Col. F. Schwable Group, USMC, WWII, Second Highest Ranking POW of the Korean War

Colonel Frank Hawse Schwable A Marine Corps aviation group representing important historical events from WWII and the Korean War. Tortured into Fake Confession by Raymond Lech. Militaria From The Pacific War: Discovering Their Stories by J. Description of the photos in this listing. A page from one of two notebooks kept during his 1942 observation tour in England to study weapons, radar, and night fighting.

Identification doc (one of several varieties). Photos, sketches (official onion copies from the originals), and part of a German glider from his 1941-2 tour in N.

Documents, including medals citations, related documents, photographs, other documents. USMC oral history interview transcript in book form. (Audio CD of transcript included). 12.1954 Court of Inquiry diary - unpublished.

In addition to the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and two gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, Schwable was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Gold Stars, the Air Medal with two silver stars in lieu of ten awards, the Nicaraguan Cross of Valor, the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with base clasp, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, the World war II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. Legion of Merit citation (original carbon copy only) - September 11, 1943 to February 18, 1944.

There are three sets of documents that accompany the LOM citation carbon copy that I have titled below as Notes. " These documents explain the circumstances leading to the missing original citation (particularly "Notes #2 and 3).

The Legion of Merit citation (original carbon copy) is accompanied by a one-page letter dated 21 March 1946 to Schwable from Major General Mitchell (signed) describing his regret that Schwable was not awarded the Navy Cross (instead of the LOM). The Legion of Merit citation (original carbon copy) is accompanied by a two-page letter (also carbon copy) dated 26 March 1946 to General Mitchell from Schwable. Discussing the possibility of having the LOM changed to the Navy Cross. The only endorsement on that basic recommendation stated simply: Forwarded. Recommend approval of the Navy Cross.

It appears, however, that Schwable sent the original LOM citation rather than the original carbon copy. Also included with this letter to Mitchell is a three-page Enclosure, a carbon copy list of pertinent items that Schwable thought may help re-write the citation. The Legion of Merit citation (original carbon copy) is accompanied by a three-page letter dated 4 April 1946, and a three page Enclosure written to The Board Of Review for Decorations and Medals, Washington D. With recommendations for upgrading Schwable's LOM medal to a Navy Cross. Both of these documents are original carbon copies.

Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit - 6 March to 1 November 1944. Gold Star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit. 25 April to 8 July 1952.

Air Medals: all citations are present (two documents for each award). Air Medal: Solomon Islands Area from 14 September to 9 October 1943. Gold Star in lieu of second Air Medal from 11 October to 19 October 1943. Gold Star in lieu of a third Air Medal from 23 to 28 October 1943. Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Air Medal from 8 to 13 November 1943.

Gold Star in lieu of a fifth Air Medal from 14 to 21 November 1943. Gold Star in lieu of a sixth Air Medal from 22 to 29 November 1943. Gold Star in lieu of a seventh Air Medal from 14 to 23 December 1943. Gold Star in lieu of an eight Air Medal from 25 December 1943 to 6 January 1944.

Gold Star in lieu of an eight Air Medal from 7 to 14 January 1944. Gold Star in lieu of a tenth Air Medal from 6 to 14 February 1944.

Distinguished Flying Cross: one citation missing. The first Distinguished Flying Cross document is missing. Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Flying Cross 1-7 November 1943.

Gold Star in lieu of a third Distinguished Flying Cross 6-14 December 1943. Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Distinguished Flying Cross 15-30 January 1944. Nicaraguan Cross of Valor: citation and relevant documents present. Nicaraguan Cross of Valor (two documents) 27 August 1932.

Note: There are several other documents relating to this award. There is also paperwork for the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, signed A. #1 begins in 1930 he was a 2nd Lt.

#2 1932 - June 1933. #3 June 1933 - January 1935.

#4 February 1935 - Sept. #5 October 1936 - July 1938. #6 August 1936 - September 1940. #7 October 1940 - April 1946. #8 - Missing and presumed captured, or possibly submitted as evidence during his Court of Inquiry.

#9 - Note: His last log is not numbered. It begins November 1953 and ends in June 1959. Schwable's uniform, ribbons, etc. As pictured, and named service cap.

