RAF/USAAF HQ 3rd Bomb Wing Silver Presentation Cigarette Case

Featuring finely engraved RAF King's Crown wings to left corner of the lid and USAAF winged officers' branch insignia to the right and below "Presented to Norman & Phyllis on the Occasion of their Marriage from the Officers of HQ 3rd Bomb Wing 1943". We sadly have no surname so difficult to trace the provenance of this piece but speculate Norman and Phyllis were both serving officers in the RAF and USAAF back in 1943. The 3rd Bomb Wing, part of the 8th Air Force, was formed in October 1942 and the HQ was based at Elveden Hall in Suffolk flying B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft.

The case shows minor knocks commensurate with its 77 years service but is generally in good display condition with a strong hinge and near perfecxt wood lined interior with adjustable partition. On the base it carries silver makers marks

Mn & Wb indicating the piece was manufactuered by top makers Mappin & Webb. It also carries a London Assay mark and a date letter G confirming the manufacturing date was 1942, thus aligning to the engraving on the lid. It is rare to find a piece of wartime silver that is attributed to both the RAF and USAAF and we superct we are unlikely to ever see another. The case measures 7" x 3.5" (18 cm x 9 cm)