Pilot autographs

Jake · 11-03-2004, 08:25 AM

Does anyone else out there collect these? I keep my collection to only pilots I have personally met. So far I have... Pappy Boyington, (Black sheep) Tex Hill, (Flying Tigers) George Gay, (Sole survivor Torpedo Squadron 8) Robert Morgan, (Memphis Belle) Travis Hoover, (Pilot plane #2 Dolittle Raid). I Feel fortunate to have met these men before they passed away.

MikeyB17 · 11-03-2004, 01:15 PM

Hi Jake,
Can't say I collect pilot autographs, but I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when I brought home a second-hand book I'd just bought (The Quest for Mach 1-a damn good book which I was pleased enough to find as it was), opened it up to the title page and found a compliments slip stuck there with an autograph on it-Chuck Yeager! Not bad for £10! Also a few of my books on the AAF are signed by the authors, none by anyone really famous unless you're into books of course. My copy of 'Nanette' by Edwards Park ( a true classic about P-39 pilots in the Pacific) is signed, as is my copy of 'Countdown' by Fred Koger, a B-17 bombardier with the 92nd Bomb group. Not the same as getting them signed in person though!

Jake · 11-03-2004, 01:22 PM

Mikey, like your "Oddball" signature, thanks for the reply...Jake

MDFrench · 11-04-2004, 07:59 AM

Yeah, I too have a number of signatures from some of the men of the greatest generation.

I have signatures from Robert Morgan and Jim Verinis, the pilot and co-pilot of the Memphis Belle in the book "Memphis Belle - Home at Last" which has also been signed by the now deceased author Menno Dureksen.

I also have Frank D. Murphy's signature in his book "Luck of the Draw" about his amazing experiences as a navigator for the B-17 of the same name which was shot down and he was then taken to Stalag Luft III and participated in a large part of The Great Escape. While he was signing it, I was also able to snag a signature from another B-17 veteran who served as the crew engineer on another plane in Murphy's group, though his name escapes me at the moment.

I have the signature of Tuskegee Airman Charles W. Dryden in his book, "A-Train."

I have the signature of a Pearl Harbor veteran in his book, but for the life of me, I can't find it at the moment and his name escapes me.

I have the interesting signature of one more veteran. I have the signature of Irvin Kershner, a B-24 navigator in WWII and now famous as the director of The Empire Strikes Back. I have his flourishing autograph on an early shooting script of the film.

Finally, as an aside - My father has the signature of the now deceased Margaret Polk, the actual Memphis Belle who was Morgan's girlfriend in the states during the war. He named the plane after her. She signed a Memphis Belle - Home at Last poster for my father in the 1980s.

My grandfather has also willed my father another USAAF gem. He has a limited print of the Memphis Belle that was made in the early 1980s I believe. Anyway, the print shows the Belle in combat and on the left and right borders of the print are war-time portraits of each member of the crew and Mrs. Polk from the war. Below each picture is their actual signature, with the exception of Vince Evans and Cecil Scott, both of whom were deceased when the poster was printed. Their next of kin has signed under their names (e.g. Peggy Scott).

Jake · 11-04-2004, 08:03 AM

MD, thats a great collection. You sure seem to know your aviation history. It's fortunate to meet these great men before they are gone. Also you might enjoy some pics of my plane go to the steamer trunk forum under the Walter Mitty thread. Jake

The Wingnut · 11-05-2004, 11:55 AM

Off the top of my head:

Tex Hill, Joe Foss, Johnny Johnson, Bud Mahurin, Alex Vraciu, Francis Gabreski, and a number of the Doolittle Raiders...

I need to dig up the book that they're in and figure out who else is in there. It's a book I've had since I was a kid, titled 'American Fighter Pilots of WWII'...I think there are a few signatures hidden in my copy of 'The Mighty Eigth', as well.

anj4de · 11-10-2004, 02:12 AM

Hi guys...

I have a copy of "To fly and fight" by Bud Anderson that I bought at the Duxford air show three years ago. I had it sighned by Bud in person, he was there flying a P-51 Old Crow, and also bought a very nice large scale photo of Old Crow with him on the stick, also with a nice signature. I have also met Forrest Guth, an orginal member of E/506 (Band of Brothers) and had a book about him sighned.
My father used to collect autographs of Luftwaffe pilots when he was a teenager, According to my grandmother he had a lot of them including Moelders, Galland, Hartmann, Nowothny and Marseille...unfortunately the album was nicked by a looting "French Liberator" when they came through the town were my family lived in 1945. My uncle's dagger collection went the same day :-(

cheers
Uwe

11-03-2004, 08:25 AM	#1
Jake One of the Regulars Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 169	Pilot autographs Does anyone else out there collect these? I keep my collection to only pilots I have personally met. So far I have... Pappy Boyington, (Black sheep) Tex Hill, (Flying Tigers) George Gay, (Sole survivor Torpedo Squadron 8) Robert Morgan, (Memphis Belle) Travis Hoover, (Pilot plane #2 Dolittle Raid). I Feel fortunate to have met these men before they passed away. __________________ When my ship comes in, I'll probally be at the airport.....Jimmy Buffet

