Up for auction is a truly exceptional and **hard-to-find vintage U.S. Navy tour lighter**, crafted in the early 1950s by **Prince Mfg**. This striking piece commemorates the **USS Point Cruz (CVE-119)** and belonged to a sailor named **W\.C. Krueger**, whose name is **deeply engraved at the top**.
The front features the ship's name:
**U.S.S. Point Cruz CVE-119**
The lower section is engraved with the sailor’s **WestPac cruise stops** from the ship’s 1955–56 Far East deployment:
* **Pearl Harbor**
* **Yokosuka**
* **Kobe**
* **Kure**
* **Hong Kong**
* **Okinawa**
* **Sasebo**
The reverse side has a detailed outline of **Japan**, further highlighting the ship’s role in Pacific operations during the post-Korean War Cold War era.
---
### 🔹 Lighter Details:
* Manufacturer: **Prince Mfg**
* Model: **Super Lighter**
* Marked on bottom: *Prince Mfg Super Lighter – PRINCE Pat No. 234754*
* Comes in what appears to be the **original Prince box**, which closely resembles mid-century Zippo packaging in both look and construction.
* Lighter is in **unfired condition** – extremely clean with no signs of use or ignition wear.
The **USS Point Cruz (CVE-119)**, a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier, served with distinction in the Pacific during the Cold War, participating in multiple deployments including as part of **Task Group 70.4**. This lighter reflects one of those WESTPAC tours and is likely a **PX-purchased or locally commissioned souvenir**, custom-engraved for the sailor it belonged to.
These tour lighters were deeply personal to servicemen and are now highly sought after by collectors for their unique engravings and direct ties to naval history.
---
### 🔹 Why This Lighter Stands Out:
* **Not commonly seen in this design** from Prince — most Prince lighters were of different construction.
* Zippo-style case and box — it’s possible Prince either sourced similar components or modeled their design very closely to Zippo’s.
* A **named, personalized Navy lighter** tied to a specific ship, sailor, and cruise — a true one-of-a-kind military collectible.
📌 Be sure to check out my other listing for a **1953 USS Point Cruz Zippo lighter (MIB, unfired)** — it may be directly connected to the same sailor and deployment, making the two excellent companion pieces.
💬 Please ask any questions before bidding. This is a **rare and beautiful piece of U.S. Navy history**, perfect for any military, lighter, or Cold War memorabilia collection.