20th Air Force Ashtray

[chrsn]

I recently acquired an aluminum ashtray that commemorates the 20th Air Force (the unit that conducted strategic bombardment missions against Japan during World War II). It has a nice model of a B-29 Superfortress held up by an Air Force “wing.” The model really has no detail at all, yet does a great job of capturing the shape and essence of the Superfortress. The wingspan is about 9", making the model about 1/185 scale. What really caught my eye, however, was the lovely 20th AF logo in the center of the ashtray and the etched “GUAM,” which was headquarters of the 20th. The bottom has a felt pad, and a piece of masking tape that said “October 25, 1945, Harmon Field.” I don't know the history of this piece--I just love it.