Pics Unique And Mysterious

[echo1]

Hi Guys,
I need some advice on getting data on a shotgun.
It's 1945 Winchester Model 12 Trap, presented to Greg "Pappy" Boyington, with a medallion of the presentation date and location in the butt stock. If liget, it's looking like it was a gift from the Okanogan community, given to him as a special guest of honor, or parade grand Marshall, upon his return to the states. I'd like to find out if it was a one of gift. It's very nice with no handling damage. The butt has a raised cheek piece, like a Monty Carlo.

The gun was acquired in the '80s from an estate sale in Pocatello. No mention of Boyington was made by the seller in his 20s. We we hoping to find some one who would have had some recollection of the presentation. A photo would be out of the park. But it's been a long while, and the recent fires can't have helped.

I've found a couple news articles from UWS microfiche files.

On September 17th Boyington arrived in Seattle and was the key note speaker at some event.
He then went to Okanogan on the 24th of September, where he was the guest of honor, and a parade was given on his behalf, Lt. Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. 18000 attended parade, the largest event to date. And more than 4 times the population of Okanogan. I'm PRESUMING that the shotgun was given at the evening's banquet. We're in the process of trying to contact surviving relatives or event organizers for any photos, documents or recollections. Thanks for any help (sorry for the weird presentation, something happened when I cut & pasted it) PAX

 

[Malibu]

If you can establish the history and provenance of that very nice piece, that will give it more value for sure.

 

[echo1]

If you can establish the history and provenance of that very nice piece, that will give it more value for sure.

Very true but the question of value hasn't been a concern. The weapon is in the possession of a pilot (the lady fueling up her yellow ship in the 2nd pict), from a longline of aviation enthusiasts some of which knew Boyington. The gun was brought to me at the strip I worked at after we shut down, talked about it while we BBQd some trout. The paper which may have recorded the parade and possible presentation, long gone and records destroyed in a fire, and film might as well be hieroglyphics. The window narrows with each passing day. I've been halfway researching for 7 years.
Plane rides , tall tales and embellishments at the end of a days ag run. Somethings money has no value. PAX

 

[Malibu]

Shotgun aside, I really like the aviation element of all this. My father had an aircraft rental business many moons ago, and owned a bunch of airplanes. I have pictures of my mother sitting on the wing of a twin Beachcraft from before I was born, taken in Monument Valley back when a pilot could safely land on the highway and taxi over to the local gas station for fuel, being that Goulding’s had av gas at the time just for that. They flew all over the US that way, taking thousands of pictures with his 4X5” film camera; I still have many of those surviving photos, negatives, and slides.
I could go on, but don’t want a ban for thread drifting…..

 

[BigBossman]

Have you tried the Winchester Collectors forum? How about calling the Cody Museum - they might have records of presentation guns. There are a ton of knowledgeable folks on the Winchester forum, and there are several members that are doing surveys on various model numbers.

Museum of the West research page link:

Archives

The Archon database at the McCracken Research Library displays a complete list of the Library’s 418 manuscript collections, all searchable by keyword

centerofthewest.org

 

[echo1]

Malibu, it's as you say, the shotgun is secondary to the whole story. Boyington was from Coeur d'Alene and the strip there is named Boyington Field. The museum shut down long ago. Everybody involved with the research is pretty sure it's legit but tough to nail down. It's not like anybody has tried to say it was his and make some bank over it. In 2019 I was the first person to see it since 1980. The lady that owns it also has an autographed copy of Boyington and the "Black Sheep" squadron standing & sitting around an F4U, well know picture. Somewhere there's a photo of the shotgun being handed to him at a banquet or event. It would have been a huge deal back then and the presenters would have been very enthusiastic, he was from that part of the country.
BB, Cody and Winchester have no record of the gun being presented or worked on. The window of timing when Boyington was to tour was very narrow, from when he arrived in Seattle after POW release, to when he went on the tour cycle. Most likely, when the local county guys found out his route, they had a smith or engraver do the work on the fly for the "hometown" hero.
One of the youngsters I worked with in the '80s, in crop dusting, bunked with Boyington when he spoke at Embryriddle, and when I was in video production, I interviewed him at Madera in '87. He was kinda stand-offish until I started inquiring about his time with the AVG in P40 Flying Tigers. I named dropped a few pilots I knew he had flown with, and he loosened up a bit. I also got to speak with the last Naval WWII ace and the last Japanese ace. The 3 of them were having book signings. PAX

 

[Malibu]

Every time I visit North Idaho, I like to go here:

Home

The Idaho Military History Museum has been established for the purpose of “preservation, display and interpretation of military history and artifacts that have a geographical tie to the history of the people and state of Idaho.” The Idaho Military History Museum was opened in 1995 by the Idaho...

museum.mil.idaho.gov

It is a nice setup, and as I recall he is represented there. Anyone into aviation would like it.
Also of note, I have seen a good number of Thompson sub-machine guns all over the free state of Idaho, reminding me of what a great place that state is.

 

[echo1]

At the end of my second season, I airport bummed my way back to Kali, 1K miles detour, an extra week. Hit some of the best aviation collections on the west coast. Eriksson, Legacy, Hill AFB, Warhawk, Bird Air & Science, Boeing, Paul Allen's Air & Amor. Earlier that March I hit up The Planes of Fame while in Fontana for NASCAR, the week the single seat flying wing augured in. The August before that Pima, PAX

 

[The Gleam]

There are dozens of references to the large homecoming celebration held for him in late September 1945 in his family hometown that year in Okanogan, which I'm sure you're quite aware.

