Details:

William Downey autographed First Day Cover honoring clergy in the Armed Forces, signed in black ink and additionally inscribed, “Chaplain (Colonel) William D. Downey” and “Chaplain of the 509th Composite Group.” Downey served as chaplain to the highly secretive 509th Composite Group, the Army Air Forces unit that carried out the atomic bomb missions against Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Fine condition.

Chaplain (Colonel) William D. Downey served as the chaplain of the 509th Composite Group during World War II, providing spiritual guidance and pastoral care to the officers and enlisted men assigned to the top-secret atomic bomb program. Stationed with the group during its training and deployment to Tinian Island in the Mariana Islands, Downey ministered to the crews who flew the historic missions against Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. As one of the few non-flight personnel closely associated with the unit throughout its atomic mission, Downey occupies a unique place in the history of the Manhattan Project and the dawn of the nuclear age.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11644 1416688-1