P-38L Airplane with Globe
American: 1944
White metal airplane, brass globe, white marble base
8 Inches high, 4 x 4 x .75 inch base
12 inch wingspan, 9 inches long
$2,800

Globe-form trophy commemorating an American Air Force squadron in Sicily in 1944, during World War II.  It features a nickel finish model of a Lockheed P-38L Lightning airplane mounted atop a 5-inch brass terrestrial globe on a white marble block. The continents of the world as well as lines of longitude and latitude are engraved into the globe together with inscriptions bearing the name of the 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) of the 15th Air Force and “Sicily 1944.”  Such trophies were often handmade by servicemen as personal souvenirs from scrap metal and surplus parts, such as brass and copper mortar shells.

The speedy and agile Lockheed P-38L Lightning was introduced as a war plane in 1944 and used on many flight and bombing missions in Europe and Asia.  The 885th Bombardment Squadron, formerly the 122nd, was assigned to the 15th Air Force in June 1944.  Based in Algeria, they delivered supplies and agents to the French Resistance in the south of France.  In September 1944, the unit relocated to Brindisi on the island of Sicily in Italy, where they continued operations in support of Italian partisans.

Globe inscribed:  “1944/ 885th BOMB SQDN/ 15 AIR FORCE/ NORTH AFRICA/ ITALY/ SICILY.”

Airplane wings inscribed:  “Sicily 1944.” 

Condition: Generally good with the usual overall wear and oxidation.  Globe with various small dents and dings.

Reference:

Mattison, John K. and Turner, Hugh.  “885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Special), 859th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy).”  Hugh Turner.  5 December 2002.  http://users.rcn.com/hugh.turner/2641st/2641st.htm (1 March 2005).