WWII Merchant Marine Bring Back Late War Walther PP

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Vietnam1965

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2021
    354
    A friend of my mothers Uncle died in September of 2019 and this gun was found in a utility room. When he was 17 he joined the Merchant Marines and saw service from November 19, 1944 to July 13, 1945. I don't know much about the Maritime service except they were civilians who worked on the transport ships and many were killed during the war. It wasn't until 1988 that they were recognized as veterans.

    The ship he was on was the SS William Foster Cowhan which was one of 24 ships built out of lightweight concrete. It operated in the Pacific Theater. APO 707 & 927 are listed on his paper work. A Merchant Service pass in his paper work dated 12-15-44 gave him permission to remain ashore in Kingston Jamaica. After his service was completed he went home aboard the USAT Thomas Corwin on 8-1-45.

    I was unaware Merchant Marines were under the United Stated Army Transportation Corps! Interesting to say the least.

    Wilford only owned a few guns and most were modern except the Walther which leads me to believe its a bring back. Since they were civilians, I doubt and official paper work would have been used for permission to bring the gun home. It could of been picked up at any port. He might have bought it or traded it for something. We will never know since he is not around to ask him. I asked my mothers friend to keep looking for any other paper work about the gun. I don't believe I have ever seen a capture papered gun from a Merchant Marine before. Has anyone else seen one?

    Paper work from the Coast Guard was also given by the niece shows his certificate of efficiency to lifeboat man!
     

    Attachments

    • mm-1.jpg
      mm-1.jpg
      29.6 KB · Views: 412
    • mm-2.jpg
      mm-2.jpg
      23 KB · Views: 411
    • mm-3.jpg
      mm-3.jpg
      71.3 KB · Views: 407
    • mm-4.jpg
      mm-4.jpg
      28 KB · Views: 411
    • mm-5.jpg
      mm-5.jpg
      22.7 KB · Views: 410
    • mm-6.jpg
      mm-6.jpg
      34.3 KB · Views: 407
    • mm-7.jpg
      mm-7.jpg
      75.3 KB · Views: 412
    • mm-8.jpg
      mm-8.jpg
      23.9 KB · Views: 407
    • mm-9.jpg
      mm-9.jpg
      34.4 KB · Views: 409
    • mm-10.jpg
      mm-10.jpg
      59.7 KB · Views: 411

    Cochise

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 5, 2008
    1,383
    Rockville
    My dad was Merchant Marine between WW2 & Korea. I have all of his paperwork and some of his letters home. It was very cool to find when he passed last year. One of his ships set an Atlantic speed record to Africa, and another went up the wrong river in Africa and ran aground. Stuff that doesnt make the books but is pretty cool.
     

    Jim12

    Let Freedom Ring
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 30, 2013
    33,876
    WWII Merchant Mariners were subject to military discipline and control, signed on for duty of unknown duration and undisclosed destination, served literally aboard floating bombs carrying petroleum products, munitions, tanks, planes, and other war materiel, and suffered huge casualties en route to W. Europe and Russia at the hands of German U-Boats and bombers. A small naval contingency typically was aboard, but still they were no match for Hitler's U-Boats early on. Convoys and single ships, with or without naval escorts in what was basically a numbers game. A lot of ships and men were lost, with virtually no way to defend themselves.
     

    Cochise

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 5, 2008
    1,383
    Rockville
    it was still dangerous after the war as well, as there were a lot of mines in the shipping lanes that hadn't been demoed and would be for years. Even now one is found occasionally though usually not with a bang.
    My dad used to tell a story about his ship hitting a mine and him sleeping through the abandon ship and being woken up by the crew coming back aboard when it didn't sink.
    True story, who knows
     

    Jim12

    Let Freedom Ring
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 30, 2013
    33,876
    it was still dangerous after the war as well, as there were a lot of mines in the shipping lanes that hadn't been demoed and would be for years. Even now one is found occasionally though usually not with a bang.
    My dad used to tell a story about his ship hitting a mine and him sleeping through the abandon ship and being woken up by the crew coming back aboard when it didn't sink.
    True story, who knows

    Must have been an exciting career.
     
    Jul 1, 2012
    5,712
    Since that is a "blank slide" (left) PP, is this a matched or unmatched gun, with S/N stamped on right side of slide and an "ac" under it?
    The last of them are found without any proofs (E/N).
    There's a registry of sorts tracking these guns and their characteristics.
    http://p38forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29314

    This would fall at the very end of the war.
     

    nomade

    Active Member
    Apr 26, 2014
    350
    My grandfather was a marine merchant during wwii. His ship was sunk by u-boat 510 in the Caribbean sea in August 1942. All the crew survived but were in lifeboats for over a week until rescued.
     

    h2u

    Village Idiot
    Jul 8, 2007
    6,694
    South County
    Awesome stuff from all!!!
    Years ago on Gunboards, there was a thread on a Mosin shotgun that had the names of the Merchant Marine crew carved into the stock. Name of the boat, places it had been, etc. I would call that pretty solid provenance.

    From a personal standpoint, I have two Merchant Marine stories.

    First, my paternal grandfather was WW2 infantry.
    His larger patrol ran into a German patrol and “took them out”. From this dust up, he grabbed a Mauser.
    He carried it slung across his back until he was able to hook up with his Merchant Marine brother - who brought it back for him.

    Second, one of my best friend’s daughters is presently in the Merchant Marine Academy. So they’re still in business :D
     
    Jul 1, 2012
    5,712
    The Harry Lundeberg School in St Marys is still churning out merchant mariners.
    Is that where she's at? (sorry for the slight thread "drift")
     
    Jul 1, 2012
    5,712
    If it was a 9mmK that would be something truly rare and special indeed.
    The last 9mmK was produced in 1944 (321408P), according to Dieter Marschall.
    But when the factory was captured, there could have been a 9mmK frame laying around that got assembled.
    Lots of leftover, rejected and stashed parts got assembled at that point.
     

    KP Shooter

    Le Flâneur
    Dec 1, 2009
    360
    Long Island/ MoCo
    Awesome stuff from all!!!
    Years ago on Gunboards, there was a thread on a Mosin shotgun that had the names of the Merchant Marine crew carved into the stock. Name of the boat, places it had been, etc. I would call that pretty solid provenance.

    From a personal standpoint, I have two Merchant Marine stories.

    First, my paternal grandfather was WW2 infantry.
    His larger patrol ran into a German patrol and “took them out”. From this dust up, he grabbed a Mauser.
    He carried it slung across his back until he was able to hook up with his Merchant Marine brother - who brought it back for him.

    Second, one of my best friend’s daughters is presently in the Merchant Marine Academy. So they’re still in business :D


    Very nice. As an alumni, I can say she has a very bright future.

    For OP, if you ever feel the need to get rid of that documentation, reach out to https://www.usmma.edu/museum

    I’m sure they will be thrilled to take it in to their collection.

    Fun fact, the US merchant marine had the highest casualty rate (percentage) for any branch of service.
     

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,941
    Messages
    7,259,709
    Members
    33,350
    Latest member
    Rotorboater

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom