Pre-WWII New Testament Bible Named to Lt. William V. Pyle (1940)

Description

This original pocket-sized New Testament Bible was gifted to Lt. William V. Pyle, O-826767, before the war by his maternal grandmother Julia Waishes. View the Veteran's Information section for more details regarding Lt. Pyle's life and military service. The pages exhibit fore-edge painting in gold. The first of which is inscribed "Mrs. Chris Waishes, Lincoln City, Del., To, Billy, April, 1940, From, Grandmother Waishes".

Provenance

Personal Collection of Chelius Carter

Condition Report

This Bible is in fair condition. The text on the cover has faded, the binding is somewhat stiff, and some pages exhibit bookworm damage.

Veteran's Information

William Victor Pyle was born on November 10, 1921, in Wilmington, Delaware. During WWII, Pyle served as a fighter pilot in the 383rd Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, based at RAF Honington, England. The 383rd mainly flew escort missions defending Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. During the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, it patrolled the English Channel, and even earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions on December 27, 1944, defending a heavy bomber formation during a raid on Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Pyle survived the war and died on April 16, 1993, at the age of 71 and is buried at Pompano Beach Cemetery in Pompano Beach, Florida. Made available to the new owner below are his draft registration card, wartime photographs, one of which shows Pyle in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang, and his gravesite.

• Primary Records & Photographs
• Gravesite