In late 1941, despite attempts by the under prepared United States government and the American people to stay out of the war raging in Europe, a surprise attack by the Japanese on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor thrust the U.S. into a global conflict that would engulf the world for the next four years. Though woefully unprepared for a conflict of such magnitude, the events that followed would cement not only the strength of the American military, but the determination of American people, and the manufacturing might of its industrial base on the global stage. There is perhaps no better physical representation of this determination and manufacturing might than a Singer Model 1911A1 pistol. By the start of the 20th century, Singer had become an undisputed global leader in sewing machine manufacturing, operating massive production facilities in Elizabeth, New Jersey; Kilbowie, Scotland; and Podolsk, Russia, to name a few. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 saw all three of these facilities retooled for wartime production, making various armaments, ammunition, and parts. The Kilbowie plant alone is said to have produced 303 million artillery shells as well as other items. In 1925, the New York Ordnance district conducted an industrial survey of the Elizabeth, New Jersey, facility, assessing their capacity for producing .45 automatic pistols, and, in 1939, both Singer and the Nash-Kelvinator Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin, were invited to undertake a production study of the Model 1911A1 pistol. In late 1939, eight companies including the likes of Singer, Winchester, Marlin, Harrington & Richardson, Savage, and Iver Johnson were invited by Springfield Armory to bid on educational orders, with Singer and Harrington & Richardson eventually selected to receive the orders. Singer received Educational Order No. W-ORD-396 which was awarded on 17 April 1940. The pistols were to be produced alongside a set of gauges, jigs, fixtures, machines, patterns and other equipment necessary for mass production. The total cost of the educational order amounted to $278,875.67, or about $538 per pistol, a princely sum for 1940, and the equivalent of approximately $9,945 per pistol today. However, much of this cost would be recuperated by the government as the extremely valuable production equipment made by Singer would immediately become government property upon completion of their contracts. Most of this equipment would later be utilized by Remington-Rand in June of 1941. Singer completed the initial order for 500 pistols in December of 1941, which were then shipped to Springfield Armory for distribution. Singer was awarded a larger order for 15,000 pistols, a contract which would never be fulfilled. Shortly after that, it became clear to Singer and the government that their specific talents of manufacturing could be far better utilized elsewhere. For the remainder of the war, the company manufactured more intricate materials such as the M5 Artillery Fire Control Directors and the Sperry T-1 bomb sight. It is reported that almost all of the 500 pistols that were produced were issued to the Army Air Corps in various theaters early in World War II. Given the terribly high casualty rates amongst the Army Air Corps early in the war, especially amongst bomber crews fighting the Luftwaffe in Europe, it is clear that far fewer than 500 of these pistols survived in any condition, let alone the exceptionally fine condition this one is in. Unlike many of the Singer M1911A1 pistols, which we can only assume were issued to members of the Army Air Corps, this historic example is documented to a decorated Army Air Corps veteran and B-24 Liberator pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Randolph Moss (1921-2020). Thomas Moss joined the Army Air Corps as a private in February of 1942 and was quickly sent to Maxwell Field in Alabama as an aviation cadet. By the end of 1942, Moss had completed primary flight training and was on to Blytheville, Arkansas, for advanced flight training. On 25 March 1943, Moss graduated from advanced flight training, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, and married his wife Marguerite “Margie” Williams all on the same day. Training continued, with Moss becoming quickly qualified as a first pilot in a B-17 and then transferred to do the same in the B-24. Eventually, he was assigned to the 461st Bombardment Group in Fresno, California, where he was made First Pilot of Crew #27, 765th Bombardment Squadron. The 461st “Liberaiders” Bombardment Group was made up of the 764th, 765th, 766th, and 767th squadrons. Prior to leaving the U.S., Moss’ aircraft was given its unofficial nickname of “Invictus” and had its nose art painted, a name that is noted as having been picked by his wife. The name Marguerite Moss chose for her husband’s B-24 was possibly just the Latin word for “unconquered” or, perhaps more likely, was a reference to the famous poem of the same name by William Ernest Henley. It may have been a newlywed wife’s hope that her husband might find inspiration in its words and be carried through the war by its iconic lines of stoic determination such as: “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” In January of 1944, Moss and his bomb group departed California and headed for the European Theater via South America and North Africa, arriving not long after at their final destination of Torretta Field in southeastern Italy. The crews would need to complete 50 mission points to be sent home, with the 15th Air Force considering some heavily defended targets to be two points, while standard targets were one. The group was meant to take part in their first mission on 1 April 1944, but the mission was scrubbed due to bad weather. The 461st first official mission took place the next day, the target being the Bihac marshaling yards in Yugoslavia, where they lost two B-24s over the target area due to a collision. Moss and his crew would fly six more missions in the month of April, two of which were “double points” missions over the Bucharest marshaling yards, because the 15th Air Force considered them particularly heavily defended targets. The 765th lost two aircraft during the month and shot down nine enemy fighters. The month of May saw the squadron fly a total of 20 missions, with Moss, “Invictus”, and her crew involved in 12 of them, four of which were “double points” missions. The mission on 10 May was to hit the Weiner Neustadt aircraft factories in Austria, a “double points” mission. Notes regarding the mission indicate the heavy presence of enemy fighters and intense flak, as well as that at least seven B-24s from the group returning with at least one of their four engines disabled, and that one aircraft from the group crashed on the runway and caught fire. Another of the “double points” missions fell on the final day of the month and was Moss’ first mission over the Ploesti oil fields and refineries of Romania, which provided approximately 60% of the crude oil supporting the Third Reich’s war effort. The site was notoriously heavily defended, with potentially more than 60 batteries of 88 mm flak guns, a plethora of smaller anti-aircraft batteries, as many as 200 Luftwaffe aircraft, and many Wurzburg type radar stations. The 765th lost one aircraft on the mission, “Leading Lady”, which was last seen shortly after passing over the target. During the month of May, the squadron lost three aircraft in combat while another exploded on the ground. They shot down four enemy aircraft. In June, Moss and the crew of “Invictus” flew 11 missions, six of which were considered “double points” by the 15th Air Force. On 6 June, the same day Allied troops were landing in Normandy, the target was again the Ploesti oil fields and refineries, and once again the enemy flak was noted as extremely heavy and accurate. Moss’ aircraft suffered damage and lost function of one of the engine’s superchargers over the target, and it is noted that they “had to draw 30 to 60 inches of mercury to keep up with the formation.” Once past the target, Moss decided to pull “Invictus” out of formation and attempt to make it to Yugoslavia, having the crew throw out all of the aircraft's defensive armament and flak suits to reduce weight. Once they had made it to Yugoslavia, the decision was made to attempt to push on and make it back to Italy. They remained in contact with that radio station in Foggia and ended up landing there “with a cup full of gasoline”, before refueling and returning to their home base. For “extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a pilot in the 765th Bombardment Squadron” on this day, Moss was recommended for and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of only 20,354 awarded during the war. The month of June ended with three “double points” missions on the 23rd, 26th, and 28th. The squadron miraculously lost no aircraft during the month and were credited with destroying one enemy aircraft, with another probable. The start of July saw Moss and his crew narrowing in on their goal of 50 mission points, with 42 points, they had just eight more to go. The month opened with two “double points” missions against the Budapest marshaling yard and Bucharest oil storage on the 2nd and 3rd respectively. Those missions were followed by a fairly straight forward mission against the Aviano oil storage in Italy on the 6th, leaving Moss on 47 mission points. On 7 July the target was the synthetic oil refineries in Blechhammer, Germany, another “double points” mission. The flak was noted as very heavy as well as a lot of enemy aircraft activity to and from the target. However, it is noted that their friendly fighter coverage was good, and all of their planes managed to return home. Moss found himself with 49 points, needing just one more to return home, and he wouldn't have long to wait. The following day, 8 July, the target was the oil storage at Korneuburg, Austria, another “double points” mission. One can only imagine what he must have been feeling that day, needing only one point to go home, but knowing a very difficult mission was still at hand. The flak was noted as accurate and intense, but the fighter cover was good, and all B-24s managed to make it home. During the month of July, the squadron lost seven bombers and was credited with destroying 28 enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Thomas