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Militaria and Political Auction
Lot 1343:
Signatures and photographs of the bravest decorated Americans in the twentieth century.
Comprises:
(1) Color Photograph Signed by renowned test pilot and retired brigadier general, "Chuck Yeager", 1 page, 7.75" x
10. October 14, 1982. Fine condition. Color photograph contrasts beautifully with his signature. Small red ink stamp and slightly yellowed bottom right corner. Owner stamp and I.D number on verso with no show-through.
The inscription reads "To Dave, Good Luck! [signed] Chuck Yeager". Yeager stands in front of an F-20 Tigershark, a light fighter jet designed by Northrop in the late seventies. The F-20 Tigershark was built under a US Department of Defense project, during the Carter administration, dubbed "FX". The goal of "FX" was to develop fighters that could combat the latest Soviet aircraft. Eventually, with the election of Ronald Reagan, the program was abandoned in 1986 after only three prototypes had been completed. Northrop employed Yeager as its spokesperson for the jet, and his promotion of it undoubtedly resulted in this picture. Yeager flew the F-20 on October 14, 1982 to celebrate his 35th anniversary of his first supersonic flight.
First Day Cover signed "Roger H.C. Donlon, MoH", 6.5" × 3.5. Louisville, Kentucky. Fine Condition. Cachet of "The Rebellious Sixties and Man on the Moon, " includes an astronaut and a vignette of the Vietnam War. In the upper right hand corner is one of 15 different "Celebrate the Century" USPS stamps, this one commemorating those who served in that conflict. Donlon’s signature, complete with "M. O. H." (Medal of Honor) and the day he earned it, is in the bottom right, and beautifully contrasts with the white of the envelope. A description of the Vietnam war is on the back. Roger Donlon, Colonel ret., was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, as well as the first Special Forces officer to receive it. On July 6, 1964, Donlon, as a captain, repelled a strong Vietcong attack on his force’s base, the Vietnamese city of Nam Dong. Photograph signed "Scott Crossfield", 1 page, 10.75" × 8.25". Very good condition. Black and white photograph is of Crossfield profiled against an X-15 fighter jet. The inscription, "To David Lee" and his signature, both in the upper left hand corner, contrast nicely with the photograph. Crossfield was an American naval officer, but is more famously known for his dare-devilish ways as a test pilot in the 1950s and 1960s. He and Chuck Yeager are featured in the book and major motion picture, The Right Stuff. Crossfield was the first pilot to successfully fly at Mach 3. Printed Photograph and Caption Signed in ink, "Duane E. Dewey", 1 page, 8.5" x 11". Image size is 6.5" x 5" showing Dewey shaking hands with President Dwight D. Eisenhower as he is awarded the Medal of Honor. The caption below includes the citation for the presentation of his award. Document is slightly rippled with a very faint stain in lower right hand corner, else fine condition with a dark inscription and signature. Inscription reads, "The Very Best to Christopher Semper Fidelis Duane E. Dewey 7152010. Dewey was a corporal in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. On April 16, 1952, he was already being treated for wounds, when another grenade landed at his feet. He fell on the grenade, to save the lives of his comrades and suffered severe shrapnel wounds, as well as a bullet wound in his stomach. He was the first person to receive the Medal of Honor from President Eisenhower. Printed Photograph signed "Hirosh Miyamura", 1 page, 8.5" × 5.5". Fine condition. Black and white photograph depicts Miyamura, with Medal of Honor around his neck, shaking hands with Eisenhower. Image quality is a little granular. Signature is across middle of photograph with inscription, "With best wishes".
Miyamura, a second generation Japanese-American, was a corporal in the American army during World War II and, more notably, the Korean War. During the night of April 24, 1951 and April 25, 1951 Miyamura heroically defended his machine gun position from the North Koreans, rendered it unusable, and got his men to safety, only to be captured by the North Koreans once the rest of his squad was out of danger. It is estimated he alone killed over sixty of the enemy during his magnificent stand.
(6) Color Print Signed "Alexander Vraciu", 1 page, 11" × 8.25". Fine condition. Color print of a Grumman F6F-3
Hellcat jet in its heading, with description underneath. Felix the Cat carrying a bomb, the insignia for the Grumman F-14 Tomcat VF-31 squad, is pictured at bottom left. Vraciu is pictured at bottom right. Between the two is Vraciu’s signature with beautiful contrast. All the squads he flew with are listed underneath. Vraciu was the leading United States Navy fighter ace and a Medal of Honor nominee (later downgraded to a Navy Cross) during World War II.
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