WWII pilot letter, He lived through 63 Missions, B-26, ETO, age: 22, Air Medal

Description

Imagine you're the pilot of a B-26 bomber with a three man crew, you're at 20,000 feet in heavy flax, you have just released your bombs and they're on there way down to Germany ...  and you're 22 years old.
This letter and photo grouping is from that pilot;
Lt.
Joseph F. Pratt
who was one of the youngest bomber pilot in the ETO, 320th Bomb Group.
This grouping includes a love/sentimental letter from his Mother explaining the many Motherly things she once did for him.
The grouping is made up of an original two page letter written by
Joseph F. Pratt,
Feb. 19, 1943 and one original 3+ page letter written to
Lt.
Pratt from his Mother, dated Aug. 16th, 1943. Also one 5"x7" photos of
Lt.
Joseph F. Pratt
(these are recent photo prints)
, one 8 1/2 x 11" B-26 unpublished Bomber photo over ETO
(this is a direct print off the original and is new).
About
Joseph F. Pratt:
Lt.
Joseph F. Pratt served in the E.T.O. with the 441st Bomb Squadron, 42nd bomb Wing and the 320
th
Bomb Group.
It is hard to believe Lt Pratt lived through 63 missions and was bombing Germany at age 22 but it is true, add to that he was a flight instructor. This letter was written to his folks while he was in trining and he just took a test that he thinks was designed to wash out a lot of his fellow Cadets. He flew B-26s and the name of his ship was
"Merry Mary Sue".
If you  search the internet:
“ Mark Styling , 441st BS, Merry Mary Sue ”
you will find a large illustration of his B-26 by Mark Styling. Mark Styling is one of the top aviation illustrators in the world.
Also included with the letter and photos
are
20+ facsimile Documents relating to
Lt.
Joseph F. Pratt awards and military certificates
.
Some of the facsimiles, printed sheets include:
Individual Flight Record Sheet
Honorable Discharge
Certificate Of Service (listing missions, Awards, Air Metal, eight Oak Leaf Clusters and Croix de Guerre avec Palme)
Twelfth Air Force, Presidential Citation Air Medal Document
Croix De Guere Avec Palme" Document
441
st
Bombardment Squadron Document
Restricted Military Awards Document
Training document
Separation Qualification Record
Newspaper Clippings and High School newspaper
If you search the Internet for (“
The 320th Bomb Group
”) you will find one of the most comprehensive WW2 website on the internet. The website has over 5000 pages of content with photos, film clips and stories about this amazing WW2 Bomb Group.
Where is the value in this letter grouping?
When you buy a WWII letter of this type you are not just purchasing a common artifact of WWII.
These letters are unique and an investment on two levels:
First, it preserves history that will be of value to future generations.
Second, it will go up in value as years go by.
In this grouping I provide a number of facsimiles that give evidence to the importance of the pilot who wrote the letter and the significance of this pilot's contribution
in defeating the
Third Reich
during WWII.
The facsimiles also add value, they may very well be more significant than the letter itself because what the facsimiles do, is tell a deeper contextual story about Capt.
Joseph F. Pratt
. I believe it is the story or narrative that is the most significant aspect of these artifacts that you are purchasing.
What you will get:
You will receive everything pictured this the listing. The original WWII letters, two photos
(recent prints)
plus
20+ facsimile Documents relating to WW2,
Lt.
Joseph F. Pratt and his awards and m
ilitary
certificates
.
About the seller:
I have been buying and selling Americana, rare books & documents, since the early 1970’s.
I have sold large collections and important individual items to some of the largest
libraries, Auction Houses, Rare book rooms, Universities and Museum in the US.
I have published unique Americana works which are in University and private libraries throughout the world.
Some of the proceeds from my sales go to
support WW2
Primary Source Material for class rooms at High Schools in my area
. (If you are a teacher and are interested in
WW2
Primary Source Material for your class room please email me.)
My main goal is by selling WW2 and other historical Primary Source material; to distribute letters, documents and items around the world that tell the true story of the courage, bravery and sacrifice, made by millions of Americans and the Allied Forces during the war.
When you by a Primary Source letter or document to add to you collection you are doing what Thomas Jefferson did hundreds of years ago (Jefferson sold his library to the USA to create The Library of Congress) in preserving American history, which will be handed down to generation of future American and the World.
When you buy from me you have my guarantee that what you are buying is authentic.
Email me if you have questions.
See photos for condition and letter content.
Bidding conditions and mailing below:
I will ship these letters First Class mail in a regular envelope.
US buyers only.
You must have bought over 25 items on eBay, Paypal preferred and you must have a good rating in order to buy on this item/items.
I have a 100% rating and have sold many rare and important document, letters and items on Ebay so you know you will receive this original item.
See photos for condition.
Email me if you have any questions.