Item Description
Original Items: One-of-a-kind set. This collection of Japanese WWII pieces was shipped home by S.F. DAMICO who served as a member of the crew on the USS PASADENA. This seaman packed all of the goods into a BOVRIL CORNED BEEF wood crate and shipped them home to his mother S. DAMICO who resided at 104 N. Iowa Ave, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Commissioned just before the thrust into the Mariana Islands, the USS Pasadena completed shakedown and training during the summer of 1944, and on 25 September got underway for the Pacific theater. On 3 November she crossed the International Date Line and, continuing on, joined TF 38, the fast carrier force, at Ulithi at mid-month. She was part of TF38 as it sailed into Typhoon Cobra on 18 Dec 1944. Through the remainder of the year she participated in that force’s operations against Luzon and Formosa in support of the Philippine campaign. In mid-January 1945, as the assault on Luzon pressed forward, the force sailed into the South China Sea and hit Japanese installations and shipping along the Indo-China coast and on Formosa. In February, the ships, now TF 58, moved against the Japanese home islands, then swung southeast to cover the landings on Iwo Jima, during which Pasadena added her guns to the bombardment group and performed patrol duties.
Replenished at Ulithi, the force, with Pasadena in the inner screen, sortied again in mid-March to soften the way for the operation "Iceberg" assault force with strikes on the southern Japanese home islands and the northern Ryukyus in addition to those against the main assault target: Okinawa. At sea for 80 days, Pasadena, as flagship for CruDiv 17, participated in the night bombardments of Minami Daito (28 March and 10 May) and in the continuous strikes against other Japanese positions on Okinawa and Kyushu (1 April 30 May).
After a brief respite at Ulithi and Leyte in June, the force sortied from Leyte Gulf for its last strikes against the enemy’s home islands in early July, and from mid-month to mid-August pounded military and industrial complexes on the Tokyo Plain, northern Honshu, and Hokkaido in anticipation of heavy resistance to what appeared inevitablean invasion of Japan. On 15 August, however, Japan accepted surrender terms.
Following the cessation of Pacific hostilities, Pasadena commenced occupation duties. On 23 August she became flagship of TG 35.1, on the 27th she anchored in Sagami Wan, and on 1 September shifted to Tokyo Bay where she witnessed the official surrender ceremony the next day. From then until mid-January 1946, she remained in the Tokyo Bay area supporting the occupation forces. On 19 January she got underway for San Pedro, California and an overdue overhaul.
Included in this wonderful collection are the following pieces:
Japanese WWII Large Banner
Japanese WWII Prayer Silk Flag
Japanese WWII National Silk Flag
Japanese WWII Knee Mortar Round (inert)
Japanese WWII Type 97 Hand Grenade (inert)
Japanese WWII NCO visor cap.
Japanese rifle bayonet.
Multiple Japanese WWII uniform insignia
2 x Japanese 7.7×58mm Arisaka stripper clips with cases in original cardboard boxes
U.S. WWII first aid belt pouch.
Southeast Asian concealed walking stick knife.
Southeast Asian cork style fighting knife with wood scabbard and rope belt.
Original 1940s era Borvill Corned Beef wood crate with addresses.
Truly an amazing set, sort of like history in a box!
- This product is not available for international shipping.
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