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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Propeller Fragment
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Propeller Fragment

Artifact IDMO 1945.8.2
Object Type Propeller, Aircraft
Maker
Dateca. 1944
Mediumpaint on metal, metal, wood
Dimensionsoverall (propeller tip) H 22 1/2 in x W 15 in (57.2 cm x 38.1 cm )

Physical DescriptionA bullet-scarred propeller tip from a Japanese airplane. Inscribed on the face of the propeller tip: To President / Franklin D. Roosevelt / Commander in Chief / of Our Armed Forces / AMERICA'S / SCHOOL CHILDREN / are proud / to present / 13,500 PLANES /44,700 JEEPS / and other war equipment to the value of / $510,000,000 / through the purchase of War Bonds / during the school year ending June 1944. It is mounted vertically on a wood base to which is attached a metal plaque inscribed: ENGRAVED ON A FRAGMENT OF THE PROPELLER OF / A JAPANESE PLANE SHOT DOWN BY A U.S. PILOT.
Historical NoteOn June 29, 1944, Donald Beck of McClean, Virginia—representing school children across the nation—gave FDR this bullet-scarred propeller tip from a Japanese warplane shot down by an American pilot. An inscription recalls the efforts of children who purchased war bonds and stamps. It is on display in the MOBILIZING THE PEOPLE exhibit in the Museum’s WORLD WAR II gallery.”
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 25, 1943. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
On view
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