I recently got a new display case and decided to dedicate one of the shelves to the European Air War. It's relatively simple at the moment but interesting nonetheless. It includes...
1. A medal set (I have all the documents as well) to a B-17 tail gunner with 366th Bombardier Squadron. His group consists of Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters. He was credited with two kills and was Wounded in Action on August 31, 1943 during an attack on aviation sites in France.
2. A pre-war map of Dresden.
3. Iron Cross 2nd Class and War Merit Cross 2nd Class with award documents. Both are related to the Gomorrah Raids on Hamburg in the summer of 1943. The EK2 document (featured in my book) is to Flak NCO and dated August 1st. The War Merit Cross, dated August 6th, is to a block warden. It's crazy to think of what a block warden did or saw during those terrible attacks!
4. A classic Luftschutz steel helmet.
5. A Luftwaffe cockpit clock - this is a bit out of place relative to other items because its not actually from the bombing of German targets but is actually related to the bombing of England. It was picked up by my grandfather - a Merchant marine who is in English between trips across the pond. Supposedly he was able to get it from a downed aircraft - possibly during the baby blitz in 1944.
It's a simple display and could use some more pieces like a LW Flak Badge or something. But it works for now and came together because I had these items as opposed to planning a specific layout. I hope you like it.
B
1. A medal set (I have all the documents as well) to a B-17 tail gunner with 366th Bombardier Squadron. His group consists of Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters. He was credited with two kills and was Wounded in Action on August 31, 1943 during an attack on aviation sites in France.
2. A pre-war map of Dresden.
3. Iron Cross 2nd Class and War Merit Cross 2nd Class with award documents. Both are related to the Gomorrah Raids on Hamburg in the summer of 1943. The EK2 document (featured in my book) is to Flak NCO and dated August 1st. The War Merit Cross, dated August 6th, is to a block warden. It's crazy to think of what a block warden did or saw during those terrible attacks!
4. A classic Luftschutz steel helmet.
5. A Luftwaffe cockpit clock - this is a bit out of place relative to other items because its not actually from the bombing of German targets but is actually related to the bombing of England. It was picked up by my grandfather - a Merchant marine who is in English between trips across the pond. Supposedly he was able to get it from a downed aircraft - possibly during the baby blitz in 1944.
It's a simple display and could use some more pieces like a LW Flak Badge or something. But it works for now and came together because I had these items as opposed to planning a specific layout. I hope you like it.
B
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