US WWII Purple Heart, Air Medal, Navigator Wings, KIA, February 1944, Regensburg Raid
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: $595.00

Original era manufacture. A US WWII named Purple Heart and Air Medal with a set of Sterling Navigator wings, named to 2nd Lt, Quisno, 716th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group. KIA February 22nd 1944. Slot brooch Purple Heart, wrap Brooch Air Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, and a pair of sterling marked, clutchback wings.Lt. Quisno served as a Navigator aboard B-24H, 42-64462, named Stinky The BTO (Big Time Operator) during a raid on the Obertraubling Aircraft Factory near Regensburg Germany on 22 February 1944. Regensburg was the site of a Me-109 factory and petroleum plants, being a well defended target by Luftwaffe fighters and heavy Flak concentrations.The B-24 was attacked by several fighters, that attack, combined with a Flak hit, caused the crew to evacuate the stricken bomber. The Radio Operator was killed outright in the fighter attack; the Bombardier's parachute was damaged by flak, and the Pilot attempted to carry him piggy-back when bailing out, however the force of the pilot's chute snapping open, caused the Bombardier to be thrown off falling to his death below.Lt. Quisno was presumed to have bailed out safely with the remainder of the crew,  but was listed by the Germans later as killed.Comes with a small file of documents gleaned from online sources, including photos of the Navigator, the B-24's nose art and a few copies of the Missing Air Crew Report. In the crew photo Lt. Quisno is seen front row, center right.