Description:

Godfrey McHugh
n.p., ca. 1941-1944
"WAR" JFK Military Aide Godfrey McHugh's WWII Flight Book Signed 47 Times!
Books

Historically rich World War II dated personal flight logbook signed 47 times and belonging to Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (1911–1997), who would later serve as military aide to President John F. Kennedy. The brown leather-bound "Flight Log" which is dramatically highlighted by its December 7, 1941 entry which dramatically reads "WAR," spans from September 15, 1941, to December 31, 1944, and features over 90 pages completed entirely in McHugh's hand, chronicling his transformation from civilian pilot to commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces. McHugh signed the logbook 47 times, with three autographs appearing on the Identification page and the rest verifying his entries throughout the log. The book includes two original affixed photographs: a civilian portrait from 1940 and a wartime photo from 1944, both annotated. Another powerful wartime photo, mounted to the inside front cover, is captioned in McHugh's hand: "23 July 1944, Normandy, France", placing him in the European Theater shortly after D-Day. In fine condition, measures 4.5" x 7.5".

The pages capture a vivid record of his flight activity, with aircraft models including Aeronca, Fairchild, Cessna, Lockheed, and Consolidated bombers, and flight paths crossing North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Noteworthy entries include:

December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day): McHugh dramatically wrote "WAR" in red pencil across the flight log, marking the seismic shift in U.S. military engagement.

October 27, 1942: "Passed C.A.A. 2TO H.P. Flight Test" – documenting his technical certification.

November 11, 1942: "Local Army Flight Test, Passed on Thanksgiving Day Army Flight Test for Service Pilot Rating."

Additional entries from June–July 1944 detail his wartime missions across the globe, including flights from Brazil to Dakar, Morocco, Casablanca, and Gibraltar, reinforcing his active involvement in the Allied air campaigns across multiple continents.

Godfrey T. McHugh was a decorated U.S. Air Force officer who became intimately tied to presidential history as John F. Kennedy's military aide, accompanying him on numerous trips and famously aboard Air Force One on the day of the assassination in Dallas. Before his White House service, McHugh built his military reputation as a skilled and trusted pilot during World War II, commissioned as a captain in January 1942, just weeks after the U.S. entered the war.

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: 4.5" x 7.5"
  • Medium: Books

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