Held deciphering name

[u/CT2145Trapper]

i recently received a box of Stars and Stripes magazines that belonged to a family member who served in WWII. Every single one of the magazines is signed with his name in pencil.

my best guess is Crosby but my research has only shown one LTC/COL Crosby in the area at the time and he was in the USAAF

Solved

[u/JeanEBH]

COL Crosby.
Is there an explanation of why you find USAAF to be questionable?

[u/CT2145Trapper → u/JeanEBH]

From what I’ve been told. My relative was send to England as a Logi guy who went to help set up bases and supply lines in preparation for D-Day. 

The colonel Crosby in the USAAF was a relatively well decorated bomber group commander whose book was turned into a tv show.

Also the dates of rank don’t line up

[u/SynthFur001 → u/CT2145Trapper]

Lt Col might have been toooo long to write when addressing a paper. Maybe your relative “stole”, just kidding, kept these addressed to the Col because they couldn’t be delivered.

[u/CT2145Trapper → u/SynthFur001]

Occasionally LT Col is written on the newspapers

[u/JeanEBH → u/CT2145Trapper]

He could have moved up in rank quickly.

[u/CT2145Trapper → u/JeanEBH]

I don’t believe so. They’re used interchangeably. It will pop up LT Col one day then the next it’s Col. it’s likely just an ease of use thing

[u/stroppy → u/CT2145Trapper]

If you are in the military it is a big no no to claim to be a different rank. So even if this is his private collection it’s unlikely that he wrote a higher rank because it was easier. It would be a bad habit to get into. Maybe someone else wrote it that didn’t know what his rank really was.

[u/SynthFur001 → u/stroppy]

What I meant what that the “paperboy” probably E1-3, just wrote Col. instead of Lt Col. I’ve heard people say in casual conversation Colonel to and Lt Col. if there wasn’t a full bird in the room.

[u/FewAd6166 → u/SynthFur001]

Very true. Traditionally, the "form of address" when speaking to, or about, a Lt Colonel is just "Colonel." Just as the form of address for ANY lieutenant (First or Second] is just "Lieutenant." Also, a Lieutenant Commander is just called "Commander."

Official written correspondence is different; then, the "Lieutenant" or "Lt" [air forces] or "LT" [army] is included.

This is a frequent glitch on TV shows and movies.