Masters of The Air Medal of Honor WWII Maynard "Snuffy" Smith SIGNED CUT MOH

Description: This auction is for the following Maynard "Snuffy" Smith (Deceased 1984) WWII Medal of Honor Recipient B-17 8th Air Force, 423d Bombardment Squadron Division SIGNED RARE CUT that was been mated with an unsigned 8x10 photograph the black mat measures 11x14 inches PLEASE NOTE THAT MAYNARD “SNUFFY” SMITH IS ONE OF THE RAREST AUTOGRAPHS IN THE HOBBY. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AUTHENTIC MAYNARD SMITH AUTOGRAPHS LIKE THIS ONE. THIS ITEM WOULD MAKE FOR A GREAT GIFT OR INVESTMENT. BIO: Maynard "Snuffy" Smith (Deceased 1984) WWII Medal of Honor Recipient B-17 8th Air Force, 423d Bombardment Squadron Division was a United States Army Air Forces staff sergeant and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber in World War II who received the Medal of Honor for his conduct during a bombing mission over France on May 1st, 1943. Smith was the first enlisted member of the United States Army Air Forces to earn the Medal of Honor. On January 26th, 2024 Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg will be releasing what they have called the third instalment of “Band of Brothers.” The new twelve part mini-series will be titled “Masters of The Air” based on Donald Miller’s book by the same name. The Maynard “Snuffy” Smith will be portrayed in the new 12 part mini-series “Masters of The Air” Unlike autographs from Band of Brothers Easy Company veterans and the HBO Pacific veterans who were still with us when those mini-series were released. Sadly all of the veterans from the new Masters of The Air veterans passed away before the miniseries was completed. Autographs for the actual veterans depicted the Masters of The Air passed away before the mini-series was completed. I have been completing historical and military autographs for the last 38 years and did obtain a hand of autographs from the veterans portrayed in the new mini-series Maters of The Air. After completing basic training, he volunteered for aerial gunnery school. At the time, all aerial gunners were non-commissioned officers and the move to the school was a quick way for the private to gain rank and pay. After completing aerial gunnery school, he was shipped overseas to Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, in south-central England, where he joined the 423rd Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bomb Group. Staff Sergeant Smith was short in stature, and quickly gained a reputation as a stubborn and obnoxious airman who did not get along well with the other airmen stationed there. He soon earned the nickname "Snuffy Smith", possibly after the character from a popular comic strip of the era, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith. Consequently, it was six weeks before he was assigned his first combat mission. Medal of Honor: On his first mission, on May 1st, 1943, Staff Sergeant Smith, who was assigned to the ball gun turret, helped save the lives of six of his wounded comrades and put out a blazing fire after his aircraft was hit, and drove off wave after wave of German fighters. The target of the mission was the U-boat pens at Saint-Nazaire in Loire-Atlantique, France, on the Bay of Biscay. Saint Nazaire was heavily defended by antiaircraft guns and was nicknamed "flak city" by the airmen. Several of the bombers failed to rendezvous as intended, and others had mechanical problems and had to turn back. The middle portion of the bombing mission went well, with no German fighters engaging the American aircraft until after they had released their bomb loads on target. As the fighters came up, the Americans managed to elude them by flying into a large cloud bank. Due to a navigational error, after emerging from the clouds, the navigator in the lead plane believed he was approaching the southern coast of Britain. In fact, the aircraft were actually approaching the heavily fortified French city of Brest and the southern coast of the Breton Peninsula. The pilot began to descend to 2,000 feet (610 m) and was almost immediately set upon by several German fighters and intense anti-aircraft fire. Staff Sergeant Smith's bomber was hit, rupturing a fuel tank and igniting a massive fire in the center of the fuselage. The damage was severe, knocking out communications and compromising the fuselage's integrity. Smith's ball turret lost power, and he scrambled out to assist the other crew members. Three crew members bailed out, while Smith tended to two others who were seriously wounded. In between helping his wounded comrades, Smith also manned the .50 caliber machine guns and fought the raging fire. The heat from the fire was so intense that it began to melt the metal in the fuselage, threatening to break the plane in half. For nearly 90 minutes, Smith alternated between shooting at attacking fighters, tending to the wounded, and fighting the fire. To starve the fire of fuel, he threw burning debris and exploding ammunition through the large holes that the fire had melted in the fuselage. After the fire extinguishers were exhausted, Smith finally managed to put the fire out, in part by urinating on it. Smith's bomber reached England and landed at the first available airfield, where it broke in half as it touched down. It had been hit with more than 3,500 bullets and pieces of shrapnel. The three crew members who bailed out were never seen again and were presumed lost at sea, but Smith's efforts undoubtedly saved the lives of the six others aboard his aircraft. Journalist Andy Rooney, at the time a reporter for Stars and Stripes, was at the base where Smith's plane landed and wrote a front-page story about it. While reflecting on Smith's award years later on 60 Minutes, Rooney said, "I was proud of my part in that." Smith was assigned to KP duty the week that he was awarded the Medal of Honor as punishment for arriving late to a briefing. U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson placed the medal around Smith's neck during a formation. Sergeant Smith, known as "Snuffy Smith," was the first enlisted Army airman in history to receive the Medal of Honor. On the day of his award presentation, with all set for a grand event, only one thing was missing--a hero to present the Medal of Honor to. On the day of his award presentation, Stars and Stripes reporter Andy Rooney wrote, was "Found on KP." Medal of Honor Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Maynard Harrison Smith, Sr., United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 423d Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group (H), 8th Air Force in action on a bombing mission to Brest, France, May 1st 1943. The aircraft of which Sergeant Smith was a gunner was subjected to intense enemy anti-aircraft fire and determined fighter airplane attacks while returning from a mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe on 1 May 1943. The airplane was hit several times by anti-aircraft fire and cannon shells of the fighter airplanes, two of the crew were seriously wounded, the aircraft's oxygen system shot out, and several vital control cables severed when intense fires were ignited simultaneously in the radio compartment and waist sections. The situation became so acute that three of the crew bailed out into the comparative safety of the sea. Sergeant Smith, then on his first combat mission, elected to fight the fire by himself, administered first aid to the wounded tail gunner, manned the waist guns, and fought the intense flames alternately. The escaping oxygen fanned the fire to such intense heat that the ammunition in the radio compartment began to explode, the radio, gun mount, and camera were melted, and the compartment completely gutted. Sergeant Smith threw the exploding ammunition overboard, fought the fire until all the firefighting aids were exhausted, manned the workable guns until the enemy fighters were driven away, further administered first aid to his wounded comrade, and then by wrapping himself in protecting cloth, completely extinguished the fire by hand. This soldier's gallantry in action, undaunted bravery, and loyalty to his aircraft and fellow crewmembers, without regard for his own personal safety, is an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces. THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED CUT that was been mated with an unsigned in uniform 8x10 inch photograph perfect for framing. The black mat measures 11x14 inches. This is one of the last remaining autographs that I have available of him. I am close to being permanently sold out do not miss out on your chance to add this remarkable collectable to your collection. PLEASE NOTE this photograph was printed posted war. I ONLY SELL AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED MEMORABILIA. I do not sell reprints or facsimile autographs. When you bid on my items you get the real deal authentic hand autographed items. You will receive the same item that is pictured in the scan. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me. I combine S&H when multiple items are purchased. I ship items internationally the price for international S&H varies by country. I currently have other rare autographed military and historical signed items available. Please take a look at my other auctions of rare military and historical autographed items.

Price: 799.99 USD

Location: Historical Treasures

End Time: 2024-08-10T05:10:45.000Z

Shipping Cost: 15 USD