Military people often have a lot of down time when no fighting is going on. They may have skills but few tools or raw materials except what their current situation allows. Pieces of metal from downed aircraft, bullet casings or large brass shells are common materials to work with to make objects to send home or trade. This model ship propeller is about 4-1/2″ in diameter, and is stamped, “Metal from Jap’O’ Fighter, Battle of Midway ’42” on one blade. On another it says, “P.W. Davis Carpenter USN.” We are not sure if Mr. Davis or Mr. Carpenter was the builder, or if Mr. Davis was a carpenter’s mate in the Navy, but the blades are very well formed and identical in shape. The sad part is that Mr. Hodgkins, the donor, found this piece of art in a Goodwill store for 15 cents.
