March 15-17, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/17/2022
Small but significant WWII POW diary and document grouping to Lieutenant Ross H. Lawson who was a navigator on B-24 bombers in the 459th Bomb Group, 756th Bomb Squadron. Lawson's Prisoner of War saga begins on July 28, 1944, when the 459th suffered one of it’s worst combat mission losses over Ploiesti, Romania. Though not as costly as "Black Sunday" 6 crews failed to return, with 2 lost at the target from direct flak hits. 4 aircraft later crashed due to damage. That day, the total count was 26 POWs, 16 KIAs, and 19 men evaded and were eventually returned. The lot consists of Lawson's POW diary, his personnel cards, newspaper excerpts, blank letters, and liberation document. Lawson's diary is colorful and is filled with details of his POW experience. The diary begins with a section he titled "FOREWARD" which includes details of his last mission, how his B-24 was damaged, and how he bailed out. "I was on a bombing raid to the Ploesti Oil Fields and the intelligence was right-- there was intense, accurate flak." There are pages filled with information from other POWs, as the diary served as a small yearbook where members of Stalag Luft 3 would sign their names, units, and other information. The information also includes how these other airmen were shot down. There is also a section of poetry and the middle of the diary contains photos of Lawson's sweetheart, as well as very interesting cartoon drawings along with entries of Lawson's day-to-day life as he talks about the conditions of the camp, different interactions, the poor diet (he was not fond of the soup), and forced marches leading up to liberation by the Russians. There is even a section in the back of the diary in which Lawson addresses the commandant of Stalag Luft 3 regarding the conditions and lists his complaints. The back of the diary contains small clippings of German propaganda, including a cartoon of US soldiers being listed as "Roosevelt's Gangsters" and was translated by Lawson. Completing the diary is a Christmas 1944 Stalag Luft 3 menu and the original document that accompanied the diary, signed by the YMCA. Another highlight of the group is Lawsons Personnel cards which recorded Lawson's personal information including his "mugshot", fingerprints, address, and other information. The edges are deformed and have browned, almost giving the appearance of having been in the center of a large document fire which claimed the edges but not the center of the documents. Also included is a document from Headquarters, Camp Ramp, which explains how to maintain a proper diet and adjust to eating after liberation. There are also scattered newspaper clippings and several blank letters which were distributed to the POWS. Finally, Lawson’s pilot, Claude Porter, wrote a book after the war titled "Cuckoo Over Vienna". The book is not included with this grouping, however, the winner may want to purchase a copy, as there may be details on Lawson. CONDITION: The diary's cover is fraying at the binding and separating. The pages show typical age, but drawings and entries are wonderfully preserved. The POW personnel cards are worn as mentioned. The other pieces of ephemera exhibit age and wear that is typical of old paper. Overall good. This is an excellent Caterpillar Club POW grouping. JLD
Item Dimensions: 10" X 10"