Description:

World War II
Pearl Harbor, HI, December 25, 1941 & November 2, 1942
Pearl Harbor Christmas That Wasn't! Rare Survival, Dinner Menu for 18th Bombardment Wing, Printed Weeks In Advance of Bombing

Rare Booklet Menu, 16 pages, 8.5" x 11". Pearl Harbor, December 25, 1941. Soft Cover. Copiously illustrated. Not signed. Fine condition.

"Christmas Dinner" booklet to be presented to all who attended the Christmas Dinner in the General Mess at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, December 25, 1941. First two pages are greetings "To the Hawaiian Air Force" from Frederick L. Martin, Major General, U.S.A., Commanding, and "to the personnel of the 18th Bombardment Wing and Hickam Field" from Jacob H. Rudolph, Brigadier General, Air Corps, Commanding. Each greeting includes a photograph and facsimile signature of each General. Photograph collages are on ten pages: "Fishing in Hawaii," "Yachting," "Civic Center," "Scenes Around the Island of Oahu" (two pages), "Waikiki," "Business District," "Leis and Flowers of Hawaii," "Scenic Shoreline," and "Hawaii of Yesterday." There is a pictorial sightseers map of the Hawaiian Islands and, on the back cover, a detailed illustrated color map of Oahu "Issued by the Hawaii Tourist Bureau / (of Honolulu, U.S.A.)." The cover depicts a color photograph of a young lady in a sugar cane field strumming a ukulele.

The centerfold is a 15" x 5" black and white photograph of 167 soldiers posed in front of a bomber, captioned "Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing, Air Corps – Hickam Field, T.H." with a listing of 189 officers and enlisted soldiers.

Of those listed and probably pictured on these two pages, 17 were killed at Hickam Field on December 7, 1941: Pvt. Garland C. Anderson, Pvt. Manfred C. Anderson, Pvt. Gordon R. Bennett, Jr., Pvt. Frank G. Boswell, Pvt. Frank B. Cooper, PFC John E. Cruthirds, Pvt. Robert C. Duff, Jr., Pvt. Lyle O. Edwards, Pvt. Russell E. Gallagher, PFC James E. Gossard, Jr., 1st Lieut. John S. Greene, Pvt. Theodore A. Joyner, PFC Durward A. Meadows, Cpl. La Verne J. Needham, Jr., Pvt. George J. Smith, Pvt. Paul L. Staton, and PFC Anderson G. Tennyson.

The name of William H. Howe, Jr. is listed in the centerfold. Present is a Typed Letter Signed "F.G. Katz," one page, 8" x 10.5". APO #951, November 3, 1942, to Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Howe, Richland, Michigan. In part, "When your son left the field some time ago he asked me to send these pictures onto you ... I hope that we may meet some day when this [is] all over." With the original envelope (numerous doodles on verso) which enclosed the "pictures," i.e. the illustrated booklet menu, addressed by Sgt. Katz with his APO San Francisco return address.

The U.S. Air Force "Fact Sheet" reports that "Many men were killed while still asleep in the 3,200-man barracks, largest in the Army Air Forces at the time. The chow hall, located in the center of the building, took a direct hit, killing 35 men eating breakfast ... In all, 189 men died at Hickam Field that day, and 303 were wounded."

A copy of this historic booklet/menu is on display at the new Hickam Field Mess at Pearl Harbor.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" X 11"

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October 30, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
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