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  • WWII Portuguese Army - Officers Uniform 'Camacho Lisboa' - Ribbons / Medals Loops - Hard to find!

    WWII Portuguese Army – Officers Uniform ‘Camacho Lisboa’ – Ribbons / Medals Loops – Hard to find!

    WWII Portuguese Army Officers Uniform ‘F. Camacho, Lisboa’ Tailors – Ribbon or Medal Bar Loops, Illegible Pocket Tag; Overall Nice Issued Condition as Photographed with some wear, cuff rank removed and the top button replaced as seen, An Exceptional Addition to Any Period Collection, Portugal remained effectively neutral until 1944 when they allowed the United States to establish a base in the Azores at which point they were deemed ‘Non-Belligerent Favors Allied Nations’  

  • WWI Imperial German Baden-Württemberg Honor Badge Voluntary Fire Brigade 25 Year

    WWI Imperial German Baden-Württemberg Honor Badge Voluntary Fire Brigade 25 Year

    WWI Era Imperial German Baden-Württemberg Honor Badge for Voluntary Fire Brigade Service 25 Years in the Jewelry Box ‘Ludwig Bertsch Hof-Juwelier Karlsruhe 1/B.  

  • WWI German Medal Bar - Bavarian Medal Bar EKII Military Merit Cross & Long Service III Class

    WWI German Medal Bar – Bavarian Medal Bar EKII Military Merit Cross & Long Service III Class

    Original WWI German Bavarian Medal Bar Iron Cross 2nd Class (EKII) Needs added!, Bavarian Military Merit Cross & Long Service III Class War-Time  

  • WWII German Wehrmacht - Winter Combat Boots - Eastern Front Felt & Leather -  Issued

    WWII German Wehrmacht – Winter Combat Boots – Eastern Front Felt & Leather – Issued

    Original WWII German Wehrmacht Winter Combat Boots Eastern Front Felt & Leather, Overall Good Issued Condition as Photographed with wear as seen – serviceable; this set displays very nicely  

  • Vietnam War Souvenir - NHA-TRANG 1966 - 67 Tiger Dragon Jacket Coat Children's Size

    Vietnam War Souvenir – NHA-TRANG 1966 – 67 Tiger Dragon Jacket Coat Children’s Size

    Wonderful and Unusual Child’s Original Vietnam War Souvenir NHA-TRANG 1966 1967 Tiger and Dragon Embroidered Jacket Coat Small Children’s Size – Overall Good Condition as Photographed with wear to the waistband as seen  

  • WWII US Navy  - Chief Yeoman Dog Tags - Khaki Uniform -  Garrison Cap -  USS Bogue CVE-9 - Sank U-217 U-118 U-527 U-1229 Escort Carrier Sqdr. VC-9 - Rare

    WWII US Navy – Chief Yeoman Dog Tags – Khaki Uniform – Garrison Cap – USS Bogue CVE-9 – Sank U-217 U-118 U-527 U-1229 Escort Carrier Sqdr. VC-9 – Rare

    Wonderful Original WWII USN CY Chief Yeoman “Dog Tags” Khaki Uniform & Garrison Cap USS Bogue CVE-9 Sank U-217, U-118, U-527 & U-1229 Escort Carrier Composite Squadron VC-9 Flying Grumman Wildcat and Avengers: Chief Yeoman CPO Chief Petty Officer C E Blake ‘620-08-16’ USNR Khaki Summer Uniform with Chief Yeoman Bullion Rate Patch, Two Service Stripes, and 12 Ribbon Bar: US Navy Presidential Unit Citation with Star, Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense, American Campaign, Europe North Africa Middle East Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, World War Two Victory, Occupation Service, Philippine Liberation, National Defense Service, Korean War Service with Three Campaign Stars (Served Aboard Destroyers), and UN United Nations Korea Service. Uniform Tailored by Ashland Clothes New York, Khaki Trousers, and Overseas Garrison Cap with CPO Chief Petty Officer Device. All Pieces Named to C E Blake and Accompanied by his Personnel Identification Discs “Dog Tag” on Chain – One Early War with Thumb Print Reverse. Overall Good Condition as Photographed with wear as seen – Recent Estate Acquisition & Presented as Acquired, Rare (Photos 17 – 24 Reference Only) – Warrants Further Research USS Bogue (AVG/ACV/CVE/CVHE-9) was the lead ship in the Bogue class of escort carriers in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was named for Bogue Sound in North Carolina. Originally classified AVG-9, this was changed to ACV-9 on 20 August 1942; CVE-9 on 15 July 1943 and CVHE-9, on 12 June 1955. She was part of an effective force, where aircraft operating from Bogue or ships escorting the carrier claimed ten German and two Japanese submarines between May 1943 and July 1945. Construction Bogue was laid down on 1 October 1941, as Steel Advocate under Maritime Commission contract, MC hull #170, by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, in Tacoma, Washington. She was launched on 15 January 1942 sponsored by Mrs W. Miller, the wife of Lieutenant Commander Miller, transferred to the United States Navy on the 1 May 1942 and commissioned on the 26 September 1942. Aircraft carried Bogue had capacity for up to 24 fighter and anti-submarine aircraft normally a mixture of Grumman; Wildcat and Avengers with composition dependent upon mission. The squadron had the callsign VC-9 (Composite Squadron Nine). When she was utilised in a ferry role, she could carry up to 90 aircraft depending on aircraft type. Service history After a shakedown cruise and repair period, Bogue joined the Atlantic Fleet in February 1943. Although she escorted convoys early in her career, she served principally as the nucleus of independent, highly successful anti-submarine hunter-killer groups for Atlantic theater carrier operations. 1943 During March and April, she made three North Atlantic crossings, departing on her fourth crossing on 22 April. On 21 May, her Avengers damaged German submarine U-231 and the resulting chlorine gas leak knocked out both of the boats radio transmitters forcing the boat to return to La Pallice in occupied France. Bogue claimed her first kill on 22 May, when depth charges dropped by one of her Avengers damaged U-569 at 50°40′N 35°21′W. The Captain ordered his crew to scuttle the boat and 24 of the crew were later captured by the Canadian destroyer St. Laurent. On 5 June, U-217 was sunk at 30°18′N 42°50′W with all hands by depth charges dropped by Bogues Avengers near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. On 12 June, the already damaged U-118 was sunk by aircraft from Bogue with bombs and gunfire, at 30°49′N 33°49′W 16 of the boat’s crew were picked up by the escort vessel USS Osmond Ingram. On 23 July, during her seventh patrol, her aircraft sank U-527 at 35°25′N 27°56′W. Twelve survivors were picked up by USS Clemson and later transferred to Bogue. The destroyer George E. Badger, part of Bogue’s escort screen, sank U-613 at 35°32′N 28°36′W, while she was en route to lay mines off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. Bogue’s eighth patrol. On 30 November, aircraft from Bogue damaged U-238 east of the Azores with rockets that killed two crew members and wounded five more, prompting the submarine to return to Brest with damage that put the boat out of service for a month. On 12 December, U-172 was sunk on 13 December, in mid-Atlantic west of the Canary Islands by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft and attacks from the destroyers George E. Badger, Clemson, Osmond Ingram and Du Pont (DD-152). The battle between U-172 and the ships and aircraft lasted for 27 hours. U-172 sank at 26°19′N 29°58′W.,[7] thirteen of U-172’s crew were killed and 46 survived. 1944 Bogue had a break from her anti-submarine operations during January and February, when she ferried a cargo of United States Army fighter aircraft to Glasgow. She then returned to her anti-submarine role. On 13 March, her Avengers, from VC-95, along with British Fortress Mk IIs from 220 Squadron, the destroyers Haverfield and Hobson, and the RCN River-class frigate Prince Rupert collectively sank U-575 at 46°18′N 27°34′W. On 5 May, Bogue and her escorts departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, for a cruise that netted two more submarines and lasted until 2 July. Francis M. Robinson, of the screen, sank the Japanese submarine RO-501 (ex-German U-1224) on 13 May, and Bogue’s Avengers sank the Japanese submarine I-52 at 15°16′N 39°55′W, on 24 June, in a torpedo attack, dropping a Mark 24 “mine”. The Mark 24, code-name “Fido” and designated a “mine” for secrecy reasons. During the next deployment from 24 July to 24 September, Bogue’s aircraft sank German submarine, U-1229, on 20 August at 42°20′N 51°39′W. Following her return in September, Bogue operated on training missions out of Bermuda and Quonset Point, Rhode Island. 1945 In February she completed a ferry trip to Liverpool with US Army Aircraft. In April, Bogue put to sea again as an anti-submarine vessel, forming part of Captain George J. Dufek’s Second Barrier Force during Operation Teardrop. On 24 April, her escort Frederick C. Davis was torpedoed and sunk by U-546. Bogue’s accompanying escorts, Flaherty, Neunzer, Chatelain, Varian, Hubbard, Janssen, Pillsbury and Keith sank U-546 at 43°53′N 40°07′W….

  • 1928 USMA West Point -  14K Gold - Class Graduation Lapel Pin - R.C.R. 'Tiffany & Co.'

    1928 USMA West Point – 14K Gold – Class Graduation Lapel Pin – R.C.R. ‘Tiffany & Co.’

    1928 USMA West Point 14K Gold Class Graduation Lapel Pin R.C.R. ‘Tiffany & Co.’ Wonderful and Rare Original 1928 USMA United States Military Academy at West Point 14K Gold Class Graduation Lapel Pin R.C.R. Initials Engraved Made by ‘Tiffany & Co.’ New York, Fine Condition as Photographed  

  • WWI Merchant Capt-  SS Aztec -Torpedoed U46 USN LCDR USS Sudbury & WW2 USMS Captain 30 Year Merchant Marine - Captain of Ships WWI & WWII

    WWI Merchant Capt- SS Aztec -Torpedoed U46 USN LCDR USS Sudbury & WW2 USMS Captain 30 Year Merchant Marine – Captain of Ships WWI & WWII

    WWI Merchant Capt SS Aztec Torpedoed U46 USN LCDR USS Sudbury & WW2 USMS Captain Wonderful Original WWI Merchant Captain of The SS Aztec Torpedoed by U46, USN LCDR USS Sudbury, & WW2 USMS Captain – Exceptional Estate Attributed Collection of Walter K. O’Brien (b. 15 Feb 1886 – d. 14 Nov 1982) who was a Master Mariner prior to the United States entry into WWI and was Captain of the SS Aztec Merchant Ship that was torpedoed by German U-Boat 46 off the NW Coast of France on April 1, 1917. This event was relayed to the US Congress as part of their deliberations to back President Wilson and Declare War April 4, 1917. Captain O’Brien was deposed about the event (see reference below), subsequently he was Conferred a Navy Commission to the Rank of Lieutenant Commander and was given Command of the USS Sudbury (see history below), after WWI Capt. O’Brien went back to Merchant Fleet work and ultimately served in WWII with the USMS United States Maritime Service Merchant Marines as a Captain. “He Served 30 Years in The Merchant Marines and Captained Ships during WWI and WWII” (see obituary) This unique grouping has Lieutenant Commander O’Brien’s WWI Navy Service Visor Hat by ‘Sam Fitz’ with Initials WKO to the interior leather sweatband, WWII USMS Captain’s Service Visor Hat Band with Gold Bullion Embroidered Insignia, and his WWII USMS Merchant Marine Captain’s Service Blue Uniform with Four Ribbons: Merchant Marine Combat Bar with Star, Atlantic War Zone, Mediterranean Middle East War Zone, and Pacific War Zone Medals. An Extraordinary History of a Captain who was Directly Involved in WWI & WWII. Good Issued Condition as Photographed with wear, crazing to the hat visor, light moth tracking to the top, and one side of the chinstrap pinned (missing button) as seen; interestingly while the two collector tags state Walter K. O’Brien and there is a WKO to the interior of the service visor – none of his documents nor headstones make mention of a middle name or initial – An Exceptional Addition to Any Advanced Collection – Rare – Warrants Further Research Photos 12 – 24 (Reference Only) 13.) SS Aztec Cargo Ship 14.) Emergency Passport Application of Capt. Walter O’Brien 15.) Passport Photograph – US Embassy Paris 16.) Submarine Warfare: Ambassador Sharp to Secretary of State April 4, 1917 Deposition of Captain O’Brien about the torpedoing of SS Aztec 17.) USS Sudbury 18.) US Coast Guard Record Lieutenant Commander Rank Conferred and Command of USS Sudbury 19.) Navy Roster 1918 20.) Navy Roster Dec 30 1918 21.) U46 after being surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Navy with the IJN Flag flying above but conning tower still painted U46 22.) Obituary of Capt. Walter O’Brien 23.) Private Headstone of Capt. Walter O’ Brien 24.) Military Headstone Walter O’Brien LCDR US Navy 1886 – 1982 History SS Aztec SS Aztec was built in 1894 by Edwards & Sons Shipbuilding Co in Howdon-On-Tyone at the request of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. She ran regular routes between San Francisco, Honolulu, and Shanghai. She departed New York City in March 1917 with a cargo of copper, steel, lumber, machinery and chemicals bound for the port of Le Havre. On 1 April 1917 she was torpedoed off the coast of Ushant in France by the German Uboat SM U-46. 28 passengers were killed, including 10 American crew members. News of her sinking was relayed to Washington by the American embassy in Paris on 2 April, followed by a secondary report on the sinking on 4 April. The news of the torpedoing of the Aztec was passed on to the United States Congress as deliberations were ongoing as to the declaration for war on Germany, as President Woodrow Wilson had asked congress to declare war on Germany on 2 April To commemorate the centennial of Aztec’s sinking, the Hawaii World War I Centennial Task Force held a ceremony for the lost crew of the ship on 3 April 2017 (wiki History USS Sudbury USS Sudbury (ID-2149) was the cargo ship Sudbury under construction for the Shawmut Steamship Company that was taken over by the United States Navy on completion and in commission from 1918 to 1919. After naval service the ship was returned to Shawmut and operated by that company until its merger with companies that included the American Ship and Commerce Navigation Company and operated by that company until 1927. The ship was acquired by the Munson Steamship Line and operated by that company until sold to Cia Genovese di Nav a Vapori SA, Genoa, Italy and renamed Capo Alba. The ship was in the Atlantic in 1941, taking refuge in the Canary Islands. The ship, along with a tanker, escaped Tenerife 1 April 1941 to the continent and was taken over by Germany 8 September 1943. Capo Alba was damaged by bombing at Nantes March 1944 and scuttled there 18 August 1944. The hulk was raised and broken up in 1946.  

  • Antique Imperial Japanese Navy Cruiser Akitsushima 秋津洲 Sailors Dress Cap Tally - Very Rare

    Antique Imperial Japanese Navy Cruiser Akitsushima 秋津洲 Sailors Dress Cap Tally – Very Rare

