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a map of the world with medals and other items on ita black and white photo of a man sitting at a deska black and white photo of a man standing in front of a planean old photo of a man wearing a leather jacket and gogglesa picture of a receipt that is on top of a tablemany old postcards on a white surface with a picture of a hotelan old map of the world is displayed on a tablea map on a piece of paper with a picture of the areaa close up of a piece of paper with a picture of a plane on itan old map of the world on a piece of papera map of the area of interest for the first edition of the civil engineer ' s manuala close up of a piece of paper with a map on itan old book with a silver emblem on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with a picture of the emblem of the united states on ita short history of the 40 ' s by personan open book with pictures of military vehicles on ita book with pictures of people and animals in ita book with pictures of people working on a planean open book with pictures of airplanes on itan open book with a picture of a plane flying over a fielda book with a picture of a plane flying in the skyan open book with pictures of a plane in the skyan open book with pictures of airplanes on ita book with pictures of airplanes and people on itan open book with pictures of airplanes on ita book with pictures of a plane and people standing around itmany pictures of a group of people standing in front of an airplanean open book with a black and white photo of a townan old photo of a city in the middle of a booka book with pictures of airplanes on the pagesan open book with pictures of a plane in itan old photo of an aerial view of a city in the middle of a bookan open book with pictures of people standing in front of a planean old book with pictures of people and animals in itan open book with a black and white photo of a boat in the wateran open book with a picture of a plane flying over a mountainan open book with a picture of a train on the coveran open book with a picture of a plane flying in the skyan old book with pictures of a plane on ittwo pages of a book with a picture of a plane on the covera book with pictures of a man in the cockpit of a planea book open to a page with pictures of airplanes and peoplean open book with pictures of people in military uniformsa book with pictures of people in the airan old book with a picture of airplanes flying in the skyan old book with pictures of people in the airan old book with a map on it on a tablean old black and white photo of an explosion in a city
Maître Lydie BRIOULT

Personal collection of Captain Charles E.
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Estimate €100 - €200
Sale commission
Description
Personal collection of Captain Charles E. Thornsberry, 40th Bomb Group – 20th Air Force – Pacific – China, Burma, India (original photographs, decorations, escape map of the Pacific–Japan) Captain Thornsberry was posted to the 45th Bomb Squadron of the 40th Bomb Group as co-pilot on a B-29 Superfortress, with which he began his missions from Chakulia airbase in India before being shot down whilst returning from a mission over China. These B-29 missions against Japan, launched from India, were the very first wartime missions flown by the B-29, beginning in June 1944, well before their large-scale deployment from the Mariana Islands in early 1945. On 20 August 1944, during a raid on Yawata and Fukuoka, the B-29 piloted by Captain Grubaugh and Lieutenant Thornsberry was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, then came under attack from Japanese fighters, which severely damaged the aircraft. Faced with severe weather over China, with three dead crew members on board, the order was given to abandon the aircraft whilst still in flight. The crew members were rescued on the ground by Chinese forces, who enabled them to rejoin the American forces. This small lot includes an escape map printed on rayon (synthetic silk) dated 1944 (Nagasaki/Kagoshima sector), which formed part of the escape kits for B-29 crew members; Lt. Thornsberry, his parachute inspection booklet, a portrait photograph of him during training, and several photographs (some likely taken after the war), to which is attached a copy of the MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) obtained from the US archives. Also included is the historical account of the 40th Bomb Group from that period. This book was published in 1946–1947 for veterans of the 40th Bomb Group. The cover is adorned with the 40th Bomb Group insignia. Publications by USAAF air units, issued in the immediate post-war period for veterans and their families, are relatively and particularly sought-after as they are limited editions. The book contains a wealth of illustrations, chronicling the daily lives of the B-29 Superfortress crews, particularly their very first operations from China. An excellent source of first-class information, compiled immediately after the end of the war. Vintage historical book ‘40th Bomb Group’ This book was published in 1946–1947 for veterans of the 40th Bomb Group. The cover is adorned with the 40th Bomb Group insignia. Books about USAAF aviation units published in the immediate post-war period for veterans and their families are relatively and particularly sought-after as they are limited editions. The illustrations in this book are particularly rich and depict the daily life of the B-29 Superfortress crews, notably their very first operations from China. An excellent source of first-rate information, compiled immediately after the end of the war. The cover is damaged in the bottom left-hand corner, but the contents are intact, although the first few pages bear traces of the damage to the cover in the bottom right-hand corner. (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 modified on 09/17/2026 at 9:13 AM
Lot description modified on 09/17/2026 at 9:16 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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