Bockscar Co-Pilot Grouping for Sale
Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:05 am
Found it here: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/18580/page1
Lot 30023
ATOMIC BOMB ALBURY LOT BOCKSCAR B-29 CREW C15
Interesting historic grouping of Captain Charles Donald Albury signatures, co-pilot. Crew C-15, the crew who flew the B-29 bomber that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. Many of these items are signed, (with photographic evidence) and include; Bockscar photo (signed), B&W photo (signed). A leather helmet, throat mic and oxygen mask, (Its original box is signed and include accessories). Aircrew sunglasses, (Case signed). A garrison cap with Captain rank. Squadron patch. Pilots badge. A signed business card. A G1 leather jacket with painted Squadron motif to the front and rear, signed twice.
Estimate $750 - $1,500
Starting Bid $400
Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"
Lot 30023
ATOMIC BOMB ALBURY LOT BOCKSCAR B-29 CREW C15
Interesting historic grouping of Captain Charles Donald Albury signatures, co-pilot. Crew C-15, the crew who flew the B-29 bomber that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. Many of these items are signed, (with photographic evidence) and include; Bockscar photo (signed), B&W photo (signed). A leather helmet, throat mic and oxygen mask, (Its original box is signed and include accessories). Aircrew sunglasses, (Case signed). A garrison cap with Captain rank. Squadron patch. Pilots badge. A signed business card. A G1 leather jacket with painted Squadron motif to the front and rear, signed twice.
Estimate $750 - $1,500
Starting Bid $400
Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"
Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:01 am
Except that he was not the Co-pilot on the Nagasaki mission, The Co-pilot was Fred Olivi.
Olivi's book show Chares Sweeney as Aircraft Commander, Charles Albury as Pilot, Olivi as Co-pilot
Olivi's book show Chares Sweeney as Aircraft Commander, Charles Albury as Pilot, Olivi as Co-pilot
Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:51 am
Don't know how accurate this information is....but this is what I found, there is so much information out there that some sites facts conflict with others.
Crew C-15 of the Bockscar
Major Charles Sweeney, Commander
Captain Charles Donald Albury, Co-Pilot
2nd Lieutenant Fred Olivi, Third Pilot
Captain James Van Pelt, Jr., Navigator
Captain Raymond “Kermit” Beahan, Bombardier
Master Sergeant John Kuharek, Flight Engineer
Sergeant Raymond Gallagher, Assistant Flight Engineer
Staff Sergeant Ed Buckley, Radar Operator
Sergeant Abe Spitzer, Radio Operator
Staff Sergeant Albert Dehart, Tail Gunner
Additional Mission Crew on board August 9, 1945
Cmdr. Frederick L. Ashworth (USN), Weaponeer
Lt. Philip Barnes (USN), Assistant Weaponeer
2nd Lt. Jacob Beser, Radar Countermeasures
Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"
Crew C-15 of the Bockscar
Major Charles Sweeney, Commander
Captain Charles Donald Albury, Co-Pilot
2nd Lieutenant Fred Olivi, Third Pilot
Captain James Van Pelt, Jr., Navigator
Captain Raymond “Kermit” Beahan, Bombardier
Master Sergeant John Kuharek, Flight Engineer
Sergeant Raymond Gallagher, Assistant Flight Engineer
Staff Sergeant Ed Buckley, Radar Operator
Sergeant Abe Spitzer, Radio Operator
Staff Sergeant Albert Dehart, Tail Gunner
Additional Mission Crew on board August 9, 1945
Cmdr. Frederick L. Ashworth (USN), Weaponeer
Lt. Philip Barnes (USN), Assistant Weaponeer
2nd Lt. Jacob Beser, Radar Countermeasures
Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"
Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:59 am
I had a chance to visit with Fred Olivi at some length on two occasions when he was part of an AAHM seminar series at CAF HQ. Basically, Sweeney bumped Albury from the left seat to the right seat, leaving Olivi as a third pilot with little to do. Olivi wrote a book about the mission called Decision at Nagasaki: The Mission That Almost Failed.
For the second seminar, Olivi was joined by Dick Ashworth, the weaponeer on the mission. Now that was a very interesting talk as Ashworth had never spoken publicly about his role in the mission, which was a lot more than most, including his old friend Olivi, knew until that program.
Randy
For the second seminar, Olivi was joined by Dick Ashworth, the weaponeer on the mission. Now that was a very interesting talk as Ashworth had never spoken publicly about his role in the mission, which was a lot more than most, including his old friend Olivi, knew until that program.
Randy
Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:03 pm
It's a shame these items aren't going to the NMUSAF...
Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:44 pm
APG85 wrote:It's a shame these items aren't going to the NMUSAF...
I don't get the impression that these items are historical artifacts, but just things that have signatures and the like on them.
Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:17 am
Randy Haskin wrote:APG85 wrote:It's a shame these items aren't going to the NMUSAF...
I don't get the impression that these items are historical artifacts, but just things that have signatures and the like on them.
Yes, you would think his family would want to keep these things though...
Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:57 pm
Or that they are not here in Wendover 
Alas. . . . . But Randy could be right on - period items but not the actual equipment used on the mission.
Oh Well. . . .
Tom P.
Historic Wendover Airfield Museum
Alas. . . . . But Randy could be right on - period items but not the actual equipment used on the mission.
Oh Well. . . .
Tom P.
Historic Wendover Airfield Museum
Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:08 pm
I think you guys are right.
You know it sounds like they might never even have been owned by Albury.
Just somebody getting items signed and selling as a lot. Are there any photos of him wearing a "NAVY" G-1 jacket with those patches on it?
I know the AVG wore a lot of G-1's but it wasn't as prevalent in the regular AF. Obviously it happened , but I question if Albury ever owned any of these specific items in the auction.
Jerry
You know it sounds like they might never even have been owned by Albury.
Just somebody getting items signed and selling as a lot. Are there any photos of him wearing a "NAVY" G-1 jacket with those patches on it?
I know the AVG wore a lot of G-1's but it wasn't as prevalent in the regular AF. Obviously it happened , but I question if Albury ever owned any of these specific items in the auction.
Jerry