Painted WWII American A-2 Flight Jackets have realized unprecedented prices in the past year. For example jackets at Rock Island Auctions sold in 2022 for $32,000 and $23,000 respectively they can be found at this and this . When comparing the Rock Island Auction jackets with the one offered here, one can easily see that our offering is an exceptional value!
Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an stunning colorful and historic beautiful World War Two American A-2 flight jacket, with a incredible hand painted design to the reverse and a hand painted squadron patch of a knight riding a bomb denoting the 392nd Bombardment Group, 577th Bomb Squadron. The jacket is stenciled marked in the neck with laundry number B-4970 but we have not been yet been able to identify the airman, making this jacket a wonderful research opportunity.
The A-2 jacket, which is in wonderful condition with fantastic hand painted insignia. The right chest features the image silhouette image of a B-24 tail gunner.
The front left side of the jacket features an excellent hand painted 577th Bomb Squadron patch.
The most notable and stunning aspect in the reverse of the jacket that features a hand painted B-24 bomber with flying over an blue 8th Air Force insignia with TRIPS DAILY above and 29th bombs below, 5 of which are red.
Jacket is in size US 38 and has retained all original components including original knit waist band and sleeve cuffs, something we often see replaced on A-2 jackets that saw extensive service. Also original is a replacement zipper which is functional. Name strip was removed.
The interior lining does have tearing and stitching loss present, so do handle it with care. The top rear back portion of the liner still retains the original tag:
TYPE A2
Drawing no. 30-1415
A.C. ORDER NO. 42-16715
PERRY SPORