Excellent M-422A H&L Block from Navy Cross / DFC winner

[bazelot]

I just acquired a very large grouping from a WWII pilot who won the Navy Cross and the DFC. In his own words: "It was in performing bombing attacks upon the enemy naval forces at Kiska Harbor that I was awarded the Navy Cross, also the DFC in executing a successful attack on an enemy submarine in Nazon Bay". In mid 42 he was on the CASCO a seaplane tender around Kiska in the Aleutians with VP-43. The CASCO was torpedoed while he was on the ship (2 bulkheads away from where he was standing) and the ship was subsequently beached. The next day he took off in his PBY, found the sub and sunk it. His tour in the Aleutians lasted 3 months and then another 6 month tour back in the Aleutians. He was a LT when he got the Navy Cross and DFC and he was promoted to LT Commander in April 1945 (hence the name tag was removed but I still got his Lt Commander nametag in the grouping). According to the vet this was the jacket he was wearing when he sunk the sub and on many missions both on the Aleutians and later in the Philippines campaigns. The grouping came with 2 other helmets, a M-422, a M-421A and more uniforms.



The early M-422A H&L Block in outstanding condition, no flaws whatsoever, even the lining and label are in perfect shape:

























Helmet and goggles he was wearing in the Aleutians when he was hit with flak. You can see the burned spots on top of the helmet. I got the information directly from the vet himself so that makes the helmet all the more special:







His uniform with ribbons:





THe flight helmet he used in the Philippines campaign:







A post war flight helmet that he used while being in the reserves:

 

[ausreenactor]

Impressive mate! That helmet looks mint! Good get..

Couchy

 

[Roughwear]

Wow! What a superb grouping and such a well preserved Block M422A as well. Thanks for sharing Tom.

 

[Kennyz]

Wonderful...Congratulations!

Ken

 

[Peter Graham]

Beautiful grouping Tom. Couldn't be better. Love the helmets.

 

[Phantomfixer]

Truely a nice grouping..all items in great condition with a very solid history....love the headgear...what type of goggle is on the 1092?

 

[bazelot]

Truely a nice grouping..all items in great condition with a very solid history....love the headgear...what type of goggle is on the 1092?

Thanks. It is a mint pair of MKII naval flight goggles that came with the grouping.

 

[Phantomfixer]

Awesome.. Very clean and not so common!....you don't see these around too much..nice to see a clean set.....

 

[Stony]

Excellent grouping! It's not very often that you get a lot of other items besides the flight jacket and from a Navy Cross recipient as well.

 

[bazelot]

I got a LOT more from the vet...

 

[Treetopflyer]

Great looking jacket. Is that a reproduction nametag? It is an odd way to abbreviate LCDR. I've never seen it written that way before.

 

[bazelot]

Great looking jacket. Is that a reproduction nametag? It is an odd way to abbreviate LCDR. I've never seen it written that way before.

No the nametag is 100% original. It came with the rest of the grouping. His highest rank was CDR so he would not make nametags of an inferior rank after his retirement I assume