Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Army Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross group of eleven representative of those awarded to ‘Air Ace’ Major Ray S. Wetmore, 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, killed in a flying accident, 14 February 1951

Army Distinguished Service Cross, unnamed, with oak leaf cluster, slot brooch; Silver Star, reverse machine engraved, ‘Ray S. Wetmore’, with oak leaf cluster, slot brooch; Distinguished Flying Cross, reverse machine engraved, ‘Capt. Ray Wetmore England 1944’, with five oak leaf clusters, slot brooch; Purple Heart, reverse machine engraved, ‘Ray Wetmore’, slot brooch; Air Medal, reverse machine engraved, ‘Capt. Ray Wetmore A.C.’, with twelve oak leaf clusters, slot brooch; Air Force Reserve Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, one silver star on ribbon; Victory Medal 1945; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, “LII’ cypher, with bronze emblem on ribbon; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-1945, generally extremely fine (11) £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Named and Attributable American Medal Groups.

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Note: the above medals are representative of those awarded to Major Ray Wetmore.

Raymond S. Wetmore was born in Kerman, California on 30 September 1923. He enlisted into the Army in November 1941, aged 18 years and eight months later entered pilot training. Commissioned in March 1943 he joined the 359th Fighter Group which was despatched to England in October that same year. Flying with the 370th Fighter Squadron, he scored the first of his victories in Spring 1944, flying a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The squadron later converted to P-51 Mustangs and by the end of the year Captain Wetmore had scored 14 kills, flying a Mustang called ‘Daddy’s Girl’. His final kill of the war was a rocket powered Me-163 Komet shot down on 15 March 1945. His final score came to 21.25 enemy aircraft destroyed, the highest score for the 359th Group and eighth best of all Americans in the European theatre of war.

As a Major, Wetmore commanded the 59th Fighter Squadron at Otis Air Force Base, Massachussetts. He was killed nearby when his F-86 Sabre crashed into woods at South Sandwich on 14 February 1951, aged 27 years.

With Officer’s Pay Date Card - this is the only item having a direct connection with Wetmore. With copied research and riband bar for display purposes.

This lot is sold as seen and is not subject to return. Please see saleroom notice on lot 280 for fuller details.