WWII letter Patton’s GI Photographer, 26th Inf. Germany 1945, Third Army photos

Description

Offered for bid is an original WWII letter written by
THIRD ARMY, ETO COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER,
166th Signal Photographic Company,
1st Lt. Joseph M. Zinni.
The original letter is 3 pages long and was written Oct. 12, 1944,
"Somewhere in Europe"
Included are 7
(recent reprints)
of photos he took, some of these are
unpublished 35mm images of Normandy.
PHOTOS:
One image is the line up of the
166th Signal Photographic Company officers (Lt. Zinni far left) also photo of the 26th Inf. Another is a rare 35mm photo of an unknown Officer at Normandy and a photo of Lt.
Zinnia's with his Jeep names after his Wife Anne.  In addition there is a Lt. Zinni's
areal photo of the 26th Infantry moving into a town during the battle of the
Bulge. Also a hand signed book mark of Lt. Zinni's. and a copy print of a 166th new letter.
ABOUT THIS COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER:
1st Lt. Joseph M. Zinni was assigned to the 166th and 168th
Signal Photographic Company in the ETO
. After landing in Normandy he was attached to the 26th Infantry under Bradley and Patton. The 166th Signal Photographic Company did so much work for Patton it was called Patton’s GI Photographers. Entire books have been written about the incredible stills and film shot by the166th Signal Photographic Company.    The 26th arrived in France in September, 1944, and fought across France to Metz before becoming engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. It broke through the Ardennes, moving into Luxembourg and Austria to take Linz, then into Czechoslovakia until war's end.
About Lt. Joseph M. Zinni:
After landing on Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day
Lt. Zinni
and his team of six men (Detachment) two drivers and one clerk and three photographers, documented the war
fighting across France to Metz before becoming engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. With the 26
th
Infantry after braking through the Ardennes, then the 166
th
SPC moved into Luxembourg and Austria to take Linz, then into Czechoslovakia until war's end.
Lt. Joseph M. Zinni was not only documenting combat with the Infantry and Armored but also conducted dangerous close range reconnaissance flying in a Piper Cub during the Battle of the Bulge.
There in much written about the 166
th
SPC and Lt. Zinni in books like; Armed With Cameras by Peter Maslowski and Patton’s GI Photographers by Ralph Butterfield. The National Archives and museums are full of his Combat images.
While in the field of battle the most photographers carried weapons, if any, only a 45 pistol and even with that they could not shot a camera and fight, their eyes were focused on the action.
Lt Zinni once remarked “A Cameraman has to expose himself a great deal while “shooting” combat action & he can’t very well operate a gun and a camera at the same time.”
About the seller:
I have been buying and selling Americana, rare books & documents, since the early 1970’s.
I have sold large collections and important individual items to some of the largest
libraries, Auction Houses, Rare book rooms, Universities and Museum in the US.
I have published unique Americana works which are in University and private libraries throughout the world.
Some of the proceeds from my sales go to
support WW2
Primary Source Material for class rooms at High Schools in my area
. (If you are a teacher and are interested in
WW2
Primary Source Material for your class room please email me.)
My main goal is by selling WW2 and other historical Primary Source material; to distribute letters, documents and items around the world that tell the true story of the courage, bravery and sacrifice, made by millions of Americans and the Allied Forces during the war.
When you by a Primary Source letter or document to add to you collection you are doing what Thomas Jefferson did hundreds of years ago (Jefferson sold his library to the USA to create The Library of Congress) in preserving American history, which will be handed down to generation of future American and the World.
When you buy from me you have my guarantee that what you are buying is authentic.
Email me if you have questions.
See photos for condition and letter content.
Bidding conditions and mailing below:
I will ship this letter First Class mail in a regular envelope.
US buyers only.
You must have bought over 25 items on eBay, Paypal preferred and you must have a good rating in order to buy on this item/items.
I have a 100% rating and have sold many rare and important document, letters and items on Ebay so you know you will receive this original item.
See photos for condition.
Email me if you have any questions.