11-03-2004, 01:22 PM	#3
Jake One of the Regulars Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 169	Mikey, like your "Oddball" signature, thanks for the reply...Jake __________________ When my ship comes in, I'll probally be at the airport.....Jimmy Buffet

11-04-2004, 07:59 AM	#4
MDFrench "A" List Customer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, London, Atlanta, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Atlanta Posts: 429	Yeah, I too have a number of signatures from some of the men of the greatest generation. I have signatures from Robert Morgan and Jim Verinis, the pilot and co-pilot of the Memphis Belle in the book "Memphis Belle - Home at Last" which has also been signed by the now deceased author Menno Dureksen. I also have Frank D. Murphy's signature in his book "Luck of the Draw" about his amazing experiences as a navigator for the B-17 of the same name which was shot down and he was then taken to Stalag Luft III and participated in a large part of The Great Escape. While he was signing it, I was also able to snag a signature from another B-17 veteran who served as the crew engineer on another plane in Murphy's group, though his name escapes me at the moment. I have the signature of Tuskegee Airman Charles W. Dryden in his book, "A-Train." I have the signature of a Pearl Harbor veteran in his book, but for the life of me, I can't find it at the moment and his name escapes me. I have the interesting signature of one more veteran. I have the signature of Irvin Kershner, a B-24 navigator in WWII and now famous as the director of The Empire Strikes Back. I have his flourishing autograph on an early shooting script of the film. Finally, as an aside - My father has the signature of the now deceased Margaret Polk, the actual Memphis Belle who was Morgan's girlfriend in the states during the war. He named the plane after her. She signed a Memphis Belle - Home at Last poster for my father in the 1980s. My grandfather has also willed my father another USAAF gem. He has a limited print of the Memphis Belle that was made in the early 1980s I believe. Anyway, the print shows the Belle in combat and on the left and right borders of the print are war-time portraits of each member of the crew and Mrs. Polk from the war. Below each picture is their actual signature, with the exception of Vince Evans and Cecil Scott, both of whom were deceased when the poster was printed. Their next of kin has signed under their names (e.g. Peggy Scott). __________________ If you go looking for a fight, you can always find one - Eugene Tobin, RAF Spitfire pilot, 1940 Last edited by MDFrench : 11-04-2004 at 08:02 AM.

11-04-2004, 08:03 AM	#5
Jake One of the Regulars Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 169	MD, thats a great collection. You sure seem to know your aviation history. It's fortunate to meet these great men before they are gone. Also you might enjoy some pics of my plane go to the steamer trunk forum under the Walter Mitty thread. Jake __________________ When my ship comes in, I'll probally be at the airport.....Jimmy Buffet Last edited by Jake : 11-04-2004 at 08:10 AM.

11-05-2004, 11:55 AM	#6
The Wingnut One Too Many Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: . Posts: 1,709	Off the top of my head: Tex Hill, Joe Foss, Johnny Johnson, Bud Mahurin, Alex Vraciu, Francis Gabreski, and a number of the Doolittle Raiders... I need to dig up the book that they're in and figure out who else is in there. It's a book I've had since I was a kid, titled 'American Fighter Pilots of WWII'...I think there are a few signatures hidden in my copy of 'The Mighty Eigth', as well. __________________ Stalkers make good bullet magnets.

11-03-2004, 01:15 PM	#2
MikeyB17 One of the Regulars Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 190	Hi Jake, Can't say I collect pilot autographs, but I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when I brought home a second-hand book I'd just bought (The Quest for Mach 1-a damn good book which I was pleased enough to find as it was), opened it up to the title page and found a compliments slip stuck there with an autograph on it-Chuck Yeager! Not bad for £10! Also a few of my books on the AAF are signed by the authors, none by anyone really famous unless you're into books of course. My copy of 'Nanette' by Edwards Park ( a true classic about P-39 pilots in the Pacific) is signed, as is my copy of 'Countdown' by Fred Koger, a B-17 bombardier with the 92nd Bomb group. Not the same as getting them signed in person though! __________________ 'Don't hit me with those negative waves!' 'That's some bad hat, Harry.'

11-10-2004, 02:12 AM	#7
anj4de New in Town Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mittbach, Bavaria, Germany Posts: 5	Autographs... Hi guys... I have a copy of "To fly and fight" by Bud Anderson that I bought at the Duxford air show three years ago. I had it sighned by Bud in person, he was there flying a P-51 Old Crow, and also bought a very nice large scale photo of Old Crow with him on the stick, also with a nice signature. I have also met Forrest Guth, an orginal member of E/506 (Band of Brothers) and had a book about him sighned. My father used to collect autographs of Luftwaffe pilots when he was a teenager, According to my grandmother he had a lot of them including Moelders, Galland, Hartmann, Nowothny and Marseille...unfortunately the album was nicked by a looting "French Liberator" when they came through the town were my family lived in 1945. My uncle's dagger collection went the same day :-( cheers Uwe

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