Original Item: Only One Lot Available. This is an excellent three-piece U.S. Marine Corps veteran autograph grouping centered on some of the best-known Marine aviators and combat Marines of the Second World War. The grouping contains five identifiable signatures: Medal of Honor recipients Joseph “Joe” Foss and Jack H. Lucas, together with Edwin A. Harper, James J. Hill, and Robert W. McClurg, all three veterans of the celebrated VMF-214 “Black Sheep” fighter squadron. The first two pieces are later photographic reproductions of historic WWII images that were subsequently signed by the veterans; the third is a signed card bearing Joe Foss's name, squadron, and service information.

The first photograph shows a group of VMF-214 personnel posed around a Vought F4U Corsair and bears three large handwritten inscriptions:

Upper right:

Col Ed Harper
VMF 214 Blacksheep
3 Zeros

This is Colonel Edwin A. Harper, one of the original pilots assembled into Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington's 1943 Black Sheep squadron.

Lower left:

Lt. Col. J.J. Hill
VMF-214 BLACKSHEEP
1 ZERO

This is Lieutenant Colonel James J. Hill, who flew both of the Black Sheep's combat tours and was credited with an aerial victory against a Japanese Zero over Kahili on 18 October 1943. Published biographical material credits Hill with approximately 70 combat missions during his two tours with VMF-214, followed by additional wartime service with VMF-211.

Lower center:

Lt Col R.W. McClurg
VMF214 Blacksheep
7 Zeros

This is Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. McClurg, one of VMF-214's genuine fighter aces. The Marine Corps' historical listing of its Solomon Islands aces credits McClurg with seven confirmed aerial victories while flying F4U Corsairs with VMF-214, exactly matching the inscription on the photograph.

The second photograph is a reproduction of Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's famous 23 February 1945 photograph of the second flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It is signed at left:

Jack H. Lucas

The signer is Private First Class Jacklyn Harrell “Jack” Lucas, USMCR, a Medal of Honor recipient of the Iwo Jima campaign. Lucas was not one of the Marines depicted raising the flag in Rosenthal's photograph. Rather, the photograph serves as an iconic representation of the battle in which Lucas performed his Medal of Honor action. The National Archives identifies Rosenthal's photograph as having been taken on Mount Suribachi on 23 February 1945.

The third piece is a card signed in blue ink:

Joe Foss, CMH
VMF-121
U.S. Marine C.R.

The inscription clearly identifies Joseph Jacob “Joe” Foss and his wartime squadron, Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (VMF-121). “CMH” is the traditional shorthand sometimes used for “Congressional Medal of Honor”; the decoration's official name is the Medal of Honor. Foss's final line is transcribed exactly as written and apparently refers to his U.S. Marine Corps Reserve service.

VMF-214 and the Black Sheep

Marine Fighter Squadron 214 had been commissioned on 1 July 1942 and initially operated as the “Swashbucklers.” In August 1943, the squadron was reorganized under Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington with a mixture of experienced combat aviators and newly arrived pilots. This new incarnation became the famous “Black Sheep.” Equipped with the Vought F4U-1 Corsair, they conducted intensive operations from South Pacific bases against Japanese positions and aircraft in the Solomon Islands. The modern Marine Corps history of the squadron notes that VMF-214 became the first Marine fighter squadron awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action.

The three Black Sheep signatures represented in this lot are particularly interesting because the men recorded their own wartime associations directly beneath their names.

Robert W. McClurg became one of VMF-214's aces, with seven confirmed aerial victories. He participated in both Black Sheep combat tours and later served another combat tour with VMF-211.

James J. Hill joined VMF-214 in August 1943 and also served through both of Boyington's combat tours. On 18 October 1943 he destroyed a Zero during operations over Kahili, corresponding directly with the handwritten “1 ZERO” beneath his signature. He later flew with VMF-211 and continued serving as a Marine aviator.

Edwin A. Harper likewise joined the Black Sheep in August 1943. Published accounts credit Harper with one confirmed aerial victory and two probable victories during operations over Kahili and Rabaul. He was wounded in aerial combat on 17 October 1943 yet successfully returned his damaged Corsair to Munda, and was flying again the following day.

Joe Foss and VMF-121

Joe Foss served as executive officer and fighter pilot with VMF-121 during the Guadalcanal campaign, flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat. Marine Corps historical records credit him with 26 Japanese aircraft destroyed, all while flying Wildcats. His combat record tied the 26-victory American record established by Eddie Rickenbacker during the First World War and made Foss one of the foremost American fighter aces of WWII.

Foss received the Medal of Honor for his actions from 9 October 1942 through January 1943. His official citation describes almost daily aerial combat, escort missions, and the destruction of numerous Japanese aircraft while serving with VMF-121 in the Solomon Islands.

His inscription is therefore particularly attractive from a collector's standpoint because Foss did more than simply sign his name. He specifically added “VMF-121,” directly identifying the Marine fighter squadron with which he achieved his famous Guadalcanal combat record.

Jack H. Lucas and Iwo Jima

Born in 1928, Jack Lucas enlisted while still only fourteen years old after representing himself as older. By February 1945 he had managed to join the combat-bound 26th Marines of the 5th Marine Division and landed on Iwo Jima.

On 20 February 1945, Lucas was moving through a ravine with three other Marines when two Japanese grenades landed among the group. He threw himself over one grenade and pulled the second beneath his body, absorbing the explosions and shielding the men around him. Despite severe wounds, Lucas survived. His official Medal of Honor citation records the action while he was serving with 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division.

Lucas was only 17 years old when the action took place and became the youngest Marine ever awarded the Medal of Honor. President Harry S. Truman presented the medal to him at the White House on 5 October 1945.

The photograph he signed depicts the flag raising on Mount Suribachi three days after his Medal of Honor action. It therefore connects his autograph visually with the battle for which he received the nation's highest military decoration, while it is important to recognize that Lucas himself was not one of the six flag raisers shown in Rosenthal's photograph.