December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2021
World War II 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron KIA Purple Heart and Silver Star of Tech Sergeant Dennis T. Craig. The lot consists of Craig's government engraved Purple Heart, numbered 243655, and Silver Star medals that are contained in their original coffin cases. The Purple Heart is complete with two extra ribbons, ribbon bar, and lapel pin. The Silver Star is complete with an extra ribbon, ribbon bar, and lapel pin. Craig's story is part of the saga of the B-17F-10-BO 41-24458 "San Antonio Rose". On January 5, 1943 the San Antonio Rose took off from 7-Mile Drome with six other B-17s from the 64th Bombardment Squadron and formed up with six B-24 Liberateors of the 90th Bomb Group for a bombing mission against Rabaul. There were two special observers in the San Antonio Rose during this mission, Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker, who was the Commanding Officer of the 5th Bomber Command, and Major Jack W. Bleasdale. Around noon, the B-17 formation arrived over the target and the San Antonio Rose along with the other bombers successfully struck their targets and proceeded towards Simpson Harbor. Craig's bomber failed to return from the mission, along with one other B-17, however the latter crew was rescued. According to Missing Air Crew Report 15359: "Departed on mission 4L to attack Rabaul, at 0848 from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby to attack ships in Simpson Harbor. Last seen going into clouds, closely pursued by four to five Japanese fighters [Ki-43-I Oscars from the 11th Hiko Sentai]. The left outboard engine was observed to be smoking." The fate of the crew remains unknown. Major Bleasdale and co-pilot Captain Benton Daniel managed to bailed out and landed in the jungle to the north of Tol. Both were captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy and transported to Rabaul where they became Prisoners Of War. While in captivity, both of the men were recorded to have been interrogated during February-March 1943. The two prisoners are mentioned in documents supposedly signed by Bleasdale that were shown to other American prisoners. The two men were recorded in several other locations by several other American Prisoners and their names even appear in some documents. However despite these encounters, they were never officially reported as POWS and they both disappear from records in 1943. Their fates are still unknown and like Craig and the rest of the crew, these men remain missing to this day. Craig was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star. The wreckage of B-17F San Antonio Rose has never been located. The medals are accompanied by a small folder of information from the consigner. CONDITION: The medals are both very clean and have been well looked after. The ribbons and lapel pins are in very good condition. Coffin cases exhibit little wear. Overall excellent. JLD
Item Dimensions: 10" x 10"