WWII Footlocker Containing Military Service Collection of First Lieutenant Glenn Bowers, P-51 Mustang Fighter Pilot

About Auction

Live

American Historical Ephemera and Photography

By Cowan's Auctions

Nov 19, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-11-19 10:00:00 2020-11-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Historical Ephemera and Photography https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-historical-ephemera-and-photography-5894
Cowan’s Auctions, a Hindman Company, is pleased to present the November 19 Fall Auction, featuring over 400 lots of historically significant photography, manuscript material, artwork, and other ephemera dating from the 18th through the early 20th century, including the Civil War. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

View Full Catalog (414)

• Lot Description
  Original foot locker identified to Glenn Bowers, 34 x 17.5 x 14 in., from his time in the air force during WWII, containing over 175 photographs, documents, patches, medals, and personal items providing a complete record of Bowers' military service in the 8th Air Force from training through his combat flying with the 352nd FG. Glenn Bowers (1921-1952) of Chillicothe, Ohio, was a First Lieutenant P-51 Mustang Fighter Pilot during WWII. His squadron was the 487th Fighter Squadron "Meyer's Maulers" - 352nd Fighter Group - 8th Air Force. The 352nd Fighter Group were based at Bodney, Norfolk from July 1943 until November 1945 but in the winter months of 1944/1945 detachments moved to bases in Belgium to provide extra air support to ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge and to assist with the airborne assault across the Rhine. The 487th Fighter Squadron was the only Eighth Air Force Squadron to be awarded a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation, usually an award reserved to Groups. The Squadron was given the DUC for destroying 23 enemy aircraft in a single mission on January 1, 1945. Major George Preddy, the highest scoring P-51 Mustang in Eighth Air Force, flew with the 352nd Fighter Group. The 352nd FG earned the nickname "The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney." 
  
  Lieutenant Bowers was recognized for his exemplary flying skills, heroism, determination and esprit de corps in action against the enemy and destroying critical enemy targets. He was responsible for the success of many missions escorting B-17 Bomber aircraft over Germany as well as D-Day support behind enemy lines in France. Lieutenant Bowers' name appears on the 487th Fighter Squadron Roster at www.AmericanAirMuseum.com.
  
  Extremely rare items include two original 16mm film rolls taken from the gun camera on his P-51 Mustang fighter plane during combat missions. This original film contains approximately 30 minutes of black and white footage of Lieutenant Bowers downing German Fighter aircraft as well as intense strafing runs on German infrastructure including railroads and aircraft on the ground. This film has been digitized and is contained on a CD for viewing. Along with the two film rolls is the original WW2 AN-N5 gun camera and one empty film cartridge used on Lieutenant Bowers' Mustang during the war.
  
  Extrememly rare Squadron patch in excellent condition. Two patches were given to each Squadron member. This jacket patch was never applied and is in almost untouched condition with only a small moth nip on the edge. The patch was verified by Sam L. Sox and Mark L Hamel - historians for the Squadron and authors of the book "BlueNoser Tales - Stories From the Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney." 
  
  Extremely rare "The Hunters" - The 487th Fighter Squadron - First edition Unit History given only to members of the squadron. This book is in excellent condition and contains approximately 30pp of WWII History from the perspective of the 487th Fighter Squadron. Opening page with picture dedicated to George E. Preddy - Killed in Action Christmas Day - 1944. Preddy was an officer during World War II and an American ace credited with 26.83 enemy air-to-air kills ranking him as the top P-51 Mustang ace of World War II and eighth on the list of all-time highest scoring American aces.
  
  Three Rare and important log books from Lieutenant Bowers' time spent in several aircraft. One log book chronicles all fighter missions with his squadron behind the stick of his P-51 Mustang. This log book details his B-17 bomber escort missions, aircraft destroyed, and strafing runs as shown in the 16mm gun camera footage.
  
  Also included are Lieutenant Bowers' military pins, wings, and patches (five Aircraft Pilot Wing Pins - one is a tie clip and one is engraved on reverse "Claris" "3 Nov. 43" "Glenn" - all are sterling. Several escape and evasion compass', lighters, ID bracelets, and many Army Air Force patches; two brass bomb fuse plugs; piece of parachute saved by Bowers when he had to bail out once from his plane when he suffered mechanical issues (documented in the correspondence); small shadow box containing his original picture in his plane and metals; and yearbooks from Moore Field and Goodfellow Field as well as detailed documentation on Lieutenant Bowers' initial Training in the Air Force.
  
  Also included are miscellaneous newspaper clippings, black and white photos, letters to mom and dad, original artwork, Pilot's Processing Portfolios, war documents, foreign currency and coins, aviator glasses, complete wallet, ID Tags, Pilot Logs and more.
  
  Very complete and organized foot locker for a decorated P-51 Mustang pilot who flew for the famed 352nd squadron. Purchased directly from the Bowers family in Chillicothe, Ohio.  
• Shipping Info

  • Buyers are required to pay for all packing, shipping and insurance charges. Overseas duty charges are the responsibility of the successful Bidder. Be aware that for larger and/or valuable items, shipping charges can be substantial. - If there is no shipping amount on listed your invoice, you will need to make arrangements to pick up or ship your purchase through an alternative shipping company. Our shipping department can be contacted at 513.871.1670 (ext. 219) or email shipping@cowans.com. - Shipping charges include insurance for your order while in transit. If you have private insurance we will adjust your charge to include only packing and shipping. - Please allow 14 – 21 days after payment to package and ship your purchase as carefully as possible.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	28.00
    $250,001	23.00
    $3,000,001	15.00