Aviation Art: The Lighter Side
In wartime, a customized Zippo was part of an airman's identity.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, September 07, 2011
«« Previous | 9 of 10
| Next »»
NASM
This World War II-era lighter is one of the few things in the Museum's collections relating to the Tuskegee Airmen. The lighter was donated by former Tuskegee airman and Museum curator Louis Purnell. "To have this," says Spencer, "a hand-etched piece, is pretty unique."
Purnell was a pilot with the 99th Fighter Squadron (the Army Air Corps' first all-black air unit). The squadron arrived in North Africa in 1943, and flew combat missions over both North Africa and Italy. To see Purnell's other donated item, a silk map of Italy, click here. Interested in learning more about Purnell? Listen to an oral history of his time as a curator in the Museum's Astronautics Department, here.
«« Previous | 9 of 10
| Next »»
| Tweet | Digg |
Comments (4)
The Cowboys were next to us Taipans at Camp BearCat...we had a few brawls with them...ahh...youthful testosterone
Posted by Snake on September 8,2011 | 02:46 PM
I still have mine & will not part with it. Prior to my shipping to 'Nam' on 5 May 69, I was assigned to the Returnee-Reassignment Center @ Ft.Lewis, Wa. We processed Vets returning from Nam, got them clean Class A uniforms to travel home in, saw to it they got a steak dinner, tickets for flights, buses etc. & transportation to Seatle. Once they showered, ate & boarded trans to Seatle-Tacoma Airport, we would kick through the discarded combat fatigues they had traveled from Nam in. Kicking through those uniforms is where I got my Zippo. I took that Zippo to 'Nam' for my tour, 69-70 with the 1st Aviation Brigade in 2 Corps & that well traveld Zippo did a second tour of 'Nam'!~I watrch for them @ estate sales & garage sales.
They are treasured items from a difficult time in our National history.
Posted by MARK on September 21,2011 | 08:01 PM
The Zippo with The Association's song title, "Never My Love" on the cap, and Snoopy on the body really got to me. These are two, very personal messages on probably the one item that soldier was allowed to personalize. It's my favorite Zippo in your collection.
Posted by Mark W. on September 22,2011 | 11:45 PM
I enjoyed the pictures.
Wish that I had known that Rebecca was collecting pictures of these.
My crew had a Zippo engraved for me before I left Vietnam from my first tour in 1967-68.
It is one of my most prized possessions.
If Rebecca is still collecting photos, I'd be glad to send one.
Posted by Steve Cover on November 4,2011 | 07:23 PM