Original Items: Only One Grouping Available. This is a fantastic grouping for an Enlistedman who received his commission as an Officer, serving with the 5th Army Air Force as a Bombardier for 65 combat missions. He started his military career prior to WWII in the Texas National Guard in the 36th Infantry Division reaching the rank of sergeant. He decided to make a change in his military career. He became an aviation cadet and then was commissioned as an aviation officer in the Army Air Corps. He served as a bombardier on B-24s for two tours in the Southern Pacific Theater. He successfully completed 65 combat missions. We have not been able to locate a solid service record for Lt Schoenfeld, making for a wonderful research opportunity.

The items in this lot:

- Engraved Aircraft Combat Observer Wings: By the time of the United States' entry into the Second World War, three Observer Badges were authorized by the Army Air Forces. The first was the Combat Observer Badge: in appearance an Aviator Badge with a large 'O' in the center. For Balloon Observers, a separate badge was created: the Observer Badge augmented with a balloon insignia. The badge is marked on the back with GEMSCO. N.Y. and STERLING. The hand engraving is as follows:

Class 43-6
Lt. Herman Schoenfeld
Bombardier
Air-Corp

The wings are in solid condition with easily discernible engraving, the only real issue is that the lock on the clasp is missing, but the catch is still present.

- Ribbon Rack: The ribbons consist of an Air Medal with 3 Clusters and an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with 2 stars.

- Prop and Wings Insignia: The United States version of the Prop and Wings originated as branch insignia of the United States Army Air Service in 1918 (then known as the "Air Service, United States Army") during the First World War, and remained such from 1926 to 1947 for the successor United States Army Air Corps. Approximately 90% of all officers serving in the United States Army Air Forces were commissioned in the Air Corps and wore the insignia. Versions of the insignia are still used by the United States Air Force and the United States Army Aviation Branch.

- 1st Lieutenant Rank: Wonderful condition but there is scratching and finish loss present.

- Khaki “REGULATION ARMY OFFICERS SHIRT”: The shirt is in a solid, worn condition and has the initials “HS” above the tag label. The left shoulder features an embroidered Far East Air Force Command sleeve insignia.

- Australian Made “Albatross” Brand Officers Shirt, Brisbane: Lovely condition and features a 5th Army Air Force sleeve insignia on the left shoulder. There are faint markings on the lower right inside, but unfortunately someone in the past took the shirt to the drycleaners and now they’re too faded to read.

- Sydney, Australia Made Green Officers Shirt: Wonderful condition and features a clipped on paper name tag for SHOENFELD.

This is a wonderful grouping of items, perfect for the WWII Army Air Corps collectors. Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Fourteen Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses that survived the Battle of the Philippines left Mindanao for Darwin, Australia, between 17 and 20 December 1941, the only aircraft of the Far East Air Force to escape. After its evacuation from the Philippines on 24 December 1941, FEAF headquarters moved to Australia and was reorganized and redesignated 5 Air Force on 5 February 1942, with most of its combat aircraft based on fields on Java. It seemed at the time that the Japanese were advancing just about everywhere. The remaining heavy bombers of the 19th Bombardment Group, based at Malang on Java, flew missions against the Japanese in an attempt to stop their advance. They were joined in January and February, two or three at a time, by 37 B-17Es and 12 LB-30s of the 7th Bombardment Group. The small force of bombers, never numbering more than 20 operational at any time, could do little to prevent the invasion of the Netherlands East Indies, launching valiant but futile attacks against the masses of Japanese shipping, with six lost in combat, six in accidents, and 26 destroyed on the ground.

The 7th Bombardment Group was withdrawn to India in March 1942, leaving the 19th to carry on as the only B-17 Fortress-equipped group in the South Pacific. About this time it was decided that replacement B-17s would not be sent to the southwest Pacific, but be sent exclusively to the Eighth Air Force which was building up in England. By May, Fifth Air Force's surviving personnel and aircraft were detached to other commands and the headquarters remained unmanned for several months, but elements played a small part in the Battle of the Coral Sea (7–8 May 1942) when the 435th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group saw the Japanese fleet gathering in Rabaul area nearly two weeks before the battle actually took place. Because of the reconnaissance activity of the 435th Bomb Squadron, the US Navy was prepared to cope adequately with the situation. The squadron was commended by the US Navy for its valuable assistance not only for its excellent reconnaissance work but for the part played in the battle.

Headquarters Fifth Air Force was re-staffed at Brisbane, Australia on 18 September 1942 and placed under the command of Major General George Kenney. United States Army Air Forces units in Australia, including Fifth Air Force, were eventually reinforced and re-organised following their initial defeats in the Philippines and the East Indies. At the time that Kenney had arrived, Fifth Air Force was equipped with three fighter groups and five bombardment groups.

On 4 November 1942, the Fifth Air Force commenced sustained action against the Japanese in Papua New Guinea and was a key component of the New Guinea campaign (1942–1945). Fifth Air Force engaged the Japanese again in the Philippines campaign (1944–45) as well as in the Battle of Okinawa (1945).

Fifth Air Force along with Thirteenth Air Force in the Central Pacific and Seventh Air Force in Hawaii were assigned to the newly created United States Far East Air Forces (FEAF) on 3 August 1944. FEAF was subordinate to the U.S. Army Forces Far East and served as the headquarters of Allied Air Forces Southwest Pacific Area. By 1945, the three numbered air forces were supporting operations throughout the Pacific. FEAF was the functional equivalent in the Pacific of the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF) in the European Theater of Operations.

Approximate Measurements:

Green Shirt:

Collar to shoulder:    9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve:   24”
Shoulder to shoulder:   17.5”
Chest width:   22"
Waist width:  21.5"
Hip width:     18”
Front length:   32"

Tan Shirt #1:

Collar to shoulder:    9"
Shoulder to sleeve:   25”
Shoulder to shoulder:   16.5”
Chest width:   21"
Waist width:  20.5"
Hip width:     19”
Front length:  30"

Tan Shirt #2

Collar to shoulder:    10"
Shoulder to sleeve:   25”
Shoulder to shoulder:   18”
Chest width:   22"
Waist width:  22"
Hip width:     20”
Front length:  30.5"