Original Items: Only One Grouping Available. Now this is a spectacular grouping of items. These items belonged to Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Johan Wahlstrom USNR who received a Navy Cross for sinking a Japanese Aircraft Carrier during an attack against a major unit of the Japanese Fleet in the Tokyo Bay area on February 17, 1945. LTJG Wahlstrom served during WWII with the Fighting Squadron 81 (VF-81) while attached to the carrier USS WASP (CV-18).
This grouping contains a lot of documents, resumes and biographies that document his incredible military service, which carried on into the Korean War as well. During WWII he served from July 2, 1942 to November 11, 1945 with all of his duty assignments involving flying. His total flight time during the war was over 2,200 hours with over 118 carrier landings! This was a man that appears to have spent more time in the air than on the ground during his career. Over the course of the war he was qualified to fly approximately 26 types of aircraft, which in itself is amazing. Most impressively he was credited with a sinking of a Japanese Aircraft carrier on February 17th, 1945 for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. A copy of the original citation is included with this grouping.
Wahlstrom's ORIGINAL NAVY CROSS CITATION is included with this grouping and reads as follows:
Navy Cross Citation
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Navy
Battalion: Fighting Squadron 81 (VF-81)
Division: U.S.S. Wasp (CV-18)
GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0218 (March 20, 1945)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Paul Johan Wahlstrom (NSN: 0-250882), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-ONE (VF-81), attached to the U.S.S. WASP (CV-18), in an attack against a major unit of the enemy Fleet in the Tokyo Bay Area, on 17 February 1945. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Wahlstrom skillfully and courageously conducted his aircraft in a fighter-bomber attack against an enemy aircraft carrier, scoring a direct bomb hit which contributed materially to the sinking of the vessel immediately after the attack. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
On top of his Navy Cross, he was also awarded the Air Medal for strikes on Formosa, Luzon, the China Coast and against enemy shipping in these areas. He was then awarded a Gold Star for his Air Medal for attacks made against Nansei Shoto, the South China Sea and the Tokyo Bay area. He was with the first carrier planes to enter the Tokyo area on the initial strikes.
The Most Notable Items In This Lot:
- Original Navy Cross Citation.
- Original Squadron Insignia Decal (unused) with original photos showing this very same type decal on the side of one of his aircraft.
- B-6 Type Leather Flight Helmet With ANB-H-I Avionics: This is an interesting helmet which is named on the inside to Wahlstrom. The helmet itself appears to have been modified for a more comfortable and personalized fit.
- U.S. Navy WWII Medium N288s-27405 Summer Flight Helmet by Slote & Klein: This is a very nice flight helmet set, which was exactly what Aviators of the U.S. Navy used during WWII. The helmet is a very nice khaki tan canvas "summer weight" style, and has a nice chamois lined "visor" and ear cups. The chin strap is still intact with the retaining buckle still retained. It still has the original maker label at the rear.
- (7) “Silk” Escape and Evade Maps: The maps are in wonderful condition and do show signs of use without extensive damage. The maps are of locations in which he physically spent time in the airspace such as Luzon, China and most of the pacific theater.
- Aviators Flight Log Book: Now this is an incredible asset to the grouping, the “meat and potatoes” if you will. The log book is completely filled out and even has his gear list on the first few pages and when they were issued, mostly 1943. There are a few marked pages that show when he conducted notable patrols as well as strikes on targets in Formosa and Okinawa. The most significant entry to the book is the day he struck the Japanese aircraft carrier. The entry states: 500 LB BOMB HIT ON JAP CARRIER AT YOKAHAMA - NAVY CROSS. This log book most likely helped to aid in evidence needed for these higher valor awards and to see one of his actions written down in ink in his flight log is incredible.
- Wartime Photo album with over 150 photos of Wahlstrom, his crewmen, and much more.
- Over 200 loose photos.
- Piles of documents wartime and post war.
The scrapbooks and photo albums are completely filled with postcards, newspaper/magazine clippings and countless personal photos.
Other items are his personal resumes from the late 40s up into the 70s and letters from a friend to a Congressman concerned about Wahlstrom’s homelessness and living out of his car.
This is without a doubt a spectacular grouping, packed to the brim with information and great research opportunities!
Comes more than ready for further research and display.
