Fall 2025 Military & Collectibles Auction
Lot 192:
Description
WWII 9th Air Force, 489th BS, 340th BG Named Killed In Crash Pilot Document & Letter Group.Included in this group are certificates (2), Discharge Document, (8) written letters from Kay, graduation program, calling card, and Aviation Cadet Club card. Named to Arnold W. Kay who died on January 12, 1943 in a bomber crash while training. Kay was a pilot with the 489th Bomb Squadron, 340th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. From the internet: The 489th Bomb Squadron had a plane crash today. Flying in a group of planes over Savannah Georgia, the left wing of the plane disintegrated in a steep bank, sending the plane hurtling into the Savannah river. All lives were lost. Those lost were T/Sgt. Roy S. Zufall, Corporal George V. Silva, 2nd Lt. Floyd A. W. Hale Jr, S/Sgt. Arnold A. Lassen, S/Sgt. Ronald Medlen, and 1st Lt. Arnold W. Kay. B-25C Mitchell #41-12780 was participating in a five-ship circular formation exercise training flight. Then Lieutenant Kay pulled away from the group, and made a sharp bank to the right, then a sharp bank to the left. Afterwards, while making a sharp upward climb, the starboard wing had a catastrophic failure, when it buckled, then separated from the fuselage, and the bomber spun from the sky into the Savannah River, one mile from Savannah, Georgia, killing all six airmen aboard. Very good readable condition for its age.
Condition: See description for notes on condition. Please note that all items are sold as is without returns, so please ask questions in advance of bidding.
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