WWII MARINE CORPS VMF - 221 MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER JAMES SWETT SIGNED B&W 8x10
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:25325172 |
WWII MARINE CORPS
VMF-221 FIGHTER ACE
MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER
JAMES SWETTOn April 7, 1943, on his first combat mission, Swett both became an ace and acted with such "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" that he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.His first mission was as a division leader on a combat air patrol over the Russell Islands early on the morning of April 7 in expectation o...f a large Japanese air attack. Landing to refuel, the four-plane division of Grumman F4F Wildcats he was leading was scrambled after other aircraft reported 150 planes approaching Ironbottom Sound, and intercepted a large formation of Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers (Allied code name: "Val") attacking Tulagi harbor.When the fight became a general melee, Swett pursued three Aichi D3A Vals diving on the harbor. After he had downed two, and while he was evading fire from the rear gunner of the third, the left wing of his F4F Wildcat was holed by U.S. antiaircraft fire. Despite this, he downed the third Val and turned toward a second formation of six Vals leaving the area.Swett repeatedly attacked the line of dive bombers, downing each in turn with short bursts. He brought down four and was attacking a fifth when his ammunition was depleted and his cockpit was shot up by return fire. Wounded, he decided to ditch his damaged fighter off the coast of Florida Island, after it became clear that his oil cooler had been hit and he would not make it back to base. After a few seconds his engine seized, and despite initially being trapped in his cockpit underwater, Swett extricated himself and was rescued in Tulagi harbor after ditching his plane. This feat made the 22-year-old Marine aviator an ace on his first combat mission.THIS 8" x 10" SIGNED BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH WAS SIGNED PERSONALLY BY COLONEL SWETT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE SIGNATURE IS IN BOLD BLACK INK AND WAS SIGNED WITH A FINE POINT SHARPIE PEN.
THE PHOTOGRAPH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THE SIGNATURE IS NOT PERSONALIZED! IT READS "JAMES E. SWETT."
SADLY, COLONEL SWETT PASSED AWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO (2009), MAKING THIS PHOTOGRAPH EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
THE PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT A COMPUTER GENERATED PIECE OF JUNK, BUT A "REAL" PHOTOGRAPH PRINTED ON QUALITY FUJI PHOTO PAPER.
I LOVE TO DO COMBINED SHIPPING!!
THE WINNING BIDDER WILL PAY $2.95 FOR SHIPPING VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL.International bidders are very welcome, but please note the following provisions for internationalshipments:1)I only accept Pay Pal from international buyers for my eBayauctions.2) Shipping charges need to be calculated for you after the auctionis over, and any other auction lots won by the same buyer will be combined inorder to reduce your shipping costs, (so please DO NOT PAY BEFORE I SEND YOU ANINVOICE!). 3) All international shipments will be made using U. S. PostalService 1st Class International Mailservice unless the item is too large, orthe buyer requests otherwise – see No. 6 below. 4) All international shipments will be made using USPS 1st ClassInternational Mail. However, delivery will be at the buyer's risk as I cannotbe responsible for, or depend upon the performance of a foreign postal service.5) For these 1st Class International Mail shipments, I will packagethe item securely, use only the Pay Pal registered address provided, accuratelyfill out the customs paperwork, and deliver the package to the U.S. PostalService, providing you with the customs form number (if requested) - but thatwill be the limit of my responsibility. 6) International buyers desiring package tracking orinsurance/indemnity will be required to purchase shipping via USPS PriorityMail International which is at a much higher cost (as those extra services arenot available with standard USPS International 1st class mail).7) Please keep in mind that international buyers are responsible forany customs duties, taxes, fees, or any of the various ‘due on delivery’ localcharges that may apply, and for adhering to your country’s import regulations.(Also remember that some country’s duty & customs regulationscan hold up delivery on incoming packages for weeks - this is beyond mycontrol).
VMF-221 FIGHTER ACE
MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER
JAMES SWETTOn April 7, 1943, on his first combat mission, Swett both became an ace and acted with such "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" that he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.His first mission was as a division leader on a combat air patrol over the Russell Islands early on the morning of April 7 in expectation o...f a large Japanese air attack. Landing to refuel, the four-plane division of Grumman F4F Wildcats he was leading was scrambled after other aircraft reported 150 planes approaching Ironbottom Sound, and intercepted a large formation of Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers (Allied code name: "Val") attacking Tulagi harbor.When the fight became a general melee, Swett pursued three Aichi D3A Vals diving on the harbor. After he had downed two, and while he was evading fire from the rear gunner of the third, the left wing of his F4F Wildcat was holed by U.S. antiaircraft fire. Despite this, he downed the third Val and turned toward a second formation of six Vals leaving the area.Swett repeatedly attacked the line of dive bombers, downing each in turn with short bursts. He brought down four and was attacking a fifth when his ammunition was depleted and his cockpit was shot up by return fire. Wounded, he decided to ditch his damaged fighter off the coast of Florida Island, after it became clear that his oil cooler had been hit and he would not make it back to base. After a few seconds his engine seized, and despite initially being trapped in his cockpit underwater, Swett extricated himself and was rescued in Tulagi harbor after ditching his plane. This feat made the 22-year-old Marine aviator an ace on his first combat mission.THIS 8" x 10" SIGNED BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH WAS SIGNED PERSONALLY BY COLONEL SWETT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE SIGNATURE IS IN BOLD BLACK INK AND WAS SIGNED WITH A FINE POINT SHARPIE PEN.
THE PHOTOGRAPH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THE SIGNATURE IS NOT PERSONALIZED! IT READS "JAMES E. SWETT."
SADLY, COLONEL SWETT PASSED AWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO (2009), MAKING THIS PHOTOGRAPH EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
THE PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT A COMPUTER GENERATED PIECE OF JUNK, BUT A "REAL" PHOTOGRAPH PRINTED ON QUALITY FUJI PHOTO PAPER.
I LOVE TO DO COMBINED SHIPPING!!
THE WINNING BIDDER WILL PAY $2.95 FOR SHIPPING VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL.International bidders are very welcome, but please note the following provisions for internationalshipments:1)I only accept Pay Pal from international buyers for my eBayauctions.2) Shipping charges need to be calculated for you after the auctionis over, and any other auction lots won by the same buyer will be combined inorder to reduce your shipping costs, (so please DO NOT PAY BEFORE I SEND YOU ANINVOICE!). 3) All international shipments will be made using U. S. PostalService 1st Class International Mailservice unless the item is too large, orthe buyer requests otherwise – see No. 6 below. 4) All international shipments will be made using USPS 1st ClassInternational Mail. However, delivery will be at the buyer's risk as I cannotbe responsible for, or depend upon the performance of a foreign postal service.5) For these 1st Class International Mail shipments, I will packagethe item securely, use only the Pay Pal registered address provided, accuratelyfill out the customs paperwork, and deliver the package to the U.S. PostalService, providing you with the customs form number (if requested) - but thatwill be the limit of my responsibility. 6) International buyers desiring package tracking orinsurance/indemnity will be required to purchase shipping via USPS PriorityMail International which is at a much higher cost (as those extra services arenot available with standard USPS International 1st class mail).7) Please keep in mind that international buyers are responsible forany customs duties, taxes, fees, or any of the various ‘due on delivery’ localcharges that may apply, and for adhering to your country’s import regulations.(Also remember that some country’s duty & customs regulationscan hold up delivery on incoming packages for weeks - this is beyond mycontrol).
