Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is the Swas cut away from the vertical stabilizer fin of a DFS 230 German WWII Assault Glider. The glider had a fabric covered body to reduce weight. The DFS 230 was the first German combat glider, with a wingspan of 72 feet and fuselage 38 feet long. The first use of this aircraft took place on May 10, 1940. In the half-light of dawn, shortly after 5 a.m., ten 230s carrying a total of 78 assault troops swooped down and landed on top of a huge Belgian fort, Eben Emael, a barrier to AH's invasion of Belgium and Holland.
Belonging to the Luftlandegesch wader 1, the Luftwaffe's first "'Airlanding" Geschwader and the first unit of its kind in the world, each DFS 230A carried paratroops whose tasks were the storming of the Eben-Emael fortifications and the capture of the Kanne, Veldwezelt and Vroenhoven bridges which were to be held until the arrival of ground forces.
So successful was this operational initiation of the assault glider that virtually every aircraft manufacturing nation immediately followed Germany's lead and began the design and development of troop and freight-carrying gliders, while the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, which had previously expressed doubts concerning the operational value of Lastensegler (Cargo Gliders), promptly demanded that the highest priority be awarded the development and manufacture of larger aircraft in this category.
This section of the tail fin was cut away by US soldiers, signed and brought back to the USA as a war trophy. The swas has been ingeniously framed under glass so that when hung on a wall it can spin 360 degrees so they view may read all the signatures right side up. The signatures read as follows:
Signatures:
Charles L. Proctor
Miltonvale Kansas
John M Wilson
Dothan, Alabama
Max R Tadbeck???
Toledo, Ohio
William A. Macklyn
Phila, Penna.
Wayne T. Shull
Wyandotte, Michigan
Charles E. Whitehead
Falmouth, Ky.
Harold N. Collins
Stockton, California
Robert W. Kean
Livingston, N.J.
Jimmy Cox
Bradenton, Florida
Mel Sterling
Chicago, Illinois
James G. Ramsey
Marshall, Texas
Howard E. Cunningham
St. Petersburg, Fla
Burke Jackson
Hazen, Arkansas
"Bils" Little
Bellerose, N.Y.
Rall Fair
Dallas, Texas
Bruce Sears
Newton, Mass.
The frame was professionally custom made and is of very high quality. The dimensions of the frame are 31" x 31" and the fabric of the swas is approximately 22 x 22.
This is one of the very best USGI bring back pieces we have ever encountered, from an exceptionally rare and famous aircraft and signed during the war by US Soldiers providing us with wonderful provenance. We have verified most of the names listed but have not figured out where they were assigned, making this a dream research project for the right collector!
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
