Rick T L Offtrack

[Cosine26]

Hi Rick,
A little off track but you seem to be up to date on provenance. I have a Colt Official Police revolver that I purchased new in 1951. I flew 50 missions in the B-26’s with the 37th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Wing (L/NI) during the Korean War and carried this revolver on all 50 missions over North Korea. In my orders by the 17th Bomb Wing, APO 970 dated 24 July 1953; I am authorized to carry this revolver by type and serial number on my return to the ZI (Zone of Interior – USA). Do you believe that this is enough provenance to show that the revolver served in the Korean War?
Thanks,
VR
C.O.

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

Hoo, boy, really hard to tell. It would be a lot more clear if you had orders clearing you to wear the pistol while in Korea. It seems to me that all they prove is that you could where it when you returned. On the other hand, one could draw the conclusion that you already had the pistol (in Korea) from the orders. The best I could say is a "definite maybe".

Wish I could be more sure. If you go to sell it or display it, I would certainly hold on to those orders. They certainly provide more proof than if you just said you carried the pistol in Korea.

[Cosine26]

Hi
Thanks for the reply. Many of us carried our own pistols or revolvers, but we never asked if we could bring them into Korea. Only noted when we took them out. Had to clear customs, I guess. Probably better provenance than nothing at all. A lot simpler in those days.
VR
C.O.