December 15, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2020
Fantastic WWII medal and caterpillar club document grouping ID'D to Captain Warren H. Goodman, who as a pilot in the famous VMSB-232 "Red Devils" squadron. Goodman was born in Brooklyn NY on April 14, 1919. He would go on to attend college and receive a Bachelor of Arts degree at Brooklyn College and later a Master of Arts degree at Duke University. During World War II he received his Naval flight training in 1941-42. Goodman was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1942 and joined VMSB-232 "The Red Devils" in El Toro in February 1943 when the squadron was redesignated VMTB-232. During the war Goodman would accumulate an impressive combat record and flew over 37 combat missions. He held the duties of squadron operations officer at Guadalcanal, Munda, and Bougainville from 1943-44. His experiences attracted attention in the Marine Corps, and he would later contribute to the Marine Corps Gazette (close air support for ground troops, v. 28 n.11 (Nov 1944;) as well as be quoted in several USMC aviation books. During the war Goodman earned the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and was a member of the Caterpillar Club for bailing out of his aircraft on December 14th, 1942. Goodman was truly a skilled and talented USMC aviator and a portion of his bravery can be read in his DFC citation: "For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as pilot of a torpedo bomber in a Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron operating against enemy Japanese forces in the South Pacific Area from Sept. 1943 to 11 Apr 1944. Aggressive and determined while carrying out fierce bombing raids on Japanese airfields at Kahili and Buka on 26 Sept and 27 Oct, respectively, Capt. Goodman obtained direct hits on two important antiaircraft guns to destroy both. Flying two sorties in the Monoitu Mission Area, Bougainville, on 31 Dec, he executed powerful dives on three bridges vital to enemy communications and placing his bombs with skilled precision, demolished two of the hostile structures and rendered the third useless. Striking boldly against a concentration of Japanese merchant ships in Rabaul Harbor on 17 Jan, he relentlessly pressed home a masthead bombing attack in the face of terrific aerial opposition and devastating antiaircraft fire from both ship and shore batteries, scoring a near miss on an important cargo vessel to damage it severely. By his superb airmanship and zealous devotion to duty under the most difficult and dangerous combat conditions throughout these and numerous other vital missions, Capt. Goodman contributed essentially to the success of his squadron in inflicting serious losses upon enemy in this strategic area. His gallant conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." The lot includes Goodman's Cased Air Medal, DFC, and his Caterpillar Club certificate and pin. The Air Medal and DFC are both unengraved, early war, wrap brooch medals. The DFC is missing its ribbon. CONDITION: Air Medal case has some marks, but the medals are in excellent condition. The Caterpillar Club certificate has staple sized holes in each corner with tarnishing over the Caterpillar Club logo. It was laid flat on cardboard with no folds and is in overall good condition. The Caterpillar Club pin is marked "Sterling" on the Reverse and in excellent condition. This is a great grouping ID'D to a noteworthy USMC aviator from a famous squadron. JD
Item Dimensions: 11" x 11"