Moss along with S/Sgt. Drezek were the first members of the 765th to complete 50 mission points and earn their ticket home. Moss is credited with 51 mission points and flying 279 combat hours over Europe. Moss then made his way to Naples for a transport ship home, which he got not long after and landed in New York. After some brief R&R, he continued on as an instructor in B-24s and C-54s, as well as later taking part in the “Berlin Airlift” as a C-54 pilot. In 1957, he received nuclear weapons officer training and was briefly assigned as director of quality control at a classified weapons storage site in South Dakota before being sent to Korea in 1961. In 1964, Thomas Moss retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel with a command pilot rating. Moss and his wife Marguerite had three daughters and were married for 63 years in which they loved traveling the world together. Thomas Randolph Moss died in Denver in 2020 at the age of 99. This exceptionally fine and historic Singer Model 1911A1 pistol was manufactured in 1941 along with the other 499 standard production Singer pistols, many of which have not survived to this day. The left of the slide on this example has the standard "S. MFG. CO./ELIZABETH, N.J. ,U.S.A." address, the right is unmarked, and there is a "P" proof on top just in front of the rear sight. The right side of the frame has the "JKC" inspection mark of Colonel John K. Clement, which is found on all government accepted Singer manufactured pistols, as well as another "P" proof. The full blue, non-factory replacement barrel is marked “S P” on the left of the lug. The right side of the frame has the correct U.S. property markings, "S" prefixed serial number, and "M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY" marking. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, short stamped trigger, long grip safety, checkered wide hammer, checkered slide stop, magazine release, and thumb safety; arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, correct non-reinforced “hollow back” grips, and a replacement “S” marked full blued contractor-made magazine. Included with the pistol is a signed statement from Thomas R. Moss, which includes a copy of his military identification card, that lists this pistol by serial number stating that it was issued to him new and in the box, and that it is unaltered and never went to the armory for repair. It goes on to state that the pistol flew with him for his entire career and on all his missions and was not out of his possession until 12 March 2018. Also included is a copy of Moss’ mission record. More information about Moss can be found at https://461st.org/ as well as in an hour long video interview with Moss which is available through the Library of Congress website. Also includes a “US” marked Boyt leather holster, green canvas belt, a Russell canvas magazine pouch, and two extra magazines (one “L” marked, one “S” marked). A scarce, historic, documented Singer Model 1911A1 such as this could easily be the centerpiece of even the most prestigious public or private U.S. military collections. These Singer pistols have truly become the "holy grail" of 1911 and 1911A1 collecting for a variety of reasons. Their quality of manufacture is without question, even surpassing that of some of the best Colt manufactured automatics, and certainly being the finest of the World War II production 1911A1 pistols. There is also the fact that these pistols were issued and carried by young men of "the greatest generation", many of whom were flying high over Europe and the Pacific, and many of whom never returned home. Finally, they are a palpable piece of the awakening of American industrial might and an enduring symbol of this country's ability to adapt and overcome. If the Singer Manufacturing Company could drop everything and make a weapon as fine as this, then there was nothing we couldn't overcome. Then there are pistols like this one, having the added allure of being documented as the personal sidearm of one of those brave aviators. It seems only fitting that a Singer pistol such as this, a tangible symbol of the indomitable spirit of the American people, should be indelibly linked to Thomas Randolph Moss, as well as his loving wife Marguerite, who named his aircraft “Invictus”, likely after the poem of the same name which carries these lines: “In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.” Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas R. Moss; Property of a Gentleman

Exceptionally fine, retains 80% of the original, high polish blue finish with some light holster/handling wear and some scattered light handling marks, typical of a pistol carried by a B-24 pilot for 35 combat missions over Europe during World War II. The grips are excellent with a few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster, belt, and magazine pouch are all very fine with some light wear. This is not only an incredible opportunity to add an immensely collectible Singer Model 1911A1 pistol to your collection, but also an opportunity to take up the solemn duty of remembrance, making sure that the stories of these heroes like Thomas Moss are never forgotten.