Per the included capture paper issued 16 November 1945, this P-38 is identified by serial number as the war trophy of one Technician 4th Class Valreis L. Bowers. A good amount of information on T4 Bowers (aka "Val" to family and "Boot Hill" to comrades) is bundled with the pistol, including photocopies of original correspondence and newspaper clippings. Born and raised just south of Dodge City, Kansas (hence the nickname), Bowers was a radioman by training, performing most of his combat duties with Battery B, 390 Field Artillery Battalion, 94th Division, nicknamed "Patton's Golden Nugget" during its time as a component of the Third Army. Among other events, he was an eyewitness to a Nazi V-1 "robot bomb" (his words) attack on London, was present for the besieging of German submarine bases in France, fought on the Sigfried Line, and participated in the occupation of Czechoslovakia, receiving four battle stars (Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe). Included with the group is a 94th Division patch, a handful of "tinnie" pins, 5 wartime photographs, a Korean War-era "safe conduct/POW" pass, two telegraph manuals, the aforementioned clippings and research, a black leather "fkx/4" marked holster, an extra magazine and a 1945 dated Kaypey Manufacturing grenade pouch.

Very fine, with 80% of the original blue finish, showing some bright edge wear, a gray patina on the front strap, scattered dings and light handling marks. The holster is very good, with some lost/replaced stitching and mild scuffs on the supple leather, and the pouch is very good. The hammer does not decock with the safety on, otherwise mechanically very good.