Papaw's Toolbox

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 12-07-2014, 01:03 PM

On a recent trip home, I inherited my Papaw's tool box. I tried to locate all of the various contents i remembered as a child. I brought everything I could locate back to SC and gave it a good going over with boiled linseed oil. I am very proud to have these memories of my Grandfather. I am not sure as to what level to restore these tools and whether or not to actually use them. (Some will need repair to be of use)

MIA - ( So far, my Cousin's wife is still searching)
Hand Planer
Claw Hammer

Recovered - (The Toolbox)
Hand Saw
Brace and Bit
A very Large Bit (turned without a Brace)
Drawknife
Tin Shears
Trowel

Some other tools -
Many shovels (minus handles)
5 or 6 pound sledge (minus handle)
Adz with handle (Needs repair or re-handled)
large Pick (Needs repair or re-handled)
3 lb. Axe head (minus handle)
23" dia. Saw Blade

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I was also asked to take Papaw's misprinted brass marker. The misprint is that he actually was not in the Army, but rather the Air Corps, prior to Army involvement. I am researching the Air Corps now, for the first time in my life. Any info would be great! and fitting considering today is the anniversary of Pearl Harbour. I am also unsure as to displaying Papaw's misprint in my home. My older cousin had it in a box tucked away. For now it resides on my mantle. (Mostly I am concerned about what my Mother would think, I asked her she avoided the question) So any senior etiquette on things like this would also be appreciated.

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Thanks in advance for useful commentary.

CS

**hunter63** · 12-07-2014, 02:03 PM

Very cool to receive such a gift.....
Have MF tools, but missed out on GF's as there were several uncles involved.
Your list is about the same.....never figured out what they used the tin snips for?

Actually MF and your Grand Father were close to the same age....by a couple of years.....
MF served in the Army Air Corp as well,....in Burma and the Pacific Theater crewing on a B-29.
Another Uncle did as well.....in the same area....although they never ran into each other.

**Rick** · 12-07-2014, 02:03 PM

As a WWII vet he was army. The Air Force was not actually created until 1947. Prior to that date and during all of WWII each of the three services, Army, Navy and Marines had their own air services. However, the vet was still a member of their respective service.

There are a couple of things you can do to research his service. If you know his service serial number you can request his records from the National Archives if they still exist. There was a fire in the St. Louis archives in 1973 that destroyed about 80% of the Army records for the WWII time period. However, the National Archives will still attempt to recreate his records as best they can. You need to request his records under the name of his son or daughter or his unmarried widow if you grandmother is still alive. You can ask for them in your name but you'll have to ask for them under the Freedom of Information Act and the records may be heavily redacted.

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/index.html

If you don't know his service number then you can contact the county he lived in when he was discharged. Each of the men were required to register with their county clerk in anticipation of recall for the Pacific Theater. His DD-214 (discharge papers) should be on file and his serial number will be found on that document along with the company he served in at time of discharge along with a list of the Theaters he fought in as well as any medals he earned.

If, for some reason, his DD-214 is not on file then you might contact the funeral home that handled his arrangements. They are the ones that generally handle the request for marker and they have to submit proof of service, which is usually a copy of the DD-214. They may still have the copy on file.

The marker is correct. Good luck.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 12-07-2014, 02:28 PM

Thanks Hunter,

The Tin Snips were probably used to cut tin? Lol! Apparently Papaw insisted he was never in the Army, but only the Air Corps thus the misprint. I have found where the two were initially completely separate.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 12-07-2014, 02:38 PM

Rick,

Thanks for the input, I may be wrong about having found where they completely separate, as my only source this far along is Wiki. But if I am wrong, my Grandfather had his reasons. Enough so, that the marker was adamantly revised by my Grandmother whom has also passed on. My Mother knows very little.

**randyt** · 12-07-2014, 05:12 PM

that is awesome. Use them, tools are meant to be used.

**hunter63** · 12-07-2014, 06:15 PM

All I can add is MF and 2 uncles were in the Army Air Corps in WWII.
Quote>
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947.[5] It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed, and is the largest and one of the world's most technologically advanced air forces. <quote

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force

Is it possible the you GF was still in the service after 1947?

**Rick** · 12-07-2014, 09:46 PM

He would have been inducted or joined the Army. As I said, check his DD-214. That will tell you his MOS and branch of service.

**crashdive123** · 12-08-2014, 06:54 AM

Yep - no such thing as Air Force until 1947. The predecessor was the Army Air Corps.

**MrFixIt** · 12-08-2014, 09:54 AM

I think it is great to have something so personal that belonged to your grandfather!

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 12-08-2014, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the response ya'll. I find nothing to the contrary of what has been said by the members here. I am guessing Grandma simply wanted the marker to specify Army Air Corps instead of just Army. Now, I know through research that it is likely the story got misunderstood at some point since my Grandfathers passing. I did read a very interesting account of the history of the Army Air Corp and the struggle to become an individual service branch. If anyone is interested, here it is.

Foulois and the U.S. Army Air Corps: 1931-1935
By OFFICE OF AIR FORCE HISTORY WASHINGTON DC, J S Shiner

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 12-08-2014, 08:00 PM

Then again....

http://www.aafha.org/aaf_or_aircorps.html

**Winnie** · 12-09-2014, 04:51 AM

I finally managed to get my Dad's toolbox a couple of years ago. Winnie jnr is slowly cleaning them up. As Randy says tools are meant to be used. We've replaced a couple of things that were lost and I suppose as things wear out we'll replace them. Oh and yep, we have tin snips too!