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When they arrived, they found Yamamoto's sword and Admiral rank insignia (shoulder bars) missing. They have never been located to this day.
Yamamoto had been thrown clear of the plane's wreckage, his white-gloved hand grasping the hilt of his katana sword, his body still upright in his seat under a tree.
There seems to be a contradiction here - did he have his sword or not?
I'm not surprised that he removed his rank insignia if he had the opportunity - I can't imagine that the locals would treat him too well, and ritual cannibalism was still routinely practiced. As for his katana, that may have given him away as high-ranking as well, so may have been similarly disposed of.
With all works of art the question is do you like the picture yourself. Without the piece of metal would you be happy at the price and proud to hang it on the wall. Do you consider the metal increases the pictures value or that the painting increases the metals value. For my money I believe you can buy an original painting or sketch for the same price with absolute certainty of provenance done by Winston Churchill who was a prolific artist but not of course notorious.This is from Ron Cole website on how he got the relics. Thoughts please. DP
Aviation Art of Ron Cole & Cole's Aircraft: Yamamoto's Aircraft Wreck: History, Art, and Relics by Ron Cole
There seems to be a contradiction here - did he have his sword or not?
I'm not surprised that he removed his rank insignia if he had the opportunity - I can't imagine that the locals would treat him too well, and ritual cannibalism was still routinely practiced. As for his katana, that may have given him away as high-ranking as well, so may have been similarly disposed of.
I want to have a piece of history so I can respect its history. Not for profit later at all. DaiWith all works of art the question is do you like the picture yourself. Without the piece of metal would you be happy at the price and proud to hang it on the wall. Do you consider the metal increases the pictures value or that the painting increases the metals value. For my money I believe you can buy an original painting or sketch for the same price with absolute certainty of provenance done by Winston Churchill who was a prolific artist but not of course notorious.
Winston Churchill's paintings auctioned from Essex collection
The piece of history is just a piece of metal, the picture and the accompanying "blurb" add false authenticity to a piece of metal in my opinion.I want to have a piece of history so I can respect its history. Not for profit later at all. Dai
If you have a genuine WW2 "Betty" then by accompanying each small piece of it with a picture and charging $100,000 would make it among the most valuable planes in the world.Picture looks no better than a screen grab from Il-2 if i am being honest, i am no fan of this "artist" i will admit
Through pilot "gossip" the story finally leaked
If you have a genuine WW2 "Betty" then by accompanying each small piece of it with a picture and charging $100,000 would make it among the most valuable planes in the world.Picture looks no better than a screen grab from Il-2 if i am being honest, i am no fan of this "artist" i will admit
.
The US initially tried its best to hush up the entire mission afraid that the Japanese would realize that their Naval code had been broken. Through pilot "gossip" the story finally leaked
There seems to be a contradiction here - did he have his sword or not?
Where a death is involved I believe any relics should be the property of relatives and museums.
Picture looks no better than a screen grab from Il-2 if i am being honest, i am no fan of this "artist" i will admit
You're taking your life into your hands if you try to even visit crash sites in PNG now. Yamamoto's plane may be different, but I'm fairly sure you'd have to get permission from everyone you came across. Even then there's no guarantee that you won't come across someone who doesn't want you there and takes matters into his own hands.
Visiting other sites (even with government permission) is nearly impossible. I have friends who spent a few nights in PNG jail because they wanted to just visit sites and film. They had permission from one government department, but were told they didn't need any more permissions. Guess the advice they got was wrong, and they didn't pay the right bribes.
I think if a dealer/seller is selling such important artifacts he/she would have secured some proof that it actually is the real thing don't you think? DP
He also has a picture Steve.You can't assume that. Provenance is everything for this sort of artefact, as it is for any antique or artwork. If the seller had such provenance you never asked for the proof of it and now you don't have it.
You asked for honest opinions. Mine is that you have a piece of metal that may be from a Japanese aircraft, may be from Yamamoto's aircraft, but you can't prove it. It's just a piece of metal, worth the same as a piece from any scrapyard without that provenance.
Cheers
Steve
I think if a dealer/seller is selling such important artifacts he/she would have secured some proof that it actually is the real thing don't you think? DP