A Fine American WW2 Posthumous ‘Purple Heart’ KIA Group of 5 awarded to Second Lieutenant Louis Samuel Zaleski, 529th ‘Flying Tiger’ Squadron, US 14th Air Force, killed in action as pilot in a P-51B Mustang on the 26th of March 1945, whilst in action on a ‘dive-bombing mission’ near Kaifeng in Japanese-occupied China, crashing at Chiao-Tso, having completed 7 previous missions as part of the fighter escort alongside B-29 Bombing raids against Japan, comprising: Purple Heart, Type 2 (1942-43), bronze gilt, edge numbered 471389 (Lt Louis Zaleski AAF), Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze issue (Lt. Louis Zaleski, AAF), American Campaign Medal, 1941-1945, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, 1941-1945 , WW2 Victory Medal, 1941-1946; the first two hand engraved in blackened capitals, the remainder unnamed as issued; medal mounted in glazed display case, with crested insignia, brass, Silver Wings and ‘Flying Tiger’ cloth insignia. Extremely fine. (5) Second Lieutenant Louis Zaleski was born 18 August 1923, at 727 Bridge Street, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, USA, to Peter and Mary Zaleski. He enlisted into the US Army Air Force in February 1942, where he was sent to the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville, for pilot training. As a cadet he is recorded as having had an exemplary record, and having been ‘Top Gun’ in his class. He received his commission and Silver Wings 12 March 1944, at Craig Field, Alabama, and left for active service in September that year. He was killed in action over China 26 March 1944, and was soon after awarded the Posthumous Purple Heart 8 May 1945, at the ‘request of the President’. His most detailed War Department Letter sent to his parents regarding his death reads as follows: “It is revealed that the P-51 plane which he was piloting crashed at Chiao-Tso, China. His plane broke off from a formation of nine, flying eastward. Five planes broke off from the formation and began bombing the railroad bridge, seven miles west of town, while the remainder continued flying east. At least five bombs were dropped when one plane started on a steep dive. It exploded mid-air; the right wing fell off and the plane dropped to the ground. It was in this action that your son lost his life. His body was recovered by a Kaifeng search team and identified by the watch and ring he wore.” (16 May 1946) His body was initially interred in the United States Military Cemetary, Shanghai, China, after a full military service, before later being returned to their hometown of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Sold with a full dossier of photocopy letters, typed biography compiled by a relative, clippings, and original newspaper clippings.
A Fine American WW2 Posthumous ‘Purple Heart’ KIA Group of 5 awarded to Second Lieutenant Louis Samuel Zaleski, 529th ‘Flying Tiger’ Squadron, US 14th Air Force, killed in action as pilot in a P-51B Mustang on the 26th of March 1945, whilst in action on a ‘dive-bombing mission’ near Kaifeng in Japanese-occupied China, crashing at Chiao-Tso, having completed 7 previous missions as part of the fighter escort alongside B-29 Bombing raids against Japan, comprising: Purple Heart, Type 2 (1942-43), bronze gilt, edge numbered 471389 (Lt Louis Zaleski AAF), Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze issue (Lt. Louis Zaleski, AAF), American Campaign Medal, 1941-1945, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, 1941-1945 , WW2 Victory Medal, 1941-1946; the first two hand engraved in blackened capitals, the remainder unnamed as issued; medal mounted in glazed display case, with crested insignia, brass, Silver Wings and ‘Flying Tiger’ cloth insignia. Extremely fine. (5) Second Lieutenant Louis Zaleski was born 18 August 1923, at 727 Bridge Street, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, USA, to Peter and Mary Zaleski. He enlisted into the US Army Air Force in February 1942, where he was sent to the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville, for pilot training. As a cadet he is recorded as having had an exemplary record, and having been ‘Top Gun’ in his class. He received his commission and Silver Wings 12 March 1944, at Craig Field, Alabama, and left for active service in September that year. He was killed in action over China 26 March 1944, and was soon after awarded the Posthumous Purple Heart 8 May 1945, at the ‘request of the President’. His most detailed War Department Letter sent to his parents regarding his death reads as follows: “It is revealed that the P-51 plane which he was piloting crashed at Chiao-Tso, China. His plane broke off from a formation of nine, flying eastward. Five planes broke off from the formation and began bombing the railroad bridge, seven miles west of town, while the remainder continued flying east. At least five bombs were dropped when one plane started on a steep dive. It exploded mid-air; the right wing fell off and the plane dropped to the ground. It was in this action that your son lost his life. His body was recovered by a Kaifeng search team and identified by the watch and ring he wore.” (16 May 1946) His body was initially interred in the United States Military Cemetary, Shanghai, China, after a full military service, before later being returned to their hometown of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Sold with a full dossier of photocopy letters, typed biography compiled by a relative, clippings, and original newspaper clippings.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
