Milestone Auctions – New Years Premier Military Auction
Saturday, January 18, 2025 10:00 am edt Preview 8:00 am
www.milestoneauctions.com
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO – Milestone Auctions will ring in the New Year with its January 18 Premier Military Sale, which commands collector attention throughout its 705 lots. The 250-year timeline starts in the Eighteenth Century with coveted Revolutionary War items and progresses to the modern-war era. Significant sections are devoted to Civil War (Confederate and Union) and World War II. All forms of bidding, in-person and remote, will be available for this auction, which will be webcast live from Milestone’s gallery.

Leading the selection of World War II Axis artifacts is a hand-sewn imperial Japanese flag identified to the battleship Nagato. It was recovered from the Nagato captain’s quarters during the Occupation of Japan by US Navy veteran Neil Huntington, who served on the USS Texas. It bears the signatures of several American POWs who signed it aboard the USS Texas en route home to the states. Accompanied by Huntington’s photo album and documents pertaining to his military service, the lot will be offered with a $30/60,000 estimate.

Milestone will offer a US Naval grouping directly linked to Rear Admiral William Clayton Butler, Jr, recipient of the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism and distinguished service.” Both the jacket (with medal bar) and trousers are name-identified to the admiral. Accompanied by a framed array of medals, a photo of Admiral Butler, photocopies of his service records and a signed affidavit stating the medals are the ones he wore during the war, this lot has been assigned a $3/5,000 estimate.

The many collectors of wartime flight jackets will find a rare treasure in this sale: a World War II A-2-patched flight jacket for US 1st Combat Cargo Group, 1st Squadron, worn by aviator J.B. Bass. The US 1st CCG was well known for flying dangerous supply missions within Asian combat zones. Bass’s jacket is decorated with several China-Burma-India Theater leather insignias, including a large American Flag and blood chit on the back. It was made in 1936, suggesting Bass may have been an early member of the Army Air Corps ($3/5,000).

Vietnam veteran and US Army Lieutenant Colonel Danny Cecil Miller (1942-2017) was a highly decorated career officer who received a Purple Heart, four Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Service Medal and many other medals and commendations. A group lot associated with Miller includes a weapon known to have been the first choice for Americans in Vietnam combat roles: a heavy-duty, full-tang Randall fighting knife Model 14 4th. Along with its correct leather scabbard, the knife joins Miller’s dog tags and a photo of the colonel in uniform ($3/5,000).

Approximately one dozen lots represent rare and coveted Civil War Confederate weapons and other antiques. A rare and well-preserved original Confederate sword made by Thomas Leech, Memphis, Tenn., is of a type that was known as a “floating CS” staff and field officer’s sword. Its 30-inch blade is identified with the engraved name Lieut. W. B. Spencer 31st, Regt. Tenn. Vols. ($10/15,000).

Other Confederate entries of note include foot soldier, cavalry and “short” swords; a writing desk named to Captain Julius H Norton with assorted documents from the 4th Arkansas Cavalry ($2/4,000); a snare drum painted with the national flags of the Confederacy ($1/5,000); a key-wind engineer’s pocket watch ($500-$1,000); and a 2nd Mississippi identified snuff box ($300/500).

Milestone’s gallery is at 38198 Willoughby Parkway. The sale will be webcast live through Milestone’s website with a 10 am start time. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including live via the internet through Milestone’s own bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable. For information 440-527-8060 or www.milestoneauctions.com

Great sale featuring over 650 lots of military from the Revolutionary War to modern war. The sale includes swords, knives, daggers, katanas, named uniform grouping, helmets, other head gear, medals, insignia, photos, flags and much morel!
Full catalog & live bidding available thru www.milestoneauctions.com | LiveAuctioneers | Invaluable Phone bids & absentee bids call (440) 527-8060 MILESTONE AUCTIONS GALLERY 38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094 (440) 527-8060 | milestoneauctions@yahoo.com | Auctioneer: Miles King 20% Buyers Premium Online | 17% In-House, Phone, & Absentee | Credit Cards Accepted with 3% Charge
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