252 - WWII 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION CHANNEL CROSSING SHOULDER PATCH  – VERY SCARCE!

Price: $850.00

This is an extremely scarce World War II 101st Airborne Division Channel Crossing Shoulder Patch as worn by paratroopers who took part in the D-Day invasion jumps in the pre-dawn hours of June 6th, 1944. The patch is a khaki cut edge one-piece ameba eye type with white bobbin thread backing. The area between the bottom of the “Airborne” arc and the top of the eagle’s head is filled in with blue twill material representing the English Channel and a single thread red and white bridge design representing the airborne crossing. This patch has been carefully removed from either an M42 jump jacket or an Ike jacket and remains in excellent condition. It can be found listed and described in Mark Bando’s booklet on 101st patches entitled, “Trigger Time”. This is an extremely scarce patch and only the second one I have had in over 50 years of collecting. 

253 - WWII U.S. PURPLE HEART MEDAL PAIR - AWARDED TO 2 BROTHERS BOTH KILLED IN ACTION!

Price: $975.00

This is a very sad and tragic Purple Heart Medal pair awarded to two brothers, Ernest and John Pearson both from Alabama and both of who were killed in action during the Second World War. 1st Sergeant Ernest E. Pearson, SN 6349233 was with the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division and was killed 11 August 1943 during operation in Sicily. Staff Sergeant John W. Pearson SN 6362399 was with the 27th Light Bomber Group, 17th Bomber Squadron, U.S. Army Air Corps and was killed 6 May 1942 in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The Purple Heart awarded to John Pearson is hand engraved and the one to Ernest Pearson is impressed in thee small capital style of lettering. Both medals are in excellent condition with bright, crisp ribbons and complete pin assemblies. They are both housed in their original black leatherette presentation cases and are without lapel pin or ribbon bars as awarded to KIA’s. Included in this group is a copy of a photograph of Ernest Pearson in his uniform and copies of Internet research from the American Battlefield Monument Commission on both Earnest and John. A tragic reminder of the cost one family paid for the price of freedom during the Second World War and very scarce to be offered as a pair.

255 - U.S. PARATROOPER JUMP WING – STERLING AND NICELY VAULTED

Price: $255.00
 
This a standard World War II Paratrooper jump wing that is marked “sterling” and has a gun metal blue back. The wing has been nicely bent by its original owner giving it a jaunty and vaulted appearance.  The pin assembly is fully functional but is missing the locking ring that roles over and secures the pin in the catch. This is nothing significant and does not distract from the beauty of the wing in any way.