[2dogs]

http://www.military.com/NewsContent?file=usaf1_021303

Family Donates Historic Revolver to Museum
by Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch
Air Force News
February 13, 2003







LOS ANGELES -- A .38-caliber Smith and Wesson service revolver used by a World War II hero to shoot down a German attack plane will soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The family of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr., who died in December at age 89, donated the weapon to the museum during a tribute to the hero in Santa Monica on Feb. 4. His leather bomber jacket was also donated to the museum.

As a B-17 Flying Fortress tailgunner, Posti shot down a German Messerschmidt ME-109 with his revolver in 1942.





Officials disputed the achievement until a few days later when Capt. Clark Gable presented proof of the kill. Gable, who left his movie career to become an aerial photographer with the U.S. Army Air Force, took Posti into a darkroom and ran off a strip of movie film. The captain had operated a gun camera aboard another bomber during the mission and filmed the German plane in its death dive.

The kill was the only feat of its kind in World War II and has not been repeated since. The achievement helped the Boston native earn a Silver Star, the nation's third-highest decoration for heroism.

Donating the historical items to the museum was a long-time dream for Posti.

Posti "said on many occasions that he wanted the gun and jacket to be donated to the museum for everyone to see after he passed away, instead of being tucked away in the corner of the closet," said his wife, Irene. "In my heart, I know he's celebrating this occasion."

[Kahr carrier]

Posti must of been one hellva shot.:D

[Blackcloud6]

I wonder if the film still exists. Would be neat to see.

Does anyone know more about this? Did he hit the Pilot? Some ME-109s had armored windshields.

How did he do it? The tail gunner was in an enclosed space in the B-17.

I would speculate that others were firing on the 109 at the same time he fired. The defense of a formation was by mutual support.

Not saying this couldn't happen, but...

[2dogs]

This article gives basically the same info- it does mention the German planes engines, maybe he hit one?

I went on the Wright-Patterson website, but no info there. They do not have an email for requesting info, but do have a telephone number.

Their site:

.”http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/index.htm

...........................................................................................


http://www.aetc.randolph.af.mil/pa/AETCNS/Feb2003/021203043.htm

Family Donates Legendary WWII Revolver to Air Force Museum





Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr.'s legendary .38 Smith and Wesson revolver and leather bomber jacket will soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch)


By Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch
369th Recruiting Squadron Public Affairs

LOS ANGELES (AETCNS) -- A .38 Smith and Wesson service revolver used by a World War II hero to shoot down a German attack plane will soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The family of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr., who passed away in December at age 89, donated the weapon to the museum during a Feb. 4 tribute to the WWII hero in Santa Monica, Calif. His leather bomber jacket was also donated to the museum.

Maj. Yolandea Wood, 369th Recruiting Squadron commander, and recruiter Tech. Sgt. Richard Tubbs attended the event to accept the donation on behalf of the Air Force.

As a B-17 Flying Fortress tailgunner, Sergeant Posti shot down a German Messerschmitt ME-109 with his revolver in 1942. According to family accounts, the German aircraft was so close that Sergeant Posti could see the engines.

Officials disputed the achievement until a few days later when a soon-to-be public figure by the name of then-Capt. Clark Gable presented proof of the kill. Captain Gable, an aerial photographer with the U.S. Army Air Force, took Sergeant Posti into a darkroom and ran off a strip of movie film. The captain, who operated a gun camera aboard another bomber during the mission, had filmed the German plane in its death dive.

The kill was the only feat of its kind in World War II and hasn’t been repeated since, which helped the Boston native earn a Silver Star, the nation’s third highest decoration for heroism.

Donating the historical items to the Air Force Museum was a long-time dream for Sergeant Posti.

“He (Posti) said on many occasions that he wanted the gun and jacket to be donated to the museum for everyone to see after he passed away, instead of being tucked away in the corner of the closet,” said his wife, Irene. “In my heart, I know he’s celebrating this occasion.”

During the ceremony, the 369th RCS presented a certificate of appreciation from the museum to the Posti family.

“These relics from the Posti family to the Air Force Museum means thousands of people from around the world will get to hear how Sergeant Posti became a true American hero,” Major Wood said.

Sergeant Tubbs said it's important to pay tribute to those who blazed a trail for future generations.

“Paul Posti is just one of thousands of Air Force veterans who should be remembered in a special way,” he said. “A major part of recruiting is public awareness and community involvement. I couldn't think of a greater way to be involved with our own Air Force history. Listening to the many veterans talk about past heroes has rejuvenated my own spirit and commitment to our core values

[Rembrandt]

Not the first time this has happened....here is a story about shooting down a Zero with a .45....enjoy




David and Goliath-2d Lt. Owen J. Baggett David and Goliath-2d Lt. Owen J. Baggett

By John L. Frisbee

Many extraordinary encounters took place in the skies of World War II but none more bizarre than this.

