Military from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

This British officer of the Royal Navy saw much action in the Bourbon War (1778-83) and worked his way up the ranks to Rear Admiral. ALS, 2pp (single leaf), 8" X 12½" (lettersheet), n.p., 1 October 1810. Addressed to "The Hon'ble G.C. Berkeley / Admiral of the Blue and / Commander in chief of / HM Ships & Vessels."… Read more about this item

On February 24, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed "An Act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding thirty thousand men" during the Second Session of the Ninth Congress; the following year Van Rensselaer, the long-serving adjutant general of New York Militia (1801-09, 1810-11, 1813-21), who later served… Read more about this item

This major general of the French Revolution began as a dragoon in the King's Regiment in 1772 and by 1792 had risen through the ranks to become captain commanding the Quatre-Nations Company of Hunter Carabineers; in 1793 he was promoted to brevet major general in command of the 16th military division in Saint-Omer, though dismissed and then reinstated; by… Read more about this item

The American admiral -- infamous for his hot temper and arrogance -- headed the team that adapted nuclear energy to propel ships, beginning with the Nautilus in 1954, earning the moniker Father of the Atomic Submarine; he is generally credited with building up the U.S.'s nuclear fleet, hence his nickname "Father of the Nuclear Navy." TLS, 1p, 7" X… Read more about this item

Legendary U.S. Air Force fighter pilot of World War Two, the Korean War and Vietnam War best known as the first test pilot to break the sound barrier in 1947. Signed broadside, heavy stock 16½" X 11", Chicago, IL, n.y. [1985]. Very good. Mild overall wear. White card stock promotional sheet placed behind plexiglass in the door of every… Read more about this item

The U.S. Army's youngest major general when he attained that rank in 1925, this controversial officer was named Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army in 1930; during World War Two he became commander of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East and then Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific Area; he officially accepted Japan's surrender on September… Read more about this item

This American naval ace participated in many critical Pacific Ocean operations in World War Two, flying 89 missions and becoming the first carrier pilot double ace as well as the first Hellcat double ace. IPS, glossy 8" X 10," n.p., n.y. Fine. Modern reproduction of a WW2 closeup showing a smiling McWhorter in his cockpit with ten downed-plane decals,… Read more about this item

This attorney and Democratic politician served as Cleveland mayor (1912-15) but most importantly as President Woodrow Wilson's influential Secretary of War (1916-21) during the tumultuous World War One years. TDS (mimeograph), 6pp (rectos only), 8½" X 11", n.p., n.y. Very good. Lightly age toned; two original horizontal fold lines (not weakened); staple holes at upper left. Untitled typescript of… Read more about this item

This U.S. Air Force officer with the 385th Fighter Squadron earned the title "ace in a day" on December 27, 1944 when during the Battle of the Bulge he shot down five enemy airplanes over Germany; he is credited with 9.5 aerial victories in World War Two. PS, 10" X 8", n.p., n.y. Fine. Flat-finish small printed photograph of… Read more about this item

This Medal of Honor-winning U.S. Marine Corps officer downed 21 enemy planes in World War Two, making him the fourth ranking USMC fighter Ace. PS, 8" X 10", n.p., n.y. Fine. Handsome, high-quality glossy modern reproduction of a candid WW2-era shot of a smiling Walsh standing in front of his plane, inscribed and signed boldly in black fineline at… Read more about this item

No U.S.A.A.F. officer faced off with Luftwaffe aces more than this fighter pilot, with 1,000 combat hours and 500 operational sorties; he claimed 15.5 victories over Europe, mostly with the 4th Fighter Group of the 335th Sighter Squadron. Choice PS, heavy stock glossy 8" X 10", n.p., n.y. Fine. High-quality modern print of a WW2-era closeup showing Blakeslee in… Read more about this item

This U.S.A.A.F. officer downed 14 enemy aircraft over the Pacific in 1943-44 with the 7th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group; he appeared in three small film roles post-war, then became test pilot and personal pilot for Howard Hughes. PS, heavy stock glossy 8" X 10", n.p., n.y. Fine. High-quality modern print of a WW2-era scene showing a… Read more about this item

Not until 1983 was it proven and a decoration awarded to the only U.S.A.A.F. ace to down two German jet-powered aircraft in a single mission; he is credited with downing six enemy aircraft late in the war with the 375th Fighter Squadron of the 361st Fighter group, including the largest aircraft in the world, a plane that Hitler supposedly… Read more about this item

This Imperial Japanese Navy fighter ace is credited with shooting down 19 Allied aircraft, most notably that of "Pappy" Boyington of the Black Sheep Squadron in 1944; he later became a U.S. citizen and met and befriended Boyington. PS, heavy stock glossy 8" X 10", n.p., n.y. Fine. Handsome modern reproduction of a WW2-era informal full-length shot of Kawato… Read more about this item

This lieutenant colonel with the Luftwaffe's distinguished Night Fighter Wing was a night fighter ace and squadron commander who racked up 51 aerial victories during World War II, earning him the Knight's Cross. PS, 4" X 6", n.p., n.y. Fine. Modern glossy print of an informal WW2-era portrait of Greiner in uniform and wearing his Knight's cross, handsomely signed… Read more about this item

The U.S. Navy's fourth-ranking fighter ace of World War Two once downed six Japanese dive bombers within eight minutes, ending the war with 19 downed enemy planes and another 21 destroyed on the ground. PS, glossy heavy stock 10" X 8", n.p., n.y. Fine. Modern reproduction of a vintage shot showing a smiling Vraciu in full flight gear climbing… Read more about this item

His lengthy career lasted through the Korean War and Cold War into the Vietnam War, but during World War Two this fighter ace commanded the 355th Fighting Squadron and is credited with bringing down about 14 enemy aircraft. PS,10" X 8", n.p., n.y. Fine. Heavy, glossy, high-quality modern reproduction of an informal WW2-era shot showing a smiling Brueland in… Read more about this item

After serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, this Texan bomber pilot joined the 326th Bomb Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group in England in 1943 and soon after took part in a mission that earned him the Medal of Honor; shot down later, he became the only POW who had already earned the MOH; a character in the… Read more about this item

The top USAAF fighter ace in Europe during World War Two is credited with downing 35 enemy aircraft and was one of only seven who became an ace in two wars (Korea); he was also an accomplished commander of several fighter groups. Color IPS, glossy 8" X 10", n.p., n.y. Fine. Modern reproduction of a great pose of a… Read more about this item

This U.S. Marine Corps fighter ace is credited with 26 aerial victories, and his actions during the Guadalcanal Campaign earned him the Medal of Honor; postwar, he was elected Republican governor of South Dakota (1955-59), that state's youngest ever, and in 1959 he was named first commissioner of the American Football League, serving until 1966; he then pursued a… Read more about this item