On April 6, 1945, two divisions of Corsair fighter planes (eight planes total), were diverted from a bombing escort mission to intercept bogies near the USS Haynsworth. They shot down several of them. One of the wingmen, Marine 2nd LT Harold M. Sagers, flew through the debris of an exploding Zero.

I believe this Zero was the one seen falling out the skies and crashing near the Haynsworth just moments before the kamikaze dove out of the clouds and hit the destroyer.

Lt. Sagers was able to nurse his plane back to the USS Essex CV-9. After landing aboard, a piece of the Zero was pulled out of the Corsair's skin. The Corsair, too damaged to fix at sea, was pushed over the side of the carrier.

Sagers kept the piece of debris. At some point he had it turned into a bracelet by a mechanic on the Essex who attached a pair of pilot wings insignia and then engraved it with Sagers bride's name. Both 'Moe' and Carol have passed away but the bracelet remains in the family.

For fans of military history, the attack can be found in the The Threadbare Buzzard by Tommy Tomlinson. It will also be featured in Phalanx and my next book about the rescue of Corsair fighter pilots. //Marty Irons