WWII US ARMY ACE 10 NAZI KILLS ZEMKE'S WOLF PACK PILOT RANKIN AUTOGRAPH SIGNED !

Description

Here’s a Autograph Note Signed by WWII US Army Air Force Ace
COLONEL ROBERT
“SHORTY”
RANKIN
(1918 –2013)
WWII UNITED STATES ARMY FIGHTER PILOT ACE WITH 10 NAZI AXIS ENEMY AIRCRAFT
“KILLS”
IN AERIAL COMBAT, INCLUDING FIVE IN A SINGLE DAY ON MAY 12, 1944
!
~&~
MEMBER OF THE
61
st
SQUADRON and FAMED
“ZEMKE’S WOLF PACK”
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The document/card measures 5” x 3” and is in VERY FINE CONDITION.
A WONDERFUL RELIC OF WORLD WAR II MILITARY AVIATION HISTORY.
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BIOGRAPHY OF COL. ROBERT RANKIN
Robert James Rankin
(October 23, 1918 – March 14, 2013) was a
United States Air Force
colonel
. During
World War II
, he became a
flying ace
with the
United States Army Air Forces
credited with 10 aerial victories, including
five in a single day
, for which he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross
.
Early life and service
Robert J. Rankin was born on October 23, 1918, in
Washington, D.C.
Rankin enlisted into the
United States Army Air Corps
on March 6, 1941. On July 15, 1942, he became an aviation cadet in the newly formed Army Air Forces, graduating from flight training at
Luke Field, Glendale, Arizona
, on April 11, 1943.
World War II ace
In August,
Second Lieutenant
Rankin was assigned to the
61st Fighter Squadron
,
56th Fighter Group
,
Eight Air Force
, at
RAF Halesworth
in
Suffolk, England
. On February 6, 1944, Rankin claimed his first aerial victory, shooting down a German
Messerschmitt Bf 109
over
Paris, France
.
On March 15,
First Lieutenant
Rankin shot down two more Bf 109s and damaged a
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
over
Germany
. Rankin claimed his fourth victory on March 29 near
Nienburg
. In April, the squadron moved to
RAF Boxted
in
Essex, England
.
First Lieutenant Rankin would finally claim ace status on May 12, 1944. Rankin was leading a flight of
P-47 Thunderbolts
ahead of a bomber force in Germany. While near
Marburg
, the flight engaged several dozen Bf 109s, and Rankin shot three of them out of the air. Upon downing the third one, his group commander,
Lieutenant Colonel
Hubert Zemke
, radioed for help as German planes were on his tail. Rankin and his
wingmen
flew to Zemke's position, where Rankin shot down two more planes and damaged two others.
First Lieutenant Rankin became the first member of the 56th Fighter Group and first P-47 pilot to claim "ace in a day." He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that day. On June 7, 1944, Rankin claimed his 10th and final victory of the war.
Post-war career and life
After World War II, Rankin transferred to the United States Air Force. He flew more combat missions with the
4th Fighter Interceptor Wing
during the
Korean War
. Rankin was promoted to colonel in 1963, later taking part in the
Vietnam War
. He retired from the Air Force on April 1, 1973.
On March 14, 2013, Robert J. Rankin died in his winter home in
Jensen Beach, Florida
. His body was subsequently cremated.
Awards and decorations
Distinguished Service Cross
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert James Rankin (ASN: 0-743089), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy on 12 May 1944. On this date Lieutenant Rankin led a flight of fighters on a sweep ahead of bombers en route to targets deep in Germany. In the vicinity of Marburg, Germany, Lieutenant Rankin without hesitation engaged a vastly superior force of enemy fighters and destroyed two of them. While regaining altitude he saw another enemy fighter and destroyed it. Hearing his Group Commander, who was several miles away, calling for help, Lieutenant Rankin, with his wingmen, flew to the assistance of the Group Commander and found him in contact with a large number of enemy fighters. The three attacked despite the overwhelming odds facing them and the fact that other enemy fighters were in position above them. Lieutenant Rankin at this time by exceptionally courageous flying and skillful gunnery destroyed two more enemy fighters. He then regained altitude and engaged two more enemy fighters, damaging them both. By this outstanding heroism and his determination to destroy the enemy, Lieutenant Rankin rendered outstanding and valorous service to our nation.
I am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club (UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society and the American Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). I subscribe to each organizations' code of ethics and authenticity is guaranteed. ~Providing quality service and historical memorabilia online for over 25 years.~
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