On eBay Now...WWII USN Vice Admiral Allen Shinn Named Naval Aviator Uniform USS Forrestal For Sale
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WWII USN Vice Admiral Allen Shinn Named Naval Aviator Uniform USS Forrestal:
$1500.00
Exceptional and highly documented U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Allen M. Shinn named uniform grouping, consisting of his khaki service coat, matching trousers, and officer’s combination cap. Shinn was a career Naval Aviator, Naval Academy Class of 1932, World War II veteran, former commanding officer of USS Forrestal, and ultimately rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.All three pieces are directly attributable to Shinn. The coat and trousers retain typewritten Naval Uniform Shop, Brooklyn, New York labels named to him as Vice Admiral Allen M. Shinn, and the combination cap retains Shinn’s personal calling card inside the crown.Most importantly, this is not simply a named grouping — it is photographically matched to period images of Shinn wearing the same uniform.The bullion-embroidered admiral’s visor decoration on the cap matches the cap shown in the period photographs, and the sewn-on ribbon rack on the coat matches the ribbon arrangement visible in the photographs of Shinn wearing this uniform. Because the ribbons are sewn directly to the jacket rather than being a removable bar, this provides an especially compelling visual match. The combination of the cap bullion pattern, ribbon placement, uniform configuration, and direct naming makes this an unusually strong photographic attribution to the actual uniform depicted in the surviving images.The coat retains Shinn’s original two-star Admiral shoulder boards, both fine Hilborn-Hamburger manufactured examples. The cap features beautifully executed gold bullion Admiral’s “scrambled eggs” embroidery to the visor along with the appropriate U.S. Navy officer cap device. The Naval Aviator wings are clutch-back examples, and the ribbons remain sewn directly to the coat.Vice Admiral Allen M. Shinn, USNAllen M. Shinn graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1932 and was designated Naval Aviator No. 5265 on July 6, 1937.His early career included service aboard USS Tennessee, followed by flight training at Pensacola and assignment to Torpedo Squadron Three aboard USS Saratoga. He later served with Cruiser Scouting Squadron Five aboard USS Chicago and Patrol Squadron 43, later redesignated VP-81.During World War II, Shinn conducted Atlantic Neutrality Patrol and antisubmarine operations and commanded aircraft detachments operating from Panama, the Galápagos, and South America. He later commanded Headquarters Squadron, Fleet Air Wing Twelve and served on the staff of Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet.In October 1944 he assumed command of Carrier Air Group 89, later serving aboard USS Antietam. His wartime aviation service continued into the Pacific, where his air group operated with the Seventh Fleet during occupation operations in Korea, Manchuria, and North China.Shinn eventually accumulated approximately 5,250 flight hours and approximately 225 carrier/ship landings.His distinguished postwar career included:* Commanding Officer, Carrier Air Early Warning Squadron* Aircraft Program and Budget Officer, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
* Pacific Fleet Air Operations Officer
* Commanding Officer, USS Saipan
* Commandant of Midshipmen, U.S. Naval Academy
* Commanding Officer, USS Forrestal
* Commander, Carrier Division Fourteen
* Commander, Carrier Division Six
* Chief, Bureau of Weapons / Commander, Naval Air Systems Command
* Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet
* Commander, Eleventh Naval DistrictShinn was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1959 and to Vice Admiral in 1966. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal.ConditionThe grouping is in exceptionally good condition overall, especially considering its age.The only notable damage observed is:* One approximately pinhole-sized hole on the rear of the jacket
* One approximately 1/4-inch tear along the outside left trouser seam
* There may be a few additional extremely small scattered pinholes, but nothing observed is materially distracting from displayThe cap, coat, trousers, shoulder boards, ribbons, bullion embroidery, and insignia all present extremely well.This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a directly named, three-piece Vice Admiral and Naval Aviator uniform grouping with exceptionally strong photographic provenance. The combination of Naval Uniform Shop labels, Shinn’s personal calling card, Hilborn-Hamburger two-star shoulder boards, sewn-on ribbons, period photographs, and specific visual matches to both the cap and ribbon configuration make this far more than an attributed uniform — it is a documented, photo-matched surviving uniform worn by Vice Admiral Allen M. Shinn.A superb centerpiece for an advanced collection of U.S. Navy, Naval Aviation, WWII, flag officer, aircraft carrier, USS Forrestal, or Cold War militaria. Related Items:
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