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an old book with a picture of a plane flying over the oceanan open notebook with stickers on it and a drawing of a bird on the coveran old picture of a calendar with a lot of pictures on itan old black and white photo of a group of men wearing aviator hatsa black and white photo of a group of men in military uniformsa picture of a picture of a group of men and womena black and white photo of a group of men in front of a planean old photo of a group of people standing in front of an airplaneblack and white photograph of three pilots standing in front of an airplaneblack and white photograph of a man wearing a pilot ' s helmet and gogglesblack and white photograph of a man wearing a helmet and gogglesan old photo of a group of men in uniform posing for a picturetwo pictures of a group of men in uniform posing in front of an airplanean old black and white photo of a group of men standing in front of an airplanea sign that says order of flying turtles on itan old document with a picture of a man riding a horse on ita sign on the back of a box that says realm of the golden dragonan old photo of a ship in the water with a boat in the backgroundan old photo of a group of people sitting around a tablean old black and white photo of a group of people on horsesan old photo of a group of people posing for a picturean old black and white photo of a group of people in a fieldan old black and white photo of a group of people posing for a picturean old photo of a group of people posing for a pictureseveral black and white photos of a group of people on a beachan old photo of a group of men standing next to each othera book with a bunch of pictures on itan old photo of a group of men and women on the beachan old photo of two men in uniform shaking handsblack and white photo of a group of men posing for a picturea picture of a piece of paper with a drawing on ita small notebook with a picture of a bird on itan open book with a piece of yellow paper taped to itan open book with a list of people on itan open book with a page in it that has a list of people on ita page from a book with a picture of a baseball game on itan open book with a drawing of a map on ita book with a list of people in it on a tabletwo pages of a book with pictures of men in military uniformsan open book with a page in it on a tablea book open to a page with a picture of a planea close up of a sheet of paper with a cartoon character on ita close up of a piece of paper on a tablea close up of a piece of paper with writing on ita close up of a piece of paper with writing on it
Maître Lydie BRIOULT

Photograph album of Airman 2nd Class Lawrence ‘Len’ E.
See original version (French)

Estimate €200 - €300
Sale commission
Description
Photograph album of Airman 2nd Class Lawrence ‘Len’ E. Byrum, VT-10 – US Navy – Pacific: USS Enterprise + VT-90(N) (72 original photographs) This album is accompanied by a historical book devoted to VT-10 squadron of TBF Avenger torpedo bombers. This unit was embarked on the famous aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in early 1944 to take part in numerous engagements against Japanese positions, and more specifically at Truk Atoll, where a large number of Japanese ships were sunk during the night of 16–17 February 1944. This album belonged to Radio-Gunner (ARM2c) ‘Len’ Byrum, who was part of Lt(jg) Doyle’s crew alongside Gunner (AMM2c) Donald Fauth. Their crew undertook a rather unusual training exercise in Hawaii, practising night-time attacks under the command of Lt-Commander William Martin. VT-10 remained attached to the Enterprise for its second combat cruise from 9 January to 15 July 1944, under the command of Lt-Com William Martin. In preparation for its second tour of operations, the squadron undertook training in Hawaii from late 1943 onwards. It was the very first unit to receive comprehensive training in night operations, which enabled it to successfully carry out the first night mission against the Japanese navy in the Truk Atoll in February 1944. This two-day attack would remain the most destructive of the entire war: nearly 35 Japanese ships were sunk. It was the most significant event in VT-10’s history. Truk Atoll was one of the Japanese navy’s most important air and naval bases, as well as a vital anchorage for all their ships operating in the Pacific. The Japanese were convinced that by concentrating their ships at a specific point, the Americans would avoid walking into the lion’s den. Among the various combat missions he undertook, ARM2c Byrum was one of the 36 crew members selected for the night mission over Truk Lagoon on the night of 16–17 February 1944. The album begins with a large-format print adorned with the squadron insignia, featuring portraits of the squadron’s crews, including Doyle, Byrum and Fauth. The two leather squadron insignia at the start of the album are not originals and were likely made for veterans’ reunions in the 1960s and 1970s. Another large-format photograph shows the VT-10 aircrew posing on 15 December 1943 at Pu’unene Naval Air Station on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The three crew members – Byrum (radio operator/gunner), Doyle (pilot) and Fauth (tail gunner) – are identified from left to right by crosses. A large-format print brings together the squadron’s mechanics and armourers beneath a portrait of the unit’s commander, Bill Martin. A photograph of the crew – Doyle, Byrum and Fauth – taken on the flight deck of the Enterprise is accompanied by two portraits of Byrum and Fauth in flight uniform. Fauth was a veteran of three combat cruises with VT-10: two aboard the USS Enterprise and the third aboard the USS Intrepid. During his first combat cruise (16 October 1942 – 14 July 1943), he took part in the Battle of Santa Cruz. During the second cruise (9 January 1944 – 15 July 1944), whilst flying with Byrum and Lt(jg) Doyle, it carried out various raids on the Marshall Islands, Truk Atoll, the Palau Islands and Hollandia, before taking part in the conquest of the Marianas and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. On 20 June 1944, during this battle, Lt(jg) Doyle, aboard the Avenger No. T49, managed to drop two bombs on the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryuho. The Enterprise’s third cruise (15 September 1944–26 November 1945) was cut short for him when, in late October 1944, he was transferred to a training school in the USA where he qualified as a pilot. On the strength of their success during the night raid on Truk, all the pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The gunners, for their part, were awarded the Air Medal. Len Byrum was transferred to VT-90(N) Squadron, which specialised in night missions, in early 1945, where he undertook a further tour of duty. Two panoramic photographs taken in the deck lift shafts of the USS Enterprise in January 1944 show the men of Air Group 10 on board the ship. An Air Group comprised a VF fighter squadron equipped with F6F Hellcat fighters, an SBD Dauntless dive-bomber squadron (VB) and a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber squadron (VT). Two further panoramic photographs show the men of VT-10 in July 1944 and, presumably, those of VT-90(N), as indicated by the radar pod attached to the Avenger’s wing root, in front of which the men are posing. Two further crew photographs show Lt. (jg) Blake’s crew, along with his gunners Grenier and Baron, on the deck of the Enterprise, and Byrum’s crew after he had been transferred to VT-90(N), although the names of his pilot and fellow gunner could not be identified. Byrum also kept his small name tags, ‘Domain of Neptunus Rex’, ‘Realm of the Golden Dragon’ marking his crossing of the International Date Line and the Equator, bearing the name of the Enterprise, as well as the ‘Order of the Flying Turtles’ for having crossed the Equator in flight on 23 January 1944. The album continues with several pages featuring photographs taken in Hawaii during the unit’s training phase, where the men of VT-10 attended a ‘Luau’, a Hawaiian celebration particularly popular with American servicemen. It shows Commander Bill Martin flanked by two Hawaiian women, the men of VT-10 in their white dress uniforms, or on the beach at a ‘Beer Party’. A large-format photograph shows Byrum being awarded his Air Medal for his part in the raid on Truk. This feat was deliberately concealed by the US Navy in order to maintain secrecy regarding the details of the operation from the Japanese, who were stunned by such efficiency in a night-time mission. The decorations awarded on this occasion were not necessarily commensurate with the feat, precisely so as not to arouse suspicion. The gunners could have been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, and the pilots a Silver Star. The historical account of VT-10 is richly illustrated, and Byrum’s name and that of his pilot appear in the records of several combat missions. The contemporary history of VT-90(N) completes this historical collection on one of the greatest victories of the US Naval Aviation during the Pacific War. (Grégory Pons Collection)
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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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