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."

[Shooter 2.5]

You must be thinking about his dog, Snoopy. :)

The pilot credited with downing Manfred Von Richtofen was Captain A. Roy Brown of No. 209 Squadron flying a Sopwith Camel

[Don W]

LOL! Thanks for the correction. Like I said, it's been a while since I read about the first world war.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Kinda reminds me of the scene in 1941 where John Belushi plays the P-40 Warhawk pilot Kilso, who suddenly finds a bullet hole in his canopy, and puts his finger through in curious exploration..

[Squantos]

Yep.....one of my favorite movies.......especially the Hollywoooooood screamin jab sub crewman.

Stay Safe !!

[LisaAnne]

Ping.

[185JHP]

The Discovery Channel had a show about that incident. It was a high-quality production and fun to watch. They made a plausible case of it. Red wasn't flying an F-15C.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Why was a tailgunner shooting a .38? One time in WWII, not likely to be repeated over the West Bank. Not impossible, just not likely.

[Riley]

There is also an incident which I have seen documented in one of Stephen Ambroses books, where an observation officer in a Piper Cub downed a Fiesler Storch with a .45 automatic- air-to-air; European Theater, 1944 or 45.

The Cub landed and captured the amazed German pilot, IIRC.

I'll go dig up the cite if anyone is interested.

[.38sw]

Thanks for the ping, Lisa. I'm late to the party, I guess. Interesting story, I'd like to know more. It's a pretty brief article.

[Postisson]

Just for the record - I do not have the time to dispute or discuss all the remarks made here about my father. Just think about the person who lifts the car when someone is trapped. God helps each day to do amazing things. Someone has it incorrect! My father was a cook and wanted to fly. They gave him a position in the belly ball turret as he was short and small. One day he got busted and had to go back to cook. He finally got back on flying duty and was a waste gunner that day. My father's gun ran out of amo and as he saw the Jerri coming at him. He had an illegal family gun (.38) that he always kept with him. He was Italian from Boston and many kids had guns. Weather he shot the fuel line, pilot or how he did it doesn't matter. The plane crashed after it was shot at by my father and my father lived. I have the original 16mm film in a can, that Clark filmed with still pictures in his album and a tape of my father and Clark together. I was also privileged to be with my dad when he was Private chef and friend of Frank Sinatra and I have met the Rat pack. Believe or not believe...It happened!

[Lurker]

Ping to Post 50!

And thanks for stopping in Postisson!

[Eaker]

Very cool!

Thanks!

[SJackson]

Thanks for the comment, and for “reviving” an old thread.

[Osage Orange]

BTW...I believe it was you that mentioned the CZ-52 as a nice inexpensive pistol.

Well I bot one....and love it.

Thanks for the advice........

[Osage Orange]

Very cool...!!

Thanks!!

[Tijeras_Slim]

I don’t know if that was me, but the CZ-52 is a bull strong handgun, glad you like it.

[Squantos]

Man that is just amazing.
Big grin generator for sure.

[Squantos]

Outstanding effort an history confirmed.

Thank you.

[Squantos]

Twas moi Sir.....

[hiredhand]

Amazing!