Named WW2 USAAF Uniform Group – Gearhart
Astonishing Named WW2 United States Army Air Force Uniform Group (William Andrew Gearhart).
Presents in overall very good condition – with wear consistent with age and long-term storage.
Group includes:
- Double patched 4-pocket Dress Jacket – featuring 8th Air Force patch, USAAF patch, Armament Specialist Badge sleeve patch, full 3-inch gunner wings, and ribbon bar (highlighted by Air Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster);
- USAAF Garment Bag (named to “Wm. A. Gearhart”);
- Musette Bag;
- Wool Greatcoat;
- AAF Flight Cap;
- Spare 8th Air Force patched Dress Jacket; and
- Dress Pants, Patches, and other miscellaneous uniform accoutrements.
*Artifact(s) come(s) with a packet of printed research paperwork related to William A. Gearhart – including (where available) subject’s general vital statistics/subject’s military records/additional insights into subject’s military service. [Please note that this research was performed exclusively by/for Magi Militaria utilizing subscription-based archives, database resources, and other various internet searchable sources – included research may contain records from U.S. government archives, but the information furnished in this packet was not produced via NARA/NPRC information request.]
According to our research, Sergeant William Andrew Gearhart (ASN: 15128265), a native of Cleveland, Ohio, served as a B-17 Ball Turret Gunner with the 748th Bombardment Squadron, 457th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force during WW2.
Sergeant Gearhart’s unbelievable narrative of his last mission during WW2 is included in the final two photographs of this grouping – a truly remarkable story of courage and an Odyssey-like epic.
(Link to video of Sergeant Gearhart recounting the written story as posted – William Gearhart: WWII Veteran – YouTube)
A spectacular and complete named WW2 USAAF ball turret gunner uniform group made even more astounding by the incredible story of its original owner.