Original U.S. WWII 458th Bomb Group Distinguished Flying Cross Recipient B-24 Pilot Captain Gilbert Schulze’s Uniform, Flight Helmet, & Extensive Document Grouping with Several Binders of Maps, Flight Logs, & Award Documents

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the outstanding and unprecedented uniform and ephemera group of Captain Gilbert E. Schulze, 754th Bombardment Squadron, 458th Bombardment Group. Schulze was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. Schulze flew his first mission on May 20th, 1943 and flew 31 combat missions with Crew 47. Towards the end of their tour, the crew flew a number of lead missions, finishing up on a trip to Munich, Germany on July 11, 1944.  Schulze was eventually promoted to Captain, and assigned as the Assistant Squadron Operations Officer in the 754th.  Part of his duties had him inspecting recently captured airfields in France before and during the Truckin’ Missions in September. He certainly led a fascinating career in the AAF.

Schuzle’s Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary achievement, while serving as pilots of B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe. Displaying great courage and skill, these officers have materially aided in the successful completion of each of these missions and their actions are an inspiring example for their fellow flyers. The courage, coolness, and exceptional skill displayed by these officers on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States.

He was awarded his DFC on August 4th, 1944, the day after he was appointed Assistant Squadron Operations Officer.

The first missions of Crew 47 were the diversionary feints towards Holland in support of the Eight Air Force’s “Big Week” at the end of February. The crew flew 11 missions in March, all on B-24H-15-FO 42-52335 Z5 R Admirable Little Character. The crew would consider this aircraft “their ship” until it was lost on April 25, 1944 with the crew of Lt John H. Combs.

This grouping contains not only Schulze’s uniform, flight helmet, and oxygen mask, and crush cap, but also includes some minor captured German souvenirs, a great deal of maps and two great posters he brought home. There are three enormous binders organized with original documents, original and reproduced photographs of Schulze and his crew, and so much more than we could ever put into words. There are countless documents and countless maps, and a ton of Headquarters XII Corps Reports of Operations. There is enough research material in this group for someone to stay busy for months, and we will not be able to record all of it.

This group includes:

- Uniform Jacket with Bullion 8th Air Force patch on left shoulder, Captain’s bars on each shoulder, and US & AAF Collar insignia. Over the left breast pocket is a set of Sterling pilot’s wings, and under this is a 3-place ribbon bar with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 OLC, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with 2 campaign stars. There is a tailor tag inside and a name tag on the interior pocket with the name SCHULZE crudely written. 
- Type A-11 Flight Helmet with Lt. G.E. Schulze written on the side with period paint, fantastic to have this named. Has attached Polaroid B-8 goggles. Size is X-Large and dated 1944.
- Crush Cap with wrap-around chinstrap, Size 7 ⅛. “The Flyweight” in interior crown
- A-14 Oxygen mask by Ohio Chemical Corp.
- Spare A-14 oxygen mask in original box.
- Captain’s Garrison cap with officer piping and 7 ¼ size.
- Captured German shoulder board with two rank pips and yellow piping.
- Pilot’s log books.
- Schulze’s original DFC and Air Medal award documents.
- Pilots’ Information File book, very rare book to find on its own. 
- Three Extensive binders with original documents, original and reproduced photographs of Schulze and his crew, and so much more than we could ever put into words. One binder is filled with all his training documents and files. 
- Schulze’s original 458th Bomb Group B-24 Familiarization file. Outstanding information with hand-written Crew 47 on cover. 
- Several more folders with original mission documents.
- War Document Envelopes filled with HQ XIII Corps documents and reports of operations, extremely rare on its own 
- Tons of Mission Data forms with real mission information, there is so much here!
- “The Jap Way - Cold-Blooded Murder” Propaganda Poster, rare to find on its own!
- Urgent Notice poster telling soldiers to keep information to themselves for espionage purposes.
- Framed reproduced photo of Schulze and crew in front of “Admirable Little Character” B-24. Back has information on the plane nad the crew. 9½ x 11½”.
- 458th Bombardment Group II Unit history, great info.  
- 146th Field Artillery Band photo taken 1940, not related.

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 15.5"
Hip: 22"
Front length: 31.5"