Lot 89
Air Force Sgt Michael STABILE, military memorabilia

Estimate: $650 - $750

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About this Lot
Description
Michael Arthur STABILE, General Nathan F. Twining WWII Uniform, medals, military papers, photographs Album

Offered for sale by Denis Gouey of 'And Books Too' - for more information please contact him via email at bibliopegist@yahoo.com or text  203 232 4338

15th Air Force Sergeant Stabile’s personal and military papers, 1942-1946, [Operation Tidal Wave] Battle of Ploesti
15th Air Force Tech. Sergeant  Michael Arthur STABILE, General Nathan F. Twining, Battle of Ploesti Gunner WWII Uniform, medals, military papers, photographs Album, Sergeant Stabile’s personal and military papers, 1942-1946, [Operation Tidal Wave] Battle of Ploesti, Michael Arthur Stabile (Sept. 18, 1924-Jan. 30, 1963).

Aerial Engineer Gunner. Flew five missions with 15th Air Force over Europe. Assisted pilot in the operation of a multiple engined heavy bomber by watching engine performance and instruments. Made emergency repairs on aircraft while in flight. Manned upper turret machine guns against enemy aircraft. Spent month in Hungarian POW camp when aircraft was disabled.

Personal papers, documents, photographs related to Mr. Stabile’s service in the Air Force during WWII and later, together with his medals and a two inch long piece of shrapnel.Includes a long personal typed letter signed by 15th Air Force General Nathan F. Twining:”FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE Office of the Commanding General A. P, a 520, Tech. Sergeant Michael A. Stabile Hq. Fifteenth Air Force APO 520, U. S. Army

Dear Sergeant Stabile6 September 1944 

You are going home. .............You are the returning heroes of the Battle of Ploesti. ...........Your safe return to my command marked the culmination of an outstanding campaign in the annals of American military history. The German war machines' disintegration on all fronts is being caused, to a large extent, by their lack of oil - oil that you took from them. ..........One the memories of my life will be the thrill I experienced as the B-l7s came into view, circled, landed, and I saw you unloading......Best of luck and Godspeed. 

N. F. TWINING Major General, US Commanding

The lot includes a hand drawn map of Hungary in blue ink on half a dish towel, presumably drawn by Michael as a Prisoner of War. It features roads and railways, the captions at left barely readable but still decipherable, denotes the distances between points or something to that effect. A copious album of photographs with civilian photographs as well as many military photographs, some depicting damaged done by Cleatrac in 1945 to building (?) as well as overturned trucks and medal ceremony. Included is a copy of Stars and Stripes relating to Airmen POW in Romania and their release to freedom. Mike Stabile was among them.

Offered by And Books Too