Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

This exceptional, museum-grade artifact from World War II is an original press and combat operations report, printed on October 17, 1943, aboard the USS Delta (AK-29) while the vessel was actively engaged in military operations in the Mediterranean Theater, specifically supporting campaigns in North Africa and Italy. This multi-page document, produced aboard the U.S. Navy ship, served as an essential source of information for the ship’s officers and sailors, providing critical updates on combat operations unfolding across both the European and Pacific Theaters. Unlike public news reports, these internal military documents contained confidential, restricted, and in some cases, classified intelligence that offered deeper insight into ongoing battles, strategic movements, and enemy engagements. The reports were crucial for maintaining situational awareness and preparing naval personnel for potential action, often including firsthand battlefield reports and high-level assessments from Allied command centers.

This particular USS Delta combat press report offers an extensive and detailed account of key wartime developments across multiple fronts. It includes significant coverage of U.S. aerial raids on Japanese airfields throughout the Pacific Theater, particularly targeting enemy positions at Cape Gloucester and New Britain. These raids, carried out by B-24 Liberator bombers, were part of a larger Allied strategy to weaken Japan’s strongholds and disrupt enemy operations in the region.

On the Italian front, the report documents the Allied capture and liberation of Vecheaturo and Campobasso, highlighting the relentless push of U.S. and British forces northward as they fought against stiff German resistance. Additionally, it provides updates on the massive tank battle near the Capua Bridgehead, a key engagement in the drive toward Rome, where armored divisions played a crucial role in securing strategic routes.

Further intelligence from Allied headquarters in North Africa details the ongoing struggle on the Volturno Front, where strong defensive positions and entrenched infantry posed a formidable challenge to advancing Allied forces. The document also includes assessments of the Luftwaffe’s air superiority efforts, offering insights into squadron air battles and engagements between German and Allied fighters in contested airspace.

One of the most historically significant sections of this report pertains to the Battle of the Volturno, an intense engagement that was instrumental in the Italian Campaign. Additionally, the document provides an in-depth account of the initial Allied assault on the Gulf of Salerno, detailing the extensive naval bombardment that preceded the landings. This section meticulously outlines the number of U.S. naval vessels involved in the operation, their coordinated efforts to soften enemy defenses, and the strategic importance of securing the Salerno beaches as a critical foothold in the push toward Rome.

Altogether, this rare document serves as a remarkable snapshot of World War II in October 1943, offering a firsthand look at the complex and multi-theater nature of the war. It stands as an invaluable piece of military history, preserving the raw intelligence and strategic discussions that shaped some of the most pivotal battles of the conflict.