Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
Archive of SIX Autograph and Typed Letters Signed "Bill" by 1st Lt. William F. Prindle, 334th Fighter interceptor Squadron, 4th fighter Interceptor Group, Korea., June-November, 1951, to Miss Milly McCarty, London, Ohio. Flying an F-86E Sabrejet Fighter Bomber in Korea, Prindle provides a rare insider's look at the air war as it developed. His letters read in small part: "(June 24th)…We have lost 3 pilots in three days so it looks as if I will have a rough time of it. I don't intend to be shot down if I can help it, but I won't run from them either…we are the only 86 outfit in Korea. The F-86 are called Sabre jets…(August 7th)…I flew my first combat mission today. We flew up to Chinnamp which is about 125 miles into enemy area…We were at 35,000 feet looking for Russian MIG 15's, but they didn't come up to fight…(September 11)…Yesterday we had a hell of a fight with migs's. There were over 110 of them to about 32 of us…(October 22)…I now have 47 missions and one damaged mig to my credit so far. Last week we shot down nine and damaged five more in one mission…they are hard as hell to shoot down as at 675mph you don't have much time…(November 14)…I have 57 missions in now and will quit when I get 100 and come home. The Reds are getting better…we have lost 3 pilots and 3 planes in the last 3 weeks. I hope to hell we don't lose any more…(November 28)…there are more mig's than ever before up there…they started in on me but I saw them in time. He was very close and firing at me. I will never know how I got away from him…". Lt. Prindle's luck ran out shortly thereafter when, on December 15, 1951, Nikolai Vasilievich Sutyagin, the war's #1 Soviet ace, shot him down. A tough read, knowing what is to come. Very fine condition.
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