further research.

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July 21, 2011 11:30 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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