    Wonderful Original Sino Japanese War, Russo Japanese War & WWI Imperial Japanese Navy Protected Cruiser Akitsushima 秋津洲 Senior Sailors CPO Chief Dress Cap Tally, Extraordinary Bullion Embroidery – Fine Issued Condition as Photographed with minimal wear as seen, an Exceptional Addition to Any Collection Akitsushima (秋津洲) was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), designed and built by the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in Japan. The name Akitsushima comes from an archaic name for Japan, as used in the ancient chronicle Kojiki. Background Akitsushima was the sole cruiser for the Imperial Japanese Navy planned under the 1889 fiscal year budget. She originally intended as a domestically-built fourth vessel in the Matsushima class of cruisers under the Jeune École philosophy promoted by French military advisor and naval architect Louis-Émile Bertin. However, even at the time of her construction, opposition by the pro-British faction within the navy, and growing concerns on the effectiveness and operational utility of the Matsushima class, led to proposals for new design with multiple guns rather than a single, huge Canet gun. The new design more closely resembled the British-designed USS Baltimore than the earlier Matsushima class. Bertin was outraged by the new design and threatened to return to France.[1] In 1894, the pro-British faction prevailed and the Canet gun was removed. Plans of Akitsushima as of 1904 The hull design of Akitsushima was based closely on that of the last vessel to be constructed in the Matsushima class, namely Hashidate, retaining the same double-bottom hull construction, water-tight compartments and the same machinery.[3] She was the last ship in Japan to be built of imported steel. Akitsushima has a length of 92.11 metres (302.2 ft), width of 13.1 metres (43 ft) and draught of 5.32 metres (17.5 ft) and was powered by two horizontal triple-expansion steam engines with six cylindrical boilers driving twin screws.The armaments of Akitsushima were initially based on the cruiser Chiyoda, with four QF 6 inch /40 naval guns with a maximum range of up to 9,100 metres (10,000 yd) and fire rate of five to seven rounds per minute, mounted on sponsons on the upper deck (two on the bow on both sides of the foremast and two in the stern behind the mainmast). The rapid rate of fire of these guns gave Akitsushima a large advantage over the more heavily armed Matsushima class, whose slow rate of fire had led cadets to say during training exercises that “ by the time one shot is fired, the day is over However, the Japanese navy felt that this main battery was too light, and demanded the inclusion of an additional six rapid firing QF 4.7 inch guns, with a range of 4,000 metres (4,400 yd) and fire rate of 12 rounds per minute.[3] These guns were also mounted on sponsons on the upper deck, with two to each side between the foremast and mainmast, and one each on the forecastle and poop. In addition, the ship had ten QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss guns and two quadruple 1-inch Nordenfelt guns as well as four 356 mm (14 in) torpedo tubes. The basic design of Akitsushima was too top-heavy, and the vessel had poor stability and sea-handling capability First Sino-Japanese War During the First Sino-Japanese War, Captain Kamimura Hikonojō was assigned command of the new cruiser Akitsushima and participated in the Battle of Pungdo even before the start of official hostilities against the Imperial Chinese Beiyang Fleet cruiser Jiyuan. Jiyuan escaped, but Akitsushima captured the gunboat Guanyi. Later as part of the flying squadron led by Admiral Tsuboi Kōzō at the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 17 September 1894, Akitsushima is credited with sinking the cruiser Zhiyuan.[5] During the battle, Akitsushima was hit with the loss of five killed (including one officer) and ten wounded. She subsequently participated in the Battle of Weihaiwei, where her role was primarily to provide fire support to assist the Imperial Japanese Army in capturing the landward fortifications. Akitsushima was among the Japanese fleet units that took part in the seizure of the Pescadores and the invasion of Taiwan in 1895, and saw action on 13 October 1895 at the bombardment of Cihou Fort at Kaohsiung. Interwar period On 21 March 1898, Akitsushima was re-designated as a 3rd class protected cruiser. During the Spanish–American War, Akitsushima (which was then based at Makung in the Pescadores Islands), was sent to Manila in the Philippines under the command of Captain Saitō Makoto to safeguard Japanese citizens and economic interests. Akitsushima, under the command of Captain Fujii Kōichi, was called upon for escort duty to protect transports ferrying Japanese troops and supplies during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. Russo-Japanese War In an effort to improve her stability, two of her 120-mm guns were removed around 1900–1901. However, Akitsushima was still considered underpowered, poorly-armored, and outgunned by the start of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, and was largely assigned to rear line duties, as part of the 6th division of the Japanese Third Fleet. She was based in out of the Takeshiki Guard District in the Tsushima islands, and assigned to patrols of the Korea Strait between Tsushima and Port Arthur against the Imperial Russian Navy cruiser squadron based in Vladivostok. Akitsushima was sent to Shanghai on 18 February 1904 under the command of Commander Yamaya Tanin, together with the cruiser Suma, to force the disarmament of the Russian gunboat Mandzhur, under the international norms for neutrality, accomplishing its mission by 31 March. Akitsushima then joined the blockade of Port Arthur. She assisted in the rescue of survivors from the battleship Yashima which had struck a naval mine on 15 May 1904, and also rescued survivors of the gunboat Ōshima which sank on 16 May after colliding with the cruiser Akashi. In June Akitsushima was assigned to escort transports ferrying the IJA 2nd Army across the Bohai Gulf, and to provide fire support for the efforts of the Imperial Japanese Army’s 3rd Army under General Nogi Maresuke to take Port Arthur. During the…

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