Trench Art Heart from Japanese Aircraft

This small 2 inch aluminum heart was given to a WW2 service members "Mother".

Also etched with the location and date: "Gaum, 21 JUL 1944".

This type of item falls into the sweetheart category as well as trench art.

Typically, these Pacific aluminum pieces were made from Japanese Aircraft that had been destroyed. The back has red/ white paint. I have a few other pieces from Japanese aircraft with similar paint on them. I have also handled many other similar pieces. I suspect the paint on the back kept this from being turned into a brooch.

Not documented, but family lore attributed the piece to a Japanese aircraft.

scott