A substantial collection of uniforms, insignia, gear, etc. all from the estate of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles M. Melhorn. Melhorn would survive his PT boat's destruction by Japanese destroyers in December, 1942, then receive pilot training and later lead torpedo bombers in the successful sinking of the battleship HARUNA at Kure on July 28, 1945 for which he would be awarded the Navy Cross. Included in this impressive lot is: Melhorn's lightly-lined M-41 field jacket, repurposed by Melhorn for use aboard PT-44 (probably immediately after commissioning), with a 3 in. diameter embroidered PT boat service patch sewn to the left breast; khaki twill trousers with web belt, label within indicating manufacture for 'Naval Clothing Depot'; regulation swim trunks (bearing the name of another man within); Navy M15 binoculars with green filters, optics very good; lieutenant's shoulder boards (2), a 'Tulagi' cloth pennant; sterling silver hat badge, several sets of lieutenant's bars; gold uniform buttons; a copy of 'The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet', 1941, 64pp. 8vo., photo illustrated throughout, which Melhorn updated by crossing-out in red the names of ships lost to enemy action; and an original 8 x 10 in. photo of Melhorn aboard the carrier COWPENS. . Overall very good. These historic relics originate from Melhorn's untouched footlocker. Melhorn originally served as an officer aboard PT-44 in the Solomons. He and a fellow PT-44 crewman were plucked from the water by PT-109, president John F. Kennedy's future command, following his ship's destruction by Japanese destroyers on Dec. 12, 1942. In fact, two of the men lost in the destruction of PT-44 had transferred to that vessel from PT-109 only a few weeks earlier. Melhorn later became a Navy aviator serving aboard the carrier USS COWPENS. Her planes pounded Tokyo, Kure, and other cities of Hokkaido and Honshu until August 15. COWPENS was the first American carrier to enter Tokyo Harbor. She remained off Tokyo Bay until the occupation landings began on August 30, and men from the COWPENS were the first Americans to set foot on the Japanese mainland. Melhorn's naval aviator uniform and accessories are listed elsewhere in this sale.