Comprising: 1) Framed set of medals awarded to Swaab, along with his 22nd Pursuit Squadron pin in gilt and enamels (extensive chipping to enamel), Aero Club of America photo I.D. card #1018 and his World War Birds Internationale membership certificate #204. Medals include Distinguished Service Cross #6256, unnamed; Silver Star #9839, with small oak leaf cluster; Purple Heart #69530; Aero Club of America Medal of Merit; WWI Victory Medal with clasps St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector as well as 10 bronze stars representing his 10 victories in aerial combat; New York State Conspicuous Service Cross #2055; New York State WWI Service Medal. Also framed with group are two ribbon bars, with ribbons for his DSC, Silver Star, Purple Heart and Victory Medal. 2) Framed Columbia Wound Accolade dated September 10, 1918 with facsimile signature of Woodrow Wilson. 3) Lot of 5 photographs: 2 small photos of Swaab in uniform during the war, 1 studio portrait in uniform wearing the ribbon of the DSC and 22nd Pursuit Squadron pin, 1 photo of Swaab in civilian clothes with a lapel pin of the DSC, and a group photo of unidentified individuals presenting Swaab with a model of a WWI airplane. 4) A copy of the book "Knights of the Sky" by Jerry Valencia, inscribed to Swaab's daughter. The book contains Swaab's personal memoirs, as well as those of several other American aviators. Condition: Medals all very good, with traces of green patina verdigris frosting on all bronze items. Aero Club medal and ID cards are permanently mounted to velvet backing. Wound accolade is good, but with large water stain in lower part, frame coming apart. Photos fair to very good, some with chipping to corners and seated studio portrait with cropping annotations in the margins.@Note:Swaab scored 10 victories with the 22nd Pursuit Squadron, three of them shared. His score was later reduced accordingly by the Air Force to 8.5, but Swaab remains one of the highest scoring American aces of the war, and among pilots who flew solely with the USAAS (excluding the RAF and French Air Service), Swaab's victory score places him third after Eddie Rickenbacker and Frank Luke. His DSC citation reads: "On September 28, Lieutenant Swaab, although himself pursued by 2 enemy planes, perceiving 1 of his comrades in distress and in danger of being shot down, dived upon the enemy plane which was directly behind that of his comrade and shot the enemy plane out of control, forcing it to withdraw. His prompt act in going to the assistance of his comrade enabled the latter to escape. On Oct. 27 Lieutenant Swaab and another member of his group engaged in combat with 7 enemy planes. In this encounter, although outnumbered, Lieutenant Swaab continued in his attack and succeeded in shooting down an enemy D.F.W. observation plane." See Illustration
Comprising: 1) Framed set of medals awarded to Swaab, along with his 22nd Pursuit Squadron pin in gilt and enamels (extensive chipping to enamel), Aero Club of America photo I.D. card #1018 and his World War Birds Internationale membership certificate #204. Medals include Distinguished Service Cross #6256, unnamed; Silver Star #9839, with small oak leaf cluster; Purple Heart #69530; Aero Club of America Medal of Merit; WWI Victory Medal with clasps St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector as well as 10 bronze stars representing his 10 victories in aerial combat; New York State Conspicuous Service Cross #2055; New York State WWI Service Medal. Also framed with group are two ribbon bars, with ribbons for his DSC, Silver Star, Purple Heart and Victory Medal. 2) Framed Columbia Wound Accolade dated September 10, 1918 with facsimile signature of Woodrow Wilson. 3) Lot of 5 photographs: 2 small photos of Swaab in uniform during the war, 1 studio portrait in uniform wearing the ribbon of the DSC and 22nd Pursuit Squadron pin, 1 photo of Swaab in civilian clothes with a lapel pin of the DSC, and a group photo of unidentified individuals presenting Swaab with a model of a WWI airplane. 4) A copy of the book "Knights of the Sky" by Jerry Valencia, inscribed to Swaab's daughter. The book contains Swaab's personal memoirs, as well as those of several other American aviators. Condition: Medals all very good, with traces of green patina verdigris frosting on all bronze items. Aero Club medal and ID cards are permanently mounted to velvet backing. Wound accolade is good, but with large water stain in lower part, frame coming apart. Photos fair to very good, some with chipping to corners and seated studio portrait with cropping annotations in the margins.@Note:Swaab scored 10 victories with the 22nd Pursuit Squadron, three of them shared. His score was later reduced accordingly by the Air Force to 8.5, but Swaab remains one of the highest scoring American aces of the war, and among pilots who flew solely with the USAAS (excluding the RAF and French Air Service), Swaab's victory score places him third after Eddie Rickenbacker and Frank Luke. His DSC citation reads: "On September 28, Lieutenant Swaab, although himself pursued by 2 enemy planes, perceiving 1 of his comrades in distress and in danger of being shot down, dived upon the enemy plane which was directly behind that of his comrade and shot the enemy plane out of control, forcing it to withdraw. His prompt act in going to the assistance of his comrade enabled the latter to escape. On Oct. 27 Lieutenant Swaab and another member of his group engaged in combat with 7 enemy planes. In this encounter, although outnumbered, Lieutenant Swaab continued in his attack and succeeded in shooting down an enemy D.F.W. observation plane." See Illustration
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
