Historic World War II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Co. Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol Documented as Issued to the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and Reported Lost in Action During the Battle of the Philippine Sea

A truly compelling World War II collector’s pistol, this 1943 Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 combines scarce U.S. contract production, documented USS Bunker Hill provenance, and direct association with the Battle of the Philippine Sea, one of the most significant carrier battles of the Pacific War.

• Manufactured in 1943 by Union Switch & Signal Co. under U.S. military contract
• Desirable U.S. Model 1911A1 pistol from the limited Union Switch & Signal production run
• One of only 55,000 Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 pistols produced, all delivered during 1943 while World War II was at its height
• Documented as having been issued to the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
• Documented as lost in action at the Battle of the Philippine Sea
• According to the table on page 144 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1920-1945” by Meadows, this pistol was one of 4,537 delivered in April 1943
• Left side of slide is marked with:
  • “USS” monogram
  • “U.S. & S. CO./SWISSVALE, PA. U.S.A.”
• Left side of frame bears Robert Downie’s “R.C.D.” inspection initials
• Right side of frame has the standard U.S. government nomenclature in the distinctive Union Switch & Signal style
• Correct full-blue barrel, marked:
  • “HS” on the right side of the lug
  • “P” on the left side of the lug
• Fitted with correct-style military features, including:
  • Blade front sight and notch rear sight
  • Thin checkered hammer
  • Short stamped trigger
  • Long grip safety
  • Arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop
• Reinforced checkered grips:
  • Left grip panel is Keyes Fibre
  • Right grip panel is numbered “5564062”
• Includes an “S” marked full-blue magazine
• Includes a U.S. Arms Research letter from Charles W. Pate documenting the pistol’s archival history
• The Pate letter states that this pistol is listed by serial number in the National Archives as being reported lost by the commanding officer of the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on 13 September 1944
• The letter further notes that this pistol appears on a 6 July 1944 report among seven .45 automatic pistols reported missing
• The documents list these pistols as lost by personnel of air crews that made water landings while returning from a strike against the enemy on 20 June 1944
• The 20 June 1944 loss aligns with the second day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, famously known as “the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”
• During this successful American attack, most returning U.S. aircraft ran low on fuel:
  • 80 aircraft were forced to ditch in the sea
  • Approximately three-quarters of the crews were recovered
• Charles W. Pate notes that, in his experience, it is not unusual for weapons reported as lost to later survive
• Pate explains this was likely because downed air crews were often rescued by ships other than the ships to which they were assigned
• During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the USS Bunker Hill suffered casualties from the explosion of a Japanese aerial bomb
• During the “Turkey Shoot,” the Japanese fleet air arm was essentially destroyed and never recovered
• Also included is a hardcover informational book containing:
  • A copy of the U.S. Arms Research letter
  • After action reports
  • Photographs related to the pistol and the USS Bunker Hill
• The specific flight crewman to whom this pistol was issued is unknown
• The after action report for 20 June 1944 lists the following USS Bunker Hill aircraft losses as possible candidates for the air crewman issued this pistol:
  • One F6F Hellcat of VF-8 Squadron
  • Six TBF-1 Avengers of VT-8 Squadron
  • Twelve SBD-3 Dauntless aircraft of VB-8 Squadron

With scarce Union Switch & Signal manufacture, National Archives documentation, USS Bunker Hill association, and a direct connection to one of the defining naval air battles of World War II, this 1911A1 stands out as a historically significant and highly desirable U.S. martial arms collectible.