PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE FOR TIFFANY & CO, RARE GOLD POCKET WATCH, GIFT TO COMMANDER CALLAHAN, SWITZERLAND 1943 44 mm diameter yellow gold case, Swiss hallmark and 0.750, made by Emile Vichet SA, serial number 631500, inscribed COMMANDER R.H. CALLAHAN, FROM HIS FELLOW OFFICIERS U.S.N.A.S. BUNKER HILL, 3.2.44; silvered metal dial signed Patek Philippe & Cie Geneve, Tiffany & Co, applied gold Arabic numerals, Breguet-style hands in yellow gold, small seconds at six. Movement signed Patek Philippe n 881645 extra series marked PXP for export to America. Weight 55 g. Watch currently in working order. With archive extract. PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE FOR TIFFANY & CO, VERY RARE POCKET WATCH WITH ARCHIVES, SWITZERLAND 1943 Ensign R. H. Callahan, USNR, (07.07.1904 ; 13.02.1997) was designated Naval Aviator #4589 in 1930. This was a direct assignment. He served on active duty during World War II, attaining the rank of commander. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He remained in the reserves after the war and retired with the rank of rear admiral. He commanded the Bunker Hill, which was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the US Navy. The ship was named after the Battle of Bunker Hill that took place during the American War of Independence. Commissioned in May 1943 and sent to the Pacific Theatre of Operations, the ship participated in battles in the Southwest Pacific, Central Pacific and air raids on Japan. While lending support during the invasion of Okinawa, Bunker Hill was hit by two kamikaze planes in quick succession, causing extensive fire on board. Casualties numbered around 600 according to some sources, but only 346 dead and 43 missing were confirmed. After the attack, Bunker Hill returned to the United States for repairs and was still in dry dock when hostilities ended.