Item: ONSV25TGA168
Original U.S. WWII Flying Tigers CBI Leather Patch, Medal, & Ephemera Grouping - B-24 Tail Gunner Thomas Milton Henson, 464th Bomb Group
-
Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the leather patch, medal, and ephemera grouping of Staff Sergeant Thomas Milton Henson, who served with the 464th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. Henson is listed in the Flying Tigers American Volunteer Group roster as a “Clerk - Medical Orderly”. From research, we found that he served as a tail gunner in a B-24 with the 464th Bombardment Group.The grouping includes:- Henson’s large CBI (China, Burma, India) leather patch, multi-piece construction, measuring 7¾ x 7⅞”. The back is inscribed: 10th A.A.C. / 8-17-42.- Henson’s Flying Tiger leather patch, painted, measuring 1⅝ x 2½”. Paint is well-retained.- 1962-dated joint reunion book for the Flying Tigers reunion. Signed on the front by Henson with his serial number, RA34435678. Measures 8½ x 11”.- Small photograph of Henson standing in front of his plane, with fantastic nose art painted on. Measures 2⅜ x 3¼”.- Normal size CBI patch.- Henson’s WWII Victory Medal.- Henson’s Bronze Star Medal with ribbon, not engraved.- Henson’s Aircrew wings.- Five issues of “Roundup”, the CBI Official newspaper. All but one retain their cover page and all are in great readable condition!From Henson’s obituary:He was ready to graduate from Loveland High School in 1943 but was drafted into the Army Air Corps before he could attend graduation. During WW II he was a tail gunner in the 464th Bombardment Group, flying missions into enemy territory from Italy, England, and Africa. Tom flew 87 missions in the B24 Liberator, being shot down several times but each time able to return to his unit. Tom was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activity against the enemy. His group flew over 100 missions and dropped 7, 000 tons of bombs; sustaining high causalities, losing over 144 service members during the war. After being discharged he attended college for two years. He wanted to become a commercial pilot, but instead became a bush pilot for a brief time before switching occupations to civil engineering and construction project management in which he excelled for the next 45 years. He was involved in many important municipal projects such as building the Air Force Academy, building high schools in Rangeley and Loveland, a hospital addition at St. Francis Hospital, and a fish hatchery in Pueblo, among many others.This is a fantastically scarce Flying Tigers grouping with some great ephemera. Comes ready for further research and display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
We Buy Military Antiques
Our team expert buyers travels the world to pay fair prices for entire estate collections to singular items.
START SELLING TODAY
