UU- 2558  Historic grouping to a decorated Admiral who commanded numerous vessels including the USS Bunker Hill, with which he was the first commander of. Includes his khaki shirt with Captains rank, , trousers and tie. Khaki cotton fatigue shirt, trouser, and side cap, with rather different captain's eagles, yet these are absolutely correct, as photos, and drawings of Ballentine, show him wearing these exact specimens. There are no hallmarks on these pin back rank insignia. I personally rate this simple fatigue uniform rather highly, it being Navy, and worn in the Pacific during the war, rates as a "combat uniform," and perhaps unique with Admiral Ballentine's most interesting choice of captain's eagle rank insignia.  I have included a WWII period black tie for display purposes, but it is not from the admiral's archive. The original commissioning pennant from the Bunker Hill, his Rear Admiral's Flag and a large group of materials on the launching. Included are large format photos of the launching, large format audio recordings of the ceremony and  2 Bunker Hill unit histories. A presentation leather bound edition of the history titled, THE U.S.S. BUNKER HILL - NOVEMBER 1943 - NOVEMBER 1944, The record of a carrier's combat action against the Axis Nations in the Pacific. Published 1945. Gold embossed & personalized cover to "Rear Admiral J.J. Ballentine, USN," 271 pages well illustrated.  Comes with a forwarding letter from the USS Bunker Hill Publishing Committee dated, May 14, 1945. Lieutenants Wallace C. Mitchell and Eugene F. Brissie, USNR, Co-Editors, write, "...There's not a Bunker Hill crewman or "alum" who would not feel a sense of pride in being able to present you with the enclosed volume....You deserve, and hold, our highest credit and respect for this record." Signed by Wallace Mitchell.  In the book were other items. A HISTORY of the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL  CV-17, DECEMBER 1942 - OCTOBER 1945.     Stiff paper boards, well over 100 pages (each section numbered separately), including maps, photographs.  Comes with an original typed letter on USS Bunker Hill letterhead dated, October 20, 1945, on U.S.S. Bunker Hill letterhead,  There are many portrait photos of this Officers and other Admirals and Captains. Don't miss this one!! $4995

The U.S.S. Bunker Hill, an Essex class carrier was laid down on September 15, 1941, at the Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River Shipyard, at Quincy, Massachusetts, and launched exactly one year following the surprise attack by Japanese naval air forces at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942.  Bunker Hill was sponsored by Mrs. Donald Boynton, and watched the christening that day with her first commanding officer, Captain John Jennings Ballentine.

On May 25, 1943, Captain Ballentine commanding,  hoisted his commissioning pennant,  and shortly after Bunker Hill proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia to take aboard her air group by the end of June, and sailed on July 15th, for her shakedown cruise near Trinidad.  In early September, carrier and crew sailed for the Panama Canal, thence to San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and eventually by the fall of 1943, she is on station with her Task Force in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

During his command, Bunker Hill took part in engagements at Rabaul, The Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and more, for which Captain Ballentine (and promoted later to Rear Admiral during his command of the Bunker Hill), was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Navy Presidential Unit Citation.  He relinquished command in February, 1944.

SILVER STAR CITATION: "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John Jennings Ballentine, USN, for gallantry and intrepidity...while serving as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL (CV-17) during the attack on Rabaul Harbor, 11 November 1943, and the operations for the occupation of the Gilbert Islands, 18 through 26 November 1943. The Task Group of which his ship was a part, was three times under heavy and sustained enemy air attack, but so skillfully did he fight his ship that severe losses were inflicted upon the enemy without damage to his vessel. His courageous and intelligent leadership not only brought his own ship through unscathed, but materially contributed to the defense of the entire Task Group and the success of its mission..."  Issued May 14, 1944.

LEGION OF MERIT with Combat "V":  "...for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service...As Rear Admiral of the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL  ...in action in military operations against an armed enemy...he participated in the capture and occupation of Tarawa and Makin, 29 November to 6 December 1943, Second Strike on Nauru, 8 December 1943, First Strike on Kavieng, 25 December 1943, Second Strike on Kavieng, 1 January, 1944, Third Strike on Kavieng, 4 January 1944, capture and defense of the Marshall Islands, 29 January 1944 to 5 February 1944. By his personal leadership, his force of character, and by the effectiveness of his training, he inspired his officers and men,  and imbued them with confidence and an offensive spirit which carried them to decisive victory in the above named engagements with the enemy. By his achievements he contributed greatly to the neutralization with the enemy. by two important areas of conflict and to the destruction of many enemy aircraft, in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Rear Admiral Ballentine is authorized to wear the Combat "V".) "  Issued June 2, 1944