US WWII 501st Bombardment Squadron Grouping, DFC & Aerial Gunner Wings
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $495.00

Original era manufacture.  A nice grouping of medals and paperwork from the large aviation collection purchased by SMA at the beginning of the year.The lot includes a slot brooch DFC, sterling marked, pinback Aerial Gunner Wings, crimp brooch Asiatic-Pacific campaign medal, his flight jacket name tag, five WWII original b/w photos, four of which are named on the reverse to the owner, a large bw copy photo of a 501st B-25 and original documents from the 501st dated 1944, providing details of the awarding of the DFC to Thomas D. Riggs.The initial award of his DFC took place 6 January 1944, with the citation reading as follows; for heroism in flight and exceptional and outstanding accomplishment in the face of great danger and beyond the line of duty over Rabaul, New Britain, on 18 October 1943. Staff Sergeant Riggs was a member of the crew of a bomber which was engaged in a bombing attack on the enemy base at Rappo, when a superior force of enemy fighters intercepted. In the ensuing engagement, Sgt. Riggs fired on two enemy fighters and saw one crash in flames, and the other fall into the sea.The award of an OLC for his second DFC was presented to Sgt Riggs for participating in 50 combat flights with the 501st.The DFC is not named, all components display light age and wear, the documents are in a protective sleeve.