RARE COLLECTION OF WWII PACIFIC THEATER HIGHLY DETAILED PRE-INVASION CHARTS COMPILED BY LTJG E.E.ANDERSON ABOARD USS PATHFINDER.

Revised: 9/30/2011

Additional Information: Consignor states that the USS Pathfinder shot down 2 Japanese airplanes and took numerous hits during its tour.

RARE COLLECTION OF WWII PACIFIC THEATER HIGHLY DETAILED PRE-INVASION CHARTS COMPILED BY LTJG E.E.ANDERSON ABOARD USS PATHFINDER. These are not to be confused with common battle maps but are very rare in that they are highly detailed records created at enormous personal risk for making invasion plans. These were critical to insure success during the planned invasions. LTJG Edward Elias Anderson Jr. served as a Gunnery Officer aboard the Pathfinder during her operations in the Pacific Theater from 1942-45. Anderson was a topography and hydrography specialist assigned to compile data and produce various pre-invasion maps and charts aboard ship. This lot consists of 53 bound Hydrographic Office Field Charts, including one chart supplement dated 11-15-43 of Bougainville Island from 3 miles out by Anderson and a hand drawn close up view of the same shoreline and Japanese base. Also, a topographic sheet dated 8-44 of Tokyo Southwest; an artist’s drawing of USS Pathfinder, and a tinted Imperium Neptuni Regis dated 12-4-42 commemorating Anderson’s crossing the equator. USS Pathfinder (AGS-1) was a survey vessel for the United States Navy during World War II. Before and after the war she was USC&GSS Pathfinder (OSS-30) for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Pathfinder was built by the Lake Washington Shipyard of Houghton, Washington in 1929. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy and commissioned 31 August 1942, with Capt. Bascom H. Thomas, USNR, in command. A sea-going arm of the U.S. Navy’s Hydrographic Office, Pathfinder spent the war years paving the way for amphibious invasion. For nearly two years Pathfinder operated along the dangerous New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands areas allied land-air-sea forces fought to break the Japanese grip on the area. An isolated reef, an uncharted harbor, a lonely stretch of enemy hold coastline—each presented a different problem. At Bougainville, Treasury Island, Green Island, Emirau and Guam, advance Pathfinder parties were sent ashore under the noses of the Japanese to work in close cooperation with Allied amphibious elements in laying out harbor charts or surveying inland channels. During most of 1943, the ship operated in the Solomons and neighboring groups; the Russell Islands, Admiralties, Loyalties, and New Caledonia. Pathfinder, although nominally a noncombatant, experienced some fifty bombing raids while working close to the front lines. At the end of September 1944, after some three months of scientific probing around New Guinea, Pathfinder departed for Espiritu Santo, with written commendations from Admirals Nimitz, Kinkaid, and Halsey. By December 1944, the tide of battle had swept northward to the Philippines. She reached Guam 4 February to prepare for landings at Casiguran Bay, Luzon 13 March 1945. It has been said,”The road to Tokyo was paved with Pathfinder charts”, and these are they. PROVENANCE: Obtained directly from E.E. Anderson’s family. CONDITION: Generally Fine. Some sheets show some light foxing and staining near edges and have curled corners. 4-42517 WD3 (15,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1167A	$0.00	Revised: 9/30/2011 Additional Information: Consignor states that the USS Pathfinder shot down 2 Japanese airplanes and took numerous hits during its tour. RARE COLLECTION OF WWII PACIFIC THEATER HIGHLY DETAILED PRE-INVASION CHARTS COMPILED BY LTJG E.E.ANDERSON ABOARD USS PATHFINDER. These are not to be confused with common battle maps but are very rare in that they are highly detailed records created at enormous personal risk for making invasion plans. These were critical to insure success during the planned invasions. LTJG Edward Elias Anderson Jr. served as a Gunnery Officer aboard the Pathfinder during her operations in the Pacific Theater from 1942-45. Anderson was a topography and hydrography specialist assigned to compile data and produce various pre-invasion maps and charts aboard ship. This lot consists of 53 bound Hydrographic Office Field Charts, including one chart supplement dated 11-15-43 of Bougainville Island from 3 miles out by Anderson and a hand drawn close up view of the same shoreline and Japanese base. Also, a topographic sheet dated 8-44 of Tokyo Southwest; an artist’s drawing of USS Pathfinder, and a tinted Imperium Neptuni Regis dated 12-4-42 commemorating Anderson’s crossing the equator. USS Pathfinder (AGS-1) was a survey vessel for the United States Navy during World War II. Before and after the war she was USC&GSS Pathfinder (OSS-30) for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Pathfinder was built by the Lake Washington Shipyard of Houghton, Washington in 1929. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy and commissioned 31 August 1942, with Capt. Bascom H. Thomas, USNR, in command. A sea-going arm of the U.S. Navy’s Hydrographic Office, Pathfinder spent the war years paving the way for amphibious invasion. For nearly two years Pathfinder operated along the dangerous New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands areas allied land-air-sea forces fought to break the Japanese grip on the area. An isolated reef, an uncharted harbor, a lonely stretch of enemy hold coastline—each presented a different problem. At Bougainville, Treasury Island, Green Island, Emirau and Guam, advance Pathfinder parties were sent ashore under the noses of the Japanese to work in close cooperation with Allied amphibious elements in laying out harbor charts or surveying inland channels. During most of 1943, the ship operated in the Solomons and neighboring groups; the Russell Islands, Admiralties, Loyalties, and New Caledonia. Pathfinder, although nominally a noncombatant, experienced some fifty bombing raids while working close to the front lines. At the end of September 1944, after some three months of scientific probing around New Guinea, Pathfinder departed for Espiritu Santo, with written commendations from Admirals Nimitz, Kinkaid, and Halsey. By December 1944, the tide of battle had swept northward to the Philippines. She reached Guam 4 February to prepare for landings at Casiguran Bay, Luzon 13 March 1945. It has been said,”The road to Tokyo was paved with Pathfinder charts”, and these are they. PROVENANCE: Obtained directly from E.E. Anderson’s family. CONDITION: Generally Fine. Some sheets show some light foxing and staining near edges and have curled corners. 4-42517 WD3 (15,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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