This WW2 / Korean War US Army Air Force Veteran Lot is in good condition overall but does show expected signs of age and storage. The collection offered here belonged to Virginia veteran Technical Sergeant Melvin Lee Duke and he served with the USAAF Eighth Air Force, 379th Bombardment Wing, 524th Bombardment Squadron during the final stages of World War 2. The 379th Bombardment Wing had one of the most successful combat records of the War with the 524th Bombardment Squadron flying it’s last combat mission on April 25, 1945. Duke was inducted into the US Army on September 3, 1943 at the age of 26. He attended Gunnery Training at Yuma Army Airfield and Radio Training at Sioux Falls Army Airfield in 1944. The 524th was stationed at RAF Kimbolton and Duke served here most likely until June 1945 when the 379th was transferred to Casablanca Airfield to assist with the Air Force’s “Green Project” to help get US troops home. Duke arrived back in the United States on March 23, 1946 and was Honorably Discharged on March 27 at Fort Meade Separation Center. The items included in this lot were all acquired together and appear to have been undisturbed for many years. While a majority of the items have obvious relations to one another and Duke’s service history, several pieces included in the lot have had their story’s lost to time. These items have been included and left together exactly as found as they may have deeper significance that would truly be a travesty to disrupt. Paper documents included are an Honorable Discharge Certificate, Individual AAF Issue Record, 1944 RC-261 Remote Control Equipment manual, an Enlisted Man’s Pass for Halloween 1943 at Miami Beach, business cards from two bars in South Dakota one with great period cartoon of Uncle Sam, Tojo, Mussolini and Hitler! And a Weekly Bus Pass from the St. Louis Public Service Company for October 3-9 1943. On the backside of several of the documents are handwritten names and addresses. There are 28 uniform patches that included shoulder sleeve USAAF insignias, Eighth Air Force insignias, sleeve Armament and Communications Specialists insignias, and various enlisted NCO rank insignia. Metal uniform insignia include 1 cap device, 9 collar disks and 10 buttons. Most of the collar disks have clutches however there are several that are missing. Of interest, theses metal components are stored in a period USAAF Shure ANB-M-C1 Oxygen Mask Microphone box showing expected wear. This container held many small and fragile pieces, all of which are shown here as they were found. Inside this tin were found the Army Marksman and Sharpshooter Badges (both marked “STERLING”), the “Sweetheart” Wings (marked “STERLING REJA”), a WW2 British Auxiliary Territorial Service Women’s Branch badge, a WW2 British Army Royal Artillery collar insignia, a bracelet made from British 6 Pence coins all dated 1944 and 1945, and what appears to be a Victory “V” piece of trench art. The “Escape & Evasion Kit” map and “Asshole” compass are in good condition but do show signs of age and wear. The map is very clean and still in it’s original rubberized canvas pouch, dated 43. ” The escape compass is the earlier British-made “Pillbox style and is unmarked. The glass face has what appears to be a very fine crack, or area of delamination, and it can barely be detected to touch with your fingernail. The compass easily finds North and is otherwise in clean, functional condition. The 37 banknotes included come from England, Scotland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, French Morocco and British Tripolitania. A WW1 era copy of “Manual For Soldiers in France” by G. The Bible contains names and addresses written on the inside of the front and back covers. The log book chronicles Duke’s work to receive a Private Pilot Certificate and depicts flight training spanning from September 1941 to May 1947. Duke earned this certificate on August 14, 1946, less than 5 months after returning home. Several post cards that appear to be from France, a 1943 US Ration Card from a Virginia resident and a portrait of two young boys is also included in this lot just as they were discovered. Also included in this lot are 7 original photographs from the Korean War that seemingly depict the same man in at least 3 of the images, possibly identifying this individual as Duke. One of the photographs depicts a US soldier and a Korean worker standing in front of a sign reading HEADQUARTERS K-6 AIR BASE HOME OF THE MOSQUITOES. The sign also shows the insignia of the Fifth Air force and the 6147th Tactical Control Group. K-6 Air Base was established in 1950 and is still active today as Camp Humphreys. The photographs show soldiers posing in front of Quonset huts and also with Korean citizens, two of the prints have written descriptions on their backsides. As there are no printed records in this group that place Duke serving in Korea, the conclusion that these images belonged to him is strictly based on speculation and not hard evidence. However, these photographs were stored together with the other items for many years and there appears to be some significance to their presence here. I have taken nearly 50 photographs of this wonderful collection and would be happy to provide additional images upon request. This group offers an intimate view into yet another tale of service from the “Greatest Generation” and the items preserved here are truly fascinating artifacts from that amazing moment in time. Please examine the photographs carefully for the best description of contents and their condition.
