EAGLE’S NEST CASED CARVING SET, MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE MCDONALD

This English-made carving set with stag handles was removed from Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest by Major General George McDonald in May 1945. McDonald was Director of Intelligence, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe from January 1944 to December 1944. He retired in 1950 as a U.S. Air Force Major General.
The set was acquired from his niece some years after the war by the renowned collector, Ben Curtis. Ben was part of the infamous ‘Texan Cabal’ of collectors. Together with his collector partner, the late Ben Swearingen, they procured some of the most prized war trophies – many of which still reside in museums and private collections today.