WWII USS Yorktown Bombing Squadron FIVE (VB-5) Pilot’s Medal, Docs, Photos group

Description

This is a rare and historic WWII archive of US Navy pilot Lt. Charles S. Porter, who was from the state of California. Lt. Porter flew a dive bomber with Bombing Squadron FIVE (VB-5), which was part of Air Group FIVE and attached to the USS Yorktown (CV-10) during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 4 Air Medals for his WWII service. He flew several combat missions in the Pacific, including to Marcus Island, Wake Island, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Truk Atoll. After WWII, Porter served aboard the USS Randolph (CVA-15). He eventually attained the rank of Commander and became the commanding officer of Heavy Attack Squadron 2 (VAH-2). In 1960, he was killed when the Navy A3D Sky Warrior bomber he was piloting crashed in the United States. This archive contains items pertaining to Lt. Porter’s WWII service.
This extensive grouping includes the following:
- Distinguished Flying Cross (not engraved) with case, ribbon bar, and lapel pin
- original documents pertaining to his Distinguished Flying Cross, including recommendation for award and delivery of award (awarded for 15 missions involving air attacks on Marcus Island, Wake Island, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Truk from August 1943 to March 1944)
- original documents pertaining to his second Air Medal, including recommendation for award and temporary citation (awarded for actions at Truk Atoll on February 17, 1944); includes document signed by Vice Admiral Mitscher
- US Navy gold pilot’s wings (maker marked Balfour)
- French Naval Aviation pilot wings
- original documents awarding the French Naval Aviation pilot wings (awarded for training French pilots)
- 1 USN officer’s pin (maker marked N.S. Meyer, Inc.)
- 1 USN gold oak leaf insignia pin (maker marked Amcraft)
- 2 USN silver oak leaf insignia pins (maker marked N.S. Meyer, Inc.)
- Presidential Unit Citation ribbon bar with star (missing pin)
- original document awarding the Presidential Unit Citation to the USS Yorktown
- several original photographs from air attacks on Pacific islands, including Truk Atoll
- original charts of Marcus Island and Wake Island
- several original photographs of members of Bombing Squadron FIVE, posing in or next to aircraft (none are labeled)
- original wartime history of Bombing Squadron FIVE (about 42 pages; last page is torn and is missing a small segment)
- original 1943 US warship identification chart/booklet
- original 1943 Japanese warship identification chart/booklet
- original USN Curtiss SB2C Helldiver bomber pilot’s instruction manual (about 35 pages)
- original small photograph of Lt. Commander Porter
- photocopies of various documents from fold3.com regarding some of Lt. Porter’s WWII combat missions
Overall, the items are in good, used condition. They show signs of wear. Please see pictures to judge the condition of the items. I can send you more pictures upon request. It is hard to find US Navy aviator groupings that contain such historic material like this. This grouping contains a 2-inch binder full of original documents and photographs! This fantastic archive would make an excellent addition to any World War II collection. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks for looking.