14: ATOM BOMB WITNESS CAPT ROSS, CATERPILLAR, PURPLE HEART

Captain Walter R. Ross ,USAAF, Fifth Bombardment Squadron, Ninth Bombardment Group, 5th USAAF was a prisoner of war held in a civilian jail awaiting transfer when the United Sates bombed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

A bombardier on a B-29 in the Pacific, he was shot down over Japan two weeks before the end of the war. He was the first American to see the results of the A-Bomb at Hiroshima, He earned the Purple Heart and Air Medal. Included are a photograph of the crew of the Enola Gay signed by Colonel Tibbets and a model of the B-29 that was shot down over Hiroshima. Awards: Cased Purple Heart; Cased Air Medal; POW Medal.

Also includes: Uniform consisting of tunic, pants, shirt, tie, visor cap, dog tag with religious medal and chain; Wood model of his B-29; Dead Reckoning Aerial Computer with case; Two different silk downed pilot sew-ins; 0.5-inch binder 1945 Flight Diary of his missions; 2-inch binder of 1945 orders, etc.; 2-inch binder with original documents relating to his shoot down, Caterpillar Club document, 23 period photos, official orders, leather name strip; Thirty-six folders with great overall history; 1-inch binder compilation of above folders; War Journal of the 9th Bombardment Group; Silk map of Eastern Asia on one side and Nagasaki on the other; Silk map of Southeast China on one side and Northeast China on the other; Silk survival chart in the Navigation of Rubber Rafts; Tropical uniform consisting of tunic, pants and garrison cap; Framed portrait photo; and Riker mount with two different silk shoot down jacket insignia, both serial numbered.

All veteran attributions and histories have been provided by the consignor and are believed to be accurate but not guaranteed by the auctioneer. NO MANNEQUINS OR FORMS ARE INCLUDED WITH ANY LOT. MANNEQUINS AND FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AS FOLLOW: Mannequins $250.00, Coat Forms $150.00, Shirt Forms $75.00 and Styro heads 3 for $25.
Provenance: The Jack Angolia Collection
$500 - $1,000