Also included is his "Ike Jacket" - not pictured. Notebooks from his 1941-42 Observation tour of North Africa and England. In November 1941, Schwable was sent to North Africa and England as a Marine Corps observer. Included in the sale are two notebooks documenting this period.

In England he attended the Fighter Director school at RAF Stanmore Park; was as an observer with the Royal Air Force night fighter squadron at RAF Coltishall; and was briefed on England's top secret Mark 4 radar, which is mentioned in his notebooks (with drawings). In 1943 his squadron, VMF(N)-531, served in the Solomon Islands where, as squadron commander, he registered four night fighter kills before being recalled for other duty. Glider Section, sketches, and photographs. Schwable photographed and made detailed drawings of a German Gotha GO 242 glider while on his 1941-2 North African desert tour. He would later recall in his official USMC biography, In one of my trips in the desert I came across some German gliders, and that was before our military was interested in gliders. I actually have the Iron Cross that was painted on the side of one. The glider was in good condition.

As a matter of fact, it must have landed and just been abandoned there. And they were darn good, efficient designs.

That's one bit of information that I picked up an brought back to the States. " The glider section measures approximately 16" x 21.5 and is framed.

Also included is an audio CD of the interview, although the sound is somewhat faint. Moving up, there is a file of letters from Americans offering their support to Schwable during his Court of Inquiry ordeal. Then there is a transcript of a Chinese propaganda broadcast featuring Schwable and his co-pilot, Major Bley; followed by a folder with letters of inquiry from publishers and others who communicated with Schwable after his trial. Next: an onion skin transcript of his 1941-2 warfare operations tour to North Africa and England (a very interesting read). Then: a squad log for Night Fighter Squadron VMF(N)-531 - November'42 - April'43.

These are followed by clear document holder files, several with documents relating to his medals. Next: a document written by him describing is ordeal as a POW of the Chinese in North Korea, and a file with photographs from early in his career until his release in Operation Big Switch in 1953.

There is also a photographic copy of Schwable's pencil sketch depicting the 4 x 7 foot "lean-to" inside which he was held as a prisoner, isolated from all but his interrogator for many, many months (the location of the original sketch is currently unknown). There is also a photograph of his mother holding this same reproduction of his drawing, taken by a news reporter during his trial (his lean-to is depicted in the foreground of the sketch). Schwable's unpublished diary covers the days of his famous Court of Inquiry that took place after his 1953 release in Operation Big Switch. His case was a media sensation and stories about his capture, torture, and subsequent trial appeared in newspapers world wide, including the NY Times, Time, Life, and other publications. His wife Beverly amassed a large collection of these news clippings and magazine stories which are included in the sale (some with notations and personal comments). Among the twelve opinions and three recommendations that the court issued were that Schwables confession resulted from menticide and that no disciplinary action be taken against him. General Shepherd, nevertheless, administratively punished Schwable, preventing him from commanding again and effectively ending his career. Perhaps the greatest outcome of Schwables case was the subsequent adoption of the Armed Forces Code of Conduct, a standardized set of rules for all members of the armed forces that governs behavior in captivity. Note: Raymond Lech wrote a book about this period of Schwable's career titled, Tortured Into Fake Confession: The Dishonoring of Korean War Prisoner Col.

Flight goggles and case, photos, telegrams related to his capture in Korea and post-war trial including one from Joost Meerloo who testified on his behalf and who coined the term "menticide, " his typed onion skin report about his internment and torture as a POW, a small diary kept during the Court of Inquiry (1954 and unpublished). Except for the framed section of the German Gotha GO 242 glider iron cross, the entire group squeezes into a large officers size footlocker which is included (with key). This trunk is very heavy and requires two men to move it. It lists Schwable's artifacts for sale. There is also a bill of sale to the second owner dated October 1, 2001, and the third owner (myself) on 18 November 2015 - documenting an unbroken chain of ownership.

Schwable Group, USMC, WWII, Second Highest Ranking POW of the Korean War" is in sale since Friday, January 1, 2021. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Other US WWII Original Items". The seller is "pollard5583" and is located in Blue Earth, Minnesota. This item can't be shipped, the buyer must pick up the item.