There's also a photo online with him holding a rifle and talking with his son, also dated for 1945.

So while it's unlikely you might find any photos on the internet, somewhere, someone has a photo of him receiving that gun at a ceremony - likely in a personal family photo album, or archives at a local library, newspaper, VFW Hall, Elks Lodge, church, on the wall at a restaurant, bar, barber-shop, within the confines of Okanogan.

You may have to do some in-person associative thinking investigation and trapsing around Okanogan to find that documentation and/or photos, but I have no doubts it's out there.

The presentation of that gun would have been at least a significant event or dinner for those inbolved, so much so there would have been at least several pictures taken of him receiving it, showing it off to a camera, posing with the people that gave it to him, local press capture, etc.

It's a fascinating find, thanks for sharing. It's a great history lesson starter on Boyington, if nothing else.

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[echo1]

There are dozens of references to the large homecoming celebration held for him in late September 1945 in his family hometown that year in Okanogan, which I'm sure you're quite aware.

There's also a photo online with him holding a rifle and talking with his son, also dated for 1945.

So while it's unlikely you might find any photos on the internet, somewhere, someone has a photo of him receiving that gun at a ceremony - likely in a personal family photo album, or archives at a local library, newspaper, VFW Hall, Elks Lodge, church, on the wall at a restaurant, bar, barber-shop, within the confines of Okanogan.

You may have to do some in-person associative thinking investigation and trapsing around Okanogan to find that documentation and/or photos, but I have no doubts it's out there.

The presentation of that gun would have been at least a significant event or dinner for those inbolved, so much so there would have been at least several pictures taken of him receiving it, showing it off to a camera, posing with the people that gave it to him, local press capture, etc.

It's a fascinating find, thanks for sharing. It's a great history lesson starter on Boyington, if nothing else.

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G Man,
All that you say, and reference is quite true and plausible but there have occurred a few drastic events it that part of the country. In 2019(?) there was a huge fire that devastated much of the town and surrounding homes, the local paper folded in '75, the Okanogan historical society is virtually defunct, online only, with many of their records destroyed and above all else many folks have passed. Additionally, it's my understanding Boyington became estranged from his immediate family later in his life. Somebody's scrapbook has/had a photo of it being handed to him I'm certain. No other such firearm has surface in all these decades making claims to be Boyington's. I'm first on the list to get it if it ever becomes available. If it were mine the hunt would be on in a serious manner. PAX

 

[The Gleam]

G Man,
All that you say, and reference is quite true and plausible but there have occurred a few drastic events it that part of the country. In 2019(?) there was a huge fire that devastated much of the town and surrounding homes, the local paper folded in '75, the Okanogan historical society is virtually defunct, online only, with many of their records destroyed and above all else many folks have passed. Additionally, it's my understanding Boyington became estranged from his immediate family later in his life. Somebody's scrapbook has/had a photo of it being handed to him I'm certain. No other such firearm has surface in all these decades making claims to be Boyington's. I'm first on the list to get it if it ever becomes available. If it were mine the hunt would be on in a serious manner. PAX

That's devastating news about Okanogan. As for his estrangement from his family, I read about that too. Yet there's got to be something, as there is so much other documentation on his life and times. I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for something as I often run into obscure collections of military memorabilia, keepsakes, and old photos both personal and private.

Here's the photo I saw online, which you likely already know about. It's quite grainy, but if I had to guess, the thick middle shape of the stock, bolt-action barrel, and 'eared' front site makes me think it's a duffle-cut or pseudo-sporterized 1917 Enfield or Arisaka Type 99?

==========================​

-https://acesofww2.com/USA/aces/boyington/-

22 September 1945 - One of the most colorful fliers of the war, Lt. Col. Gregory (Pappy) Boyington of the Marines, who was a Jap prisoner, is back and having a reunion in Brewster, Wash. He is seen here with his son, Greg, jr. who is pointing something out to his Pappy on a rifle — AcmeTelephoto.​

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I also came across this link with a PDF of itemized archives documenting "Historical Records of Washington State: Records and Papers held at Repositories" where page 134 of the PDF shows this record in their files of a 'newspaper clipping scrapbook'

-https://www2.sos.wa.gov/_assets/archives/wasrab.pdf-


6045900025
Daughters of the Pioneers, Olympia Chapter - WORLD WAR II (SCRAPBOOK)
Date: Unknown
Volume: 1 volume
Newspaper clipping scrapbook about Okanogan County residents serving in the armed forces during World War II, emphasizing the exploits of Major Gregory Pappy Boyington, noted Army Air Corps flyer in the China and Pacific theaters, whose parents lived in Okanogan, Washington.


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[echo1]

I too have dug around some archival material and turned over the info to the guns owner but she never followed up. If it ends up mine SOON, I'll get after it. I have a cousin that lives in that part of the country that's a bloodhound for research. PAX

 

[DRH50BMG]

I think your date for the event is off by a few days. It looks like it was the 27th and not the 24th.

Chronicles of the Okanogan

A look at the history of Okanogan County and the city of Omak as told by reporters and editors of The Chronicle newspaper. The book reflects the newspaper's first 100 years, and the city of Omak's first 99 years.

issuu.com

This article did not mention a shotgun. Good luck, it is a cool gun.