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Signed by a Great American Ace & the Japanese Ace Who Shot Him Down
BOYINGTON, Col. Gregory “Pappy” (1912-1988). Highly decorated American combat pilot. Marine Corps Ace credited with 26 victories. He led the legendary Black Sheep Squadron. Shot down by a Japanese Fighter Pilot, picked up by a Japanese submarine and spent 1.5 years as a Japanese prisoner of war. He was awarded the Medal of Honor but was received a dishonorable discharge by Claire Chennault.
KAWATO, Masajiro (1925-2008). Great Japanese WWII Ace. Credited with 19 victories. Shot down Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. Kawato was shot down 5 times. The last time he was shot down he landed in the sea and was captured and delivered to an Australian POW camp. Kawato was declared dead by the Japanese military and a funeral was held. Three and one half years later he returned home and visited the alter where his funeral services were held. Boyington wrote “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and Kawato wrote “Bye Bye Black Sheep”. Boyington’s book: “Baa Baa Black Sheep”, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1958, Tenth Impression. Three hundred eighty-four pages, illustrated. The title page is inscribed: “To John & Betty Thomas, Bless a CBI er and his lovely lady. Sincerely, Col. Greg “Pappy” Boyington. On the same page is the following presentation inscription: “April 12, 1996, To Stephen Koschal, with hot blood squadron, From Masajiro Kawato”. After this inscription Kawato signs his name once again in Japanese. A fine copy with a very good dust jacket protected with a clear mylar cover.......................SOLD
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