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an old book with a leather cover sitting next to a book with an airplane emblema flag, medals, and a book on a tablea book with a bunch of military badges on top of itan old paper with a list of items on it sitting on a tablean old certificate with a picture of a military seal on ita close up of a document with a military seal on itan old document with a bunch of numbers on ita piece of paper taped to the side of a piece of papera close up of a piece of paper with handwriting on ita drawing of a santa clause on a piece of paperan old document with a picture of a man ' s name on itan old photo of a group of people standing in front of an airplanean old photo of a book with pictures of people in itthree pictures of a man sitting in a chair with a dogan old photo of a group of people standing in front of a group of menblack and white photograph of an old photo of a man in a planethree pictures of a man and a woman sitting on a motorcycleseveral old black and white photos of a group of men and womenseveral black and white photos of people standing in front of an airplanea black and white photo of an old airplane on the groundblack and white photograph of an old book with pictures of people and airplanesan old black and white photo of a group of people on a streetseveral old black and white photos of a plane in the watera black and white photo of a plane on the groundblack and white photograph of an old airplane on a fielda black and white photo of an old airplaneseveral black and white photos of a boat in a body of wateran old photo of a small plane on the runwayseveral black and white photos of old airplanes on display in a bookseveral black and white photos of a plane flying over a fielda sign on the door of a building that says celebrate you lucky bastarda close up of a certificate on a piece of paper on a tablea close up of a piece of paper on top of a wooden tablean old document with a piece of paper attached to ita piece of paper that has a list of items on ita certificate issued by the air force is displayed on a wallan old book with a picture of a man and a dog on ita plaque on the wall that says one for hope and one for faith and one for love, you know the fourth should bring you much good luck,three pieces of old paper are on display in a glass casean old document with a black and white image of a manan old document with a stamp on it sitting on top of a tablean old document with a picture of a man on itan old paper with a list of items on ita close up of a brown book with a bird on itan old newspaper with a picture of a man in a hatan open book with a lot of old papers on itan open book with a piece of paper on top of itan open book with a list of items in it sitting on top of a tablean open book with a bunch of writing on it sitting on top of a tablean old book with a picture of a plane flying in the sky
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Photograph album of Sergeant Alfred E.
See original version (French)

Estimate €400 - €700
Sale commission
Description
Photograph album of Sergeant Alfred E. Pruett Jr, 34th Bomb Group – 8th Air Force – England (61 original photographs) Sergeant Pruett was assigned as a tail gunner in a ‘Pathfinder’ crew on a B-17 with the 34th BG. This type of aircraft was fitted with an on-board radar operated by a specially trained operator, as well as one or two additional navigators whose specific task was to guide the B-17 formations throughout their journey to the target. They served as pathfinders, with crews hand-picked for the role. This album contains several personal documents, including Pruett’s Air Medal awards, two shoulder badges (one of which is from the 8th Air Force), Pruett’s certificates as an aircraft mechanic and gunner, press cuttings, and a document detailing four Air Medal awards (1 Air Medal + 3 Oak Leaf Clusters denoting additional awards of this decoration), photos of the crew, crew members at their stations aboard a B-17, scenes of daily life in England, P-47 and P-5 escort fighters, as well as British bombers. Also featured is a rare British twin-engine Mosquito bearing American markings. This aircraft was used by special units responsible for planning raids, gathering weather data or conducting reconnaissance missions. Among the various documents is a copy of the famous ‘Lucky Bastard Club’ certificate marking the end of a tour of operations, a very rare certificate from the 3rd Bomb Division bearing the insignia of the 8th Air Force, detailing Pruett’s 30 missions, 18 of which were as lead gunner-mechanic in a Pathfinder crew. There is also a very rare document dated 18 April 1945 stating that Pruett was suffering from post-traumatic stress due to his combat missions. A certificate bearing the insignia of the 34th Bomb Group summarises his 30 missions. Also included is the famous poem ‘The Return’ by Beryl Miles, dedicated to American airmen stationed in England, a lucky charm featuring a four-leaf clover, three documents awarding the Air Medal (the fourth award having been included in a collective document dated 9 March 1945), and a document mentioning the .45-calibre automatic pistol issued to Pruett. A historical book (in the name of another crew member) dedicated to the 34th Bomb Group, printed in the USA between 1946 and 1948, completes this lot. This type of book is particularly prized by collectors as they are generally kept within the families for whom they were intended upon the return of combat units to American soil. Finally, Pruett’s decorations, including his Air Medal in a presentation box, with three oak leaves on the ribbon denoting additional awards, his crew member’s certificate, a non-commissioned officer’s collar badge and a small cotton American flag intended for rapid identification in the event of a landing in occupied or Allied territory, complete this personalised lot. (Grégory Pons Collection) (full photo file available on request)
See original version (French)
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About the sale Sale of the Grégory Pons collection and miscellaneous items (Aviation and WW2 Militaria)
Auction location
Auction time 11/14/2026 at 1:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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