Other prized possessions are an instrument panel from a Spitfire and an oil surge valve of a Boeing B-17 strategic bomber that he purchased with his allowance. Gadzic has spent time researching the pilot but hit dead ends with a lack of records. Those he could find were in Danish. Hojard-Olsen, a member of the Royal Danish Air Force. Found in a flea market in Denmark, Gadzic paid less than a dollar for the items. Items from Spitfire and B-17 planes among his favoritesĪmong his favorite possessions are the instrument certificate and dog tags of J. He's collected Army training manuals from the '50s and '60s about booby traps and incendiaries and an array of books discussing aspects of war and military history. He recalls what the item is, it's significance to military history and where he obtained it.Ī series of helmets shows the progression of the protective headgear from the steel German Stahlhelm helmet, which featured a protective "lip" intended to protect soldiers' ears, to an a rare A-8 flying helmet used in Dayton to train the first paratroopers. While living in Denmark, the family visited Normandy, discovering reminders of the bloody battle that took place more than seven decades ago.Īs Gadzic shows off more and more of his collection, his knowledge is evident. "If he had room for a tank and the budget, he'd get one," his mom Margaret Gadzic jokes.Īs a family, the Gadzics have visited every military museum and battleground they can, his mother said, including Dover Airbase Museum and a tank museum near the Black Forest region of Germany. While Gadzic likes all aspects of military memorabilia, he gravitates toward hats and helmets and military airplanes and vehicles. The 13-year-old also attends swap meets and reenactments to find the next piece. He is the father of Mary Aaby of the Jackson Township Historical Society.ĭonated items are special when they come from the family of a veteran, Gadzic said. Navy Corpsman 1st Class Emmett Hugh Jones, who served on Russell Islands during World War II. Others were donated, including a compass used by U.S. Spending hours online researching new artifacts, he has purchased some of the pieces with money he has saved. Gadzic's collection spans the world from the United States to the shores of Normandy. How Danny Gadzic built a treasure trove in Jackson Township
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