US War trophy Webley MkV with paperwork

This Webley No.1 MkV .455 caliber revolver is interesting in that it came with paperwork.

Attachment 100562

The trophy paperwork was dated October 13, 1945 England (130th Reinforcement Battalion Army Air force location) and PFC Ankney was able to register his pistol in Michigan on November 16, 1945. His speedy return to the US indicates he must have had high points (a number of combat missions) to return home so quickly. He died in 2008 and was buried at the National Cemetery in Holly Michigan.

How did he get the revolver? German capture of the pistol at Dunkirk and recovered by the allies? It was acquired officially so I don't think he won it in a poker game or stole it. Fliers don't normally have access to captured arms. Was it like what happened in Japan were captured guns were brought in and anybody could bring back one? Any way further research is warranted.

Two things. First, it is unlikely the gentleman was aircrew since aircrew were NCOs or commissioned officers. Second, the linked list of USAAF stations tells us that the paperwork was done in the UK.

I'll leave you to arrive at your own conclusions regarding how, where and when the weapon was acquired.

Link: http://www.gitrace.org/stationnumbers.html

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Originally Posted by Paul S.

First, it is unlikely the gentleman was aircrew since aircrew were NCOs or commissioned officers.

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Not just NCOs but Sgts... The date on the paper is after cessation of hostilities, many men were demobbed immediately. Like in hours or days. I'd say he was just shipped home after war's end.

Sounds more like it's back to the poker game winnings or just a trade deal to procure. No harm or foul anyway, he brought it back and it was his...

Just a thought. The documents that you have with the pistol, gives you his name and army number. With that, you may be able to look up his service records somewhere amongst the government archives. Just a cursory look through Ancestry.com revealed that he was born in 1911, enlisted in April 1942, died in 2008, and had a primary school education.

Nice piece, looks to be in good condition too. With its official documentation it's certainly a very collectable piece.

It doesn't have any civilian proof marks or sold out of service markings, so I would guess procured (won?)from a British officer, probably a piece carried originally in WW1.

I had a co-worker who was in the Canadian merchant marine in WWII. He showed me the Canadian registration papers for a German pistol he had at home and registered post war. It stated "obtained from drunken Canadian solider, Halifax NS".

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Originally Posted by Tom in N.J.

obtained from drunken Canadian solider, Halifax NS

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Been there several times and that would be quite possible...