Beschreibung:

A collection of 9 Japanese Identification models. [Recovered from a cave in Okinawa, June? 1945]. A rare set of 9 wooden Japanese recognition models comprising: British cruisers HMS Norfolk, Glasgow and Achilles, and carrier HMS Illustrious, with American battleships USS California, Washington, Colorado and Idaho, with carrier USS Lexington, each built up of lightweight wood, with painted grey hulls, deck structures and turrets, plain varnished wooden decks, a few missing guns and turrets from the various models. Various sizes. Contained in the original wooden Japanese carrying box, 340 x 780 x 155mm; together with a small silver-print portrait of a US marine Dale Brown. Provenance; Dale Brown, US Marine (with his portrait at boot Camp). This box found in a cave on Okinawa; by descent. A very rare set of Japanese recognition models of US and British ships, said to have been discovered by Dale Brown in a cave on Okinawa, and brought back home to Oklahoma . This story fitting with the ships in the box, since all the American and two of the British ships were in the huge flotilla off the Japanese island of Okinawa in April 1945. In the past, other sets of Japanese models have been found by American GIs, hidden in caves, notably in Bonhams Maritime sale, June 17th, 2017, New York lots 97-99. The Battle of Okinawa April to July 1945 has been described as the largest sea-land battle in history. The combined fleets of the US and Allied nations were 1300 vessels, gathered around the landing zones on each side of the island, with aircraft carrier support. On April 1st they began a 7-day naval shelling of the landing zones, which together with over 3000 carrier plane bombing sorties, was intended to soften the enemy up, before the troop landings. Despite such preparatory shelling, the occupying Japanese Forces defended every inch of this Japanese island. During the Okinawa campaign, 36 allied ships were sunk, and 350 damaged, most by constant Kamikaze attacks out of Japan.