Milestone Auctions – Premier Military Auction
June 29th, 2024 10am
www.milestoneauctions.com (440) 527-8060
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — American military history, from the Civil War through Vietnam, will be revisited and honored on June 29 at Milestone’s Premier military auction, with all forms of remote bidding available in addition to in-person bidding at the gallery. Arguably the Ohio company’s finest offering of militaria to date, the 700-lot selection is led by a US Navy D-Day archive whose centerpiece is a 48-star Ensign #10 American battle flag that was flown on LCI-538 during the “first wave” to land at Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944.

A near-sacred symbol of the coordinated effort in which the Allied Armies’ land, air and sea forces united to achieve the largest military invasion in history, the iconic flag was retrieved as a souvenir by Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Frank R. Maratea, who was aboard LCI-538 during its landing. Maratea’s archive also includes a World War II US Navy Commission streamer flag, his own Honorable Discharge and military papers; original photographs taken on Omaha Beach and on the deck of LCI-538, ephemera from D-Day Landings 50th Anniversary Reunion (including a photo with then-President Bill Clinton) and more. This unique grouping of highly important, impeccably documented mementos will cross the auction block with an estimate of $40/60,000.

The Omaha Beach West assault phase of “Operation Overlord” — the code name for the Battle of Normandy — was known as “Operation Neptune.” Among the auction highlights is a map of the area in and around the community of Vierville-sur-Mer, with landing plans and associated airborne plans for the D-Day invasion. The map is marked “Top Secret Bigot” — Bigot being an acronym for British Invasion of German Occupied Territory. Carefully preserved for 80 years, the map carries a $4/5,000 estimate.

Milestone Auctions will offer several significant items from the now-closed American Armored Foundation Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum of Danville, Va. With a mission to display and preserve as many tank and cavalry artifacts as possible, the 333,000-square-foot museum’s core holding was the private collection donated by high-tech entrepreneur and military history expert William Gasser. Auction highlights with museum provenance include several remarkable uniforms.

First, there is the World War II Nazi German Waffen “named” SS general’s uniform that belonged to Fritz Kraemer, who was tried for war crimes and found guilty. The tunic’s collar tabs signify the rank of a group leader and lieutenant general of Waffen-SS. It is hand-embroidered in silver bullion thread, and its shoulder boards feature interwoven gold bullion and aluminum cords. The cufftitle is of a type worn by personnel serving with the 1.SS-Panzer Division. The outfit consisting of the tunic, breeches, leather boots and gloves conveys with its suitcase and is expected to sell in the range of $20,000-$30,000.

Secondly, there is a complete “named” grouping of World War II Imperial Japanese Army Lt. General Tatsuji Ogura, who commanded the 127 Division in Manchuria during the final desperate months of the war. The archive includes the general’s complete dress uniform consisting of a frock coat with cased shoulder boards, aguillette and cased officer’s sash; trousers and a visor hat with plume. The ensemble is housed in a period Japanese-made lidded suitcase and is estimated at $8/10,000.

Another top lot from the museum collection is a US Marine Corps M2-A1 flamethrower that is a variant of, and successor to, the model used extensively in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It is fitted with an M2-2-style hourglass-shape backpack frame, with improved valves, regulators and capacity. While at the museum, it was tested and demonstrated in videos, proving time and again to be in top form ($20/30,000). Also from the museum, a 1940s 20mm Orlikon MK II “cutaway” cannon with a 55-inch barrel is of a type that was used for instruction by both sides during World II. Mounted on a 4-legged stand, the teaching device became a staple on US Navy warships. The auction example proofs throughout and is marked GM for its manufacturer, General Motors. ($10/15,000).

An auction entry with tremendous name recognition is the US Army dog tag of the gallant then-future general of the US Army Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964). The tag was issued to young MacArthur when he was not yet a field-grade officer. It is imprinted with his name, the rank “1st. Lt.” and “Corps Of Engin. USA.” MacArthur was a first lieutenant from 1904 to 1906, when he served in the Philippines with his father, Arthur MacArthur Jr, who was commander of the Army’s Pacific Division. Douglas MacArthur would later command the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II, administer postwar Japan during the Allied occupation that followed and lead United Nations forces during the first nine months of the Korean War ($5/10,000).

Milestone’s gallery is at 38198 Willoughby Parkway. Start time: 10 am ET . All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Milestone’s own bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers, or Invaluable. For information, 440-527-8060 or www.milestoneauctions.com.

Great Sale Featuring Over 650 Lots of Military from the Revolutionary War to Modern War. The Sale Includes Swords, Knives, Daggers, Katanas, Named Uniform Grouping, Helmets, Other Head Gear, Medals, Insignia, Photos, Flags and Much More!!
Highlights Include WWII US Navy LCI-538 D-Day Flown 48 Star Flag WW2, WWII Nazi German Admiral Menche Medal Grouping WW2, WWII Korean War M2-A1 Flamethrower & Crate USMC, WWII Nazi German Waffen SS Generals Named Uniform, 20mm Orlikon MKII Class Room Cutaway Cannon, WWi Imperial German Garde Du Corps Prussian Helmet, WWII Nazi German Named Panzer Generals Visor Hat, WWII German Hitler Youth Presentation Knife WW2, WWII Nazi German Named Waffen SS
Documents & Case, WWII 82nd Airborne Uniform Grouping w/Insignia, WWII Nazi German Named Panzer General Wrapper Set, Civil War Indian Wars ID’d Frock Coat Uniform Set, General Douglas Macarthur Dog Tag as 1st Lt. 1905, WWII D-Day Operation Neptune Map Bigot Omaha West, WWII Nazi German Chained Marine NSKK Dagger M7/66, WWI Us M1918 Trench Knife LF&C w/Scabbard WWi, WWII Combat Medic Uniform Grouping w/Hehnet WW2 and Much Much More.
Full Catalog & Live Bidding Available Thru: www.milestoneauctions.com | LiveAuctioneers | Invaluable
MILESTONE AUCTIONS GALLERY
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Phone Bids & Absentee Bids Call (440) 527-8060 | milestoneauctions@yahoo.com | Auctioneer: Miles King 20% Buyers Premium Online | 17% In-House, Phone, & Absentee | Credit Cards Accepted with 3% Charge
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