Family Donates Historic Revolver to Museum (ME-109 downed with S&W .38)

Air Force News ^ | February 13, 2003 | Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch

[SJackson]

Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr.'s .38-claliber Smith and Wesson revolver and leather bomber jacket will soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Cortchie Welch)

LOS ANGELES -- A .38-caliber Smith and Wesson service revolver used by a World War II hero to shoot down a German attack plane will soon be on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The family of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Posti Sr., who died in December at age 89, donated the weapon to the museum during a tribute to the hero in Santa Monica on Feb. 4. His leather bomber jacket was also donated to the museum.

As a B-17 Flying Fortress tailgunner, Posti shot down a German Messerschmidt ME-109 with his revolver in 1942.

Officials disputed the achievement until a few days later when Capt. Clark Gable presented proof of the kill. Gable, who left his movie career to become an aerial photographer with the U.S. Army Air Force, took Posti into a darkroom and ran off a strip of movie film. The captain had operated a gun camera aboard another bomber during the mission and filmed the German plane in its death dive.

The kill was the only feat of its kind in World War II and has not been repeated since. The achievement helped the Boston native earn a Silver Star, the nation's third-highest decoration for heroism.

Donating the historical items to the museum was a long-time dream for Posti.

Posti "said on many occasions that he wanted the gun and jacket to be donated to the museum for everyone to see after he passed away, instead of being tucked away in the corner of the closet," said his wife, Irene. "In my heart, I know he's celebrating this occasion."

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

GREAT
I had not heard of this great feat.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Awesome wheelgunner ping!

[painter]

I would love to hear the story.Why did he have to use the revolver?

[Teacher317]

Oh, great, now the anti-gunners will say that we need to ban the .38 because it can take down jets like the terrorists!

I'm not even sure if this should get a sarcasm tag... hmmmm.

[dighton]

Oh, great, now the anti-gunners will say that we need to ban the .38 because it can take down jets like the terrorists!

It's not the gun, but the "Messerschmidt-killer" ammo.

[LibKill]

He must have hit the pilot. I can't see a .38 taking out the engine.

This is a unique feat, one which will probably never be duplicated.

[ClearCase_guy]

The manufacturer says that the new .50 revolver is a hunting pistol, but clearly it is designed to take down airliners.

[yarddog]

Great story but I have to admit that I don't believe it either. A .38 S&W (not a .38 special) shoots at about 600 fps and has less 200 foot pounds of energy.

I don't think it would even penetrate the eisenglass canopy much less anything else.

The reason I think it was a .38 S&W is that is what was most commonly issued. Even if it was a .38 special the energy is only a little highter.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The elephant hunter Karamojo Bell also flew for the RAF during WWI and had his machinegun jam after 1 shot in a dogfight. That single round hit the enemy pilot in the head, as was discovered when the crashed plane was examined. Bell did admit it was improbable luck. (Considering he used a .256 Mauser to kill elephants, his idea of luck is considerably larger than mine.)

[nina0113]

Where do you shoot a Messerschmidt with a 38 to take it down? Or did he shoot the pilot, and the plane crashed?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

S & W should find all data,
personal statements, film.
This would be a great true
advertisement.

[Teacher317]

LOL!

[Teacher317]

Nah, the new .50 is for urban gangs, given their abundant use of the .44 magnum and the .454 Casull in street crime.

What's that? Those weapons are almost never used in street crime? Huh. Go figure.

[WorkingClassFilth]

A Karamojo Bell bump!

He also inspired a raft of ex-pat Colonial imbeciles of the time to do themselves in trying to duplicate his rear-quartering shot and, therefore, should be commended for improving the gene pool as well.

[twntaipan]

What a testimony to a different era. Then, a famous movie star enlists to serve his nation and in so doing helps demonstrate a tremendous feat of daring and skill (and no small amount of luck, probably). Today, Hollywood's stars are more likely to be in the enemy's lair, criticizing the USA and her leaders, and doing everything to give aid and comfort to the (mass-murdering) enemy.

[JohnGalt]

The Germans claimed that the Red Barron, Manfred von Richthofen, was shot down by a Canadian infantry man shooting a rifle from the trenches. Of course, the motivation for this explanation is obvious, to keep Manfred undefeated in the air thus its considered a historically dubious explanation.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Darned lucky shot ping!

[shamusotoole]

"Where do you shoot a Messerschmidt with a 38 to take it down? Or did he shoot the pilot, and the plane crashed?"

Maybe canopy shards through the eyes, jugular or open mouth? Or maybe knocked out by the slug? Lots of ways.

Looks like it happened quickly or Gable wouldn't have been able to tie the event to the Sergeant. I would therefore doubt the plane had been crippled fatally.

[Constitution Day]

Great shootin' bump!