Exceptionally Rare and Massive WW2 Japanese Kamikaze Debris Grouping (USS Lamson)
Exceptionally Rare and Massive WW2 Japanese Kamikaze Debris Grouping – to John Robert Groezinger (a Quartermaster Third Class aboard the USS Lamson during WW2).
This stunning, documented, and museum quality grouping consists of numerous items related to Groezinger’s naval service during the Second World War, the premier artifacts of which include a collection of pieces of debris related to the kamikaze attack on the USS Lamson during WW2.
The debris from the kamikaze attack against the USS Lamson (collected directly by Mr. Groezinger – likely during the ship’s repair) includes: 1.) several twisted and burned pieces of the Japanese plane involved in the incident; 2.) the deformed inner mechanics of a Seikosha watch – worn by the Japanese pilot of the plane involved in the incident; and 3.) a burnt piece of rubber – identified as a part of the sole of the boot worn by the Japanese pilot involved in the incident.
Grouping also includes a set of photos showing scenes from day of the kamikaze attack on the USS Lamson and the damage inflicted on the ship as a result of the attack.
Perhaps the most poignant representation of this grouping is contained in the letters sent by Mr. Groezinger back to his family after the kamikaze attack on the Lamson, in which he describes his perspective of that fateful day.
Additional key elements of this grouping consist of: 1.) John R. Groezinger’s WW2 Navy uniform and uniform components; 2.) government documents related to Mr. Groezinger’s service during WW2; 3.) two full scrapbooks of letters sent by Mr. Groezinger to his family during the war and wartime related newspaper articles; 4.) a substantial collection of loose letters sent by Mr. Groezinger to his family during his service; 5.) a substantial collection of wartime photographs of Mr. Groezinger, his family, and his naval comrades; 6.) numerous pieces of wartime related ephemera – many centered on the USS Lamson; and 6.) general artifacts and ephemera related to Mr. Groezinger’s life, both prior to and after WW2.
John R. Groezinger was a Quartermaster on the USS Lamson (DD-367) for the majority of his naval service during WW2. On December 7, 1944, USS Lamson was in the vicinity of the Philippines (serving as a picket, patrol, and screening ship for the American invasion of Leyte) when the ship came under Japanese aerial attack. The Lamson managed to down two Japanese planes during the engagement. However, a third plane made it past her anti-aircraft screen and slammed into the destroyer’s superstructure, causing significant casualties and nearly resulting in the loss of the ship.
A one-of-a-kind, documented WW2 Japanese kamikaze debris grouping – with unparalleled provenance. A true historic collection and a poignant story – the level of which is likely to never been seen again.
(*note – the volume of this grouping is so substantial that we are unable to provide a piece by piece breakdown of every artifact that will be included to the next caretaker – however, we have included in this description those pieces which we believe to be the core components)