I believe this is historical enough to be made a sticky.
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I believe this is historical enough to be made a sticky.
"The pistol, learn it well, carry it always ..." - Jeff Cooper
The CVLs played a significant role in WW II along side of the CVAs: Carrier Vehicle Light and Carrier Vehicle Attack. Built on a CL, Cruiser light hull as an expedient measure.
For further research please see:
"THE INDEPENDENCE LIGHT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS" by Andrew Faltum; The Nautical & Aviation Publishing Company of America, Charleston, South Carolina.
Ken
"I like Colts and will die that way"
"It seems to me that I have forgotten more than I remember"
That is a fantastic story and a very cool pistol.
Nice work.
thats a good story, you think he came back with the pistol or maybe sold it to another soldier.
what year did you buy it do you remember?
I'm not sure who brought the pistol back with them. It clearly wasn't lost at sea. It was, however, definitely recorded as issued to one of (4) different pilots on 4 July 1944. Only one of those four pilots returned home. And still, there is no proof he brought it back with him.
While I am happy to have all this information, I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it when I bought the pistols.
I've had the pistol about 7-8 years. It wasn't until last year I found the records showing the names of the four pilots shot down that day, and was able to narrow three of them out due to being KIA that day. Prior to that, I just had the records from the National Archives, provided by Charlie Pate, then at SRS. It took several hours over a period of years to put all the information together into what I now have.
If one believes that the pistol was with one of the four pilots that day, it had to be Lt.(jg) Bob Wilson. The other three perished at sea. However, that was 65 years ago. wilson has been gone for about 40 years. Nobody can confirm either way if he brought it back. The family member I've spoken with isn't old enough to know what he brought back. They weren't even born 65 years ago, let alone being old enough to know.
The only thing the loss report, ship's log, press release and squadron flight reords do is confirm who might have brought the pistol back with them, and the fact that one of the pilots shot down that day did survive the war to come home. All the information provided does highlight the impressive combat record of the USS Cabot, VF31 and the men who served. We know the pistol was there, regardless of who brought it back to the U.S.
A lot of people ruin old .45s by trying to improve them.
Wow! What an interesting pedigree. It's a beautiful pistol to boot.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of liberty must undergo the fatigues of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
Fascinating bit of history we would not have known without your research.
Thanks you.
Another possible explanation on how the pistol came back after being lost at sea: Perhaps the pistol was assigned to one of the pilots that did not return and the pilot never took possession of it. Whoever was doing the issuing had an off the records gun. That person could have brought the 1911a1 back.
Wow, great story, neat pistol
Excellent post!!
USN Hospital Corpsman '82-'91
1943 Remington Rand M1911A1
1945 Remington Rand M1911A1
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