Black Sheep Squadron M1911A1 pistol .45 ACP (PR62370)

SN: 1992289. Made in early 1944, .45 ACP, 5" barrel. Excellent overall condition Remington Rand M1911A1 with 90% original finish showing holster wear consistent with service carry. Pistol has a High Standard barrel with a very good bore, original plastic grips in excellent condition, & the frame has a Frank J. Atwood acceptance mark on the left side above the trigger. Comes with one World War II era seven-round magazine. This pistol belonged to Henry Mayo "Hank" Bourgeois (September 1, 1921 - November 9, 2009). During the Second World War, Bourgeois served as a Marine fighter pilot first in VMF-122 & then subsequently in Pappy Boyington's "Black Sheep Squadron" VMF-214 in the northern Solomon Islands. He also served in combat in Korea & ultimately retired from the Marine Corps in 1961 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Bourgeois passed away on November 9, 2009 in Abita Springs, Louisiana. He was 88 years old. This grouping comes with a letter of authenticity signed by Gerry Bourgeois detailing his father's ownership of the pistol. Also included: an autographed seventh edition copy of Boyington's autobiography "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (1958) as well as a Navy cloth summer flight helmet in excellent condition that was made by Slote & Klein, Inc. during World War II & was autographed by Boyington at the 1978 Confederate Air Force airshow in Midland, Texas. The helmet has also been signed by the late George Gay (March 8, 1917 - October 21, 1994) who flew a TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber with torpedo squadron (VT-8) from aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Battle of Midway.