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an old metal box sitting on top of a white tablean old metal box that has a key in itan old metal box with a latch on ita rusted metal box with some writing on ita rusted metal box with writing on ita knife that is sitting on top of a tablean old rusty metal box with writing on itan old suitcase sitting on a table with a handlean old suitcase that is sitting on a tablea brown vase with a cactus on it sitting on a tablean old metal box with a handle on a white surfacea piece of metal that has some writing on itan old metal suitcase that is sitting on a tablean old suitcase that has been left on the floora small metal box with a door on ita small metal box with a handle on a white surfacean open box that is sitting on top of a tablean open box that has some rust on itan old metal box that has some rust on itan old metal box that has some rust on itthree metal pans that are stacked on top of each otheran old blue suitcase with two compartments on itan old metal sink sitting on top of a tabletwo old suitcases stacked on top of each other
Maître Lydie BRIOULT

179 - Toolbox belonging to a mechanic from the 378th Fighter Squad…
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Estimate €80 - €120
Sale commission
Description
Toolbox belonging to a mechanic from the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group, 9th Air Force. Manufacturer: Simonsen, Chicago. 46 x 27 x 34 cm (shows signs of wear, oxidation, varnish run, central lock broken). The 362nd Fighter Group was activated on 1 March 1943. Trained to fly the P-47, it was transferred to England in November 1943 and assigned to the 9th Air Force. Until April 1944, it was primarily engaged in escorting bombers attacking factories, railways, airfields and other targets on the continent. In April and May, it carried out several attacks on communications lines in northern France and Belgium, in preparation for the Normandy landings. It escorted C-47s dropping paratroopers over Normandy on 6 and 7 June. Thereafter, it was mainly engaged in interdiction and close air support missions, carrying out strafing runs and dive-bombing raids to support ground forces’ operations. Deployed to the continent in early July 1944, the group bombed enemy troops to facilitate the Allied breakthrough at Saint-Lô. It then supported the advance of ground forces towards the Rhine by attacking railway lines, lorries, bridges, power stations, fuel depots and other infrastructure. It received a commendation for a mission against the port of Brest on 25 August 1944, during which, despite very overcast skies and intense enemy fire, the group attacked at low altitude, striking naval installations, cruisers, troop transports, merchant ships and other targets. During the Battle of the Ardennes (December 1944–January 1945), the group bombed and strafed targets such as anti-aircraft positions, armoured vehicles and concentrations of troops. It received a second commendation for an operation carried out over the Moselle–Rhine triangle: despite intense anti-aircraft fire during an armed reconnaissance mission in close cooperation with the infantry in this sector on 16 March 1945, the group successfully struck enemy installations, notably motorised transport, armoured vehicles, railway lines, railway carriages and gun emplacements. The group returned to the United States in September 1945 and was disbanded in 1946.
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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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