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| Signatures on this item | |
| *The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare. | |
| Name | Info |
 Captain Philip De Groot USMC *Signature Value : £10 | Gaining his pilots wings in 1943 on Wildcats he was taught to fly the F4U by Charles Lindberg. He flew the first of his 92 combat missions with VMF-224 in the Marshall Islands before fighting in the Battle of Okinawa, flying ground support and counter air missions. During the Korean War he flew a further 48 combat missions in Corsairs with VMF-223. |
  Colonel Bruce Porter USMC (deceased) *Signature Value : £45 | After a tour in the Pacific, Bruce joined VMF 121 in 1943 at Guadalcanal and soon downed 4 Zeros. He served tours with VMF (N) 511 (first all-Marine carrier squadron) and later VMF (N) 533. He helped lead that squadron on one of the longest over-water flights of WWII for a single engined aircraft - flying from the Marshall-Gilbert islands to Saipan-Iwo Jima. On June 15, 1945 he scored a double night victory at Okinawa, making him an Ace. He was probably the only Marine pilot to gain two or more kills in both the Corsair and Hellcat; and became only one of six Marines to score a double or triple kill in one mission. Sadly, Bruce Porter died 20th April 2009. |
 Colonel Dean Caswell USMC *Signature Value : £20 | In early 1945 he joined VMF-221 Fighting Falcons flying the Corsair from the USS Bunker Hill quickly scoring his first victories, shooting down three Japanese Zekes in less than five minutes on 18th March. During the Battle of Okinawa he flew combat missions over the island, becoming an Ace on 28th April when again he scored three victories on one mission. On 11th May he was on board the USS Bunker Hill when it was hit by kamikazes and was forced to jump overboard. By the end of the war he had flown 78 combat missions and scored 7 victories and one probable. He later flew with the Blue Angels before serving two tours in Korea and a tour in Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star and 3 DFCs. |
  Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH (deceased) *Signature Value : £50 | Jim Swett became one of the top-scoring F4U Aces, with 15.5 victories in 94 missions in the Corsair, but he had already earned himself the Congressional Medal of Honor piloting the F4F Wildcat before switching to the F4U. Leading a four plane section with VMF 221 on April 7, 1942 he shot down no fewer than 7 Japanese Val dive-bombers in an engagement over Tulagi Harbor, before taking a hit himself, and ditching in the sea. In all Jim Swett flew 211 combat missions, 94 in F4U Corsairs, made 120 carrier launches and recoveries, and in addition to his Medal of Honor, was awarded 6 DFCs and 2 Purple Hearts. Sadly, Jim Swett died on 18th January 2009. |
 Colonel Joe McPhail USMC *Signature Value : £15 | Joining the Marine Corps in 1941 his first operational unit was VMF-441, flying the Wildcat on missions in the Central Pacific and on one occasion was forced to bail out after running out of fuel. After a spell in the US as an instructor he returned to combat, flying the F4U Corsair with VMF-323 Death Rattlers over the Marshal Islands and then throughout the Okinawa campaign where he scored two victories over Japanese fighters. During Korea he flew F4Us in combat with VMF-214 the Black Sheep. He flew a total of 240 combat missions and was awarded the DFC. |
 First Lieutenant Clint Fladland USMC *Signature Value : £10 | A veteran of 271 combat missions, he flew F4U Corsairs with VMF-321 Hell's Angels during the fighting at Guam before taking part in the battle for Okinawa providing ground support and targeting suicide kamikazes. Flying until the end of the war in August 1945, he later served in Korea with VMF-214 the Black Sheep. |
 Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Smith USMC *Signature Value : £10 | Flying F4U Corsairs with VMF-312 Checkerboards at Okinawa, his squadron established their base at Kadena Airfield on the island of Okinawa itself just nine days after the invasion, providing vital ground support for the advancing infantry. He later flew in Korea at the Chosin Reservoir and was awarded the DFC in both WW2 and Korea. |
 Lieutenant Colonel Lyle Bradley USMC *Signature Value : £15 | A veteran of 200 combat missions, he was initially with VMF-225 at Guam before joining VMF-123 in late 1944, flying F4Us from the USS Bennington. After fighting at Iwo Jima and taking part in the first carrier strikes against Tokyo since the Doolittle Raid, he flew throughout the Battle of Okinawa. He later flew F4Us in Korea with VMF214 the Black Sheep and was awarded the DFC. |
 Lieutenant Colonel William Lucas USMC *Signature Value : £15 | After gaining his pilots wings in December 1943 he flew the F4U Corsair with VMF-216 in Guam and Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands before deploying to fight in the Battle of Okinawa. He later flew F4Us with VMF-224 in Korea, commanded the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 the Purple Foxes in Vietnam and was awarded the Silver Star and two DFCs. |
 Lieutenant Commander Tom McBride USN *Signature Value : £10 | Joining the Navy in 1942 he flew Corsairs with VMF-1 off the USS Bennington from February 1945. Completing 42 combat missions he flew throughout the Okinawa Campaign, strikes against the Japanese mainland and attacks against the IJN battleship Nagato. He later flew Corsairs in Korea. |
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Caswell, Dean (signed in person)
(signed in person)
Caswell, Dean (signed in person)
(signed in person)