The Tenth Air Force in India was, 5 throughout most of its life, the smallest of the AAF’s combat air forces but with a large geographical area of responsibility and an important mission. It was responsible for helping to defend the supply line from India to China and for interdicting the Japanese supply net running from Rangoon, Burma, to the north of that country. Its heavy bomber force – consisting of a few B-24s – was the 7th Bomb Group, based at Pandaveswar, northwest of Calcutta, whence it flew very long missions to targets mostly in Burma. On March 31, 1943, the 7th BG’s 9th Bomb Squadron was dispatched to destroy a railroad bridge at Pyinmana, about halfway between Rangoon and Mandalay and near two active enemy fighter bases. The formation was led by Col. Conrad F. Necrason, 7th BG commander, The B-24 on his right wing was piloted by 1st Lt. Lloyd Jensen whose copilot was 2d Lt. Owen J. Baggett. On that mission, Baggett was to earn a distinction believed to be unique in Air Force history. Before reaching the target, the B- 24s were attacked by fighters. Colonel Necrason was severely wounded, and Jensen’s aircraft was fatally damaged. Oxygen bottles were shattered, intensifying a fire in the rear of Jensen’s bomber. Nineteen-year-old Sgt. Samuel Crostic slid out of his top turret, grabbed two fire extinguishers, and fought the fire in the rear of the aircraft while standing on a catwalk over the open bomb bay. The plane still was under attack by enemy fighters, taking many hits along its fuselage. To help defend the aircraft, copilot Baggett took over the top turret until Sergeant Crostic had emptied his fire extinguishers, giving the crew time to prepare for bailout. Smoke and fumes filled the 8-24. Jensen ordered the crew to bail out.

With the intercom inoperative, Baggett hand-signaled the gunners to hit the silk and, nearly overcome by fumes, put on his own chute. He next remembers floating down with a good chute. He saw four more open canopies before the bomber exploded. The Japanese pilots immediately began strafing the surviving crewmen, apparently killing some of them and grazing Lieutenant Baggett’s arm. The pilot who had hit Baggett circled to finish him off or perhaps only to get a better look at his victim. Baggett pretended to be dead, hoping the Zero pilot would not fire again. In any event, the pilot opened his canopy and approached within feet of Baggett’s chute, nose up and on the verge of a stall. Baggett, enraged by the strafing of his helpless crew mates, raised the .45 automatic concealed against his leg and fired four shots at the open cockpit. The Zero stalled and spun in.

After Baggett hit the ground, enemy pilots continued to strafe him, but he escaped by hiding behind a tree. Lieutenant Jensen and one of the gunners landed near him. All three were captured by the Burmese and turned over to the Japanese. Sergeant Crostic also survived the bail-out. Baggett and Jensen were flown out of Burma in an enemy bomber and imprisoned near Singapore. In the more than two years he was held prisoner, Owen Baggett’s weight dropped from 180 pounds to ninety. He had ample time to think about his midair dual. He did not at first believe it possible that he could have shot down the enemy while swinging in his chute, but gradually pieces of the puzzle came together. Shortly after he was imprisoned, Baggett, Jensen, and another officer were taken before a Japanese major general who was in charge of all POWs in the area and who subsequently was executed as a war criminal. Baggett appeared to be treated like a celebrity. He was offered the opportunity of and given instructions on how to do the "honorable thing" – commit hara-kiri, a proposal he declined.

A few months later, Col. Harry Melton, commander of the 311th Fighter Group who had been shot down, passed through the POW camp and told Baggett that a Japanese colonel said the pilot Owen Baggett had fired at had been thrown clear of his plane when it crashed and burned. He was found dead of a single bullet in his head. Colonel Melton intended to make an official report of the incident but lost his life when the ship on which he was being taken to Japan was sunk. Two other pieces of evidence support Baggett’s account: First, no friendly fighters were in the area that could have downed the Zero pilot. Second, the incident took place at an altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The pilot could have recovered from an unintentional stall and spin. Retired Colonel Baggett, now living in San Antonio, Tex., believes he shot down the Japanese pilot, but because that judgment is based on largely indirect and circumstantial evidence, he remains reluctant to talk much about it. We think the jury no longer is out. There appears to be no reasonable doubt that Owen Baggett performed a unique act of valor, unlikely to be repeated in the unfolding annals of air warfare.

[Blackhawk]

I've known about Baggett's episode for a long time, but I've never heard of Posti's until today.

I share Blackcloud6's skepticism....

[Johnny Guest]

- - -The revolver illustrated is one of the break top S&Ws. Never chambered for the .38 Spl, this one would have to have been in .38 S&W caliber, a round of a good deal less power.

Best I know, the USAAF in Europe was issuing only .45s--Not revolvers of any kind. And I don't know of any issue of break tops by US military since the Scofield .45s.

Can't help but wonder if this is some kind of mix up. Even valiant old soldiers become confused after so many decades. Might this gentleman have had TWO, or more, .38 S&W revolvers? I won't say it was never done, but the carrying of personal weapons was frowned upon . . . .

The story of LT Baggett's Zero kill with a .45 from a 'chute has been general knowledge for some years. I'd never heard of T/SGT Posti's ME before now.

There's at least one other air-to-air handgun victory on record. Don't recall the details, but two Army personnel in a liaison aircraft engaged a German Storch observation plane with their .45 pistols. They wounded the pilot, forcing it down. The US soldiers landed nearby and took the Germans prisoner.

Best,
Johnny

[Blackhawk]

The revolver illustrated is one of the break top S&WsCan't seem to find the illustration you're talking about, Johnny. Could you post a link directly to it? Thanks.

[Johnny Guest]

Blackhawk the very opening post of this topic, posted by 2dogs shows this link:

http://www.military.com/NewsContent?file=usaf1_021303

Illustration on upper right of my screen depicts back of an old flying jacket--At upper left of THAT image is what I supose is the donated revolver.

Best,
Johnny

[Blackhawk]

Duh!

Thanks, Johnny! :o

[sixgun_symphony]

It's obvious that Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr. had brought his personally owned revolver to the war.

Bringing personal sidearms may be frowned upon, but I think its more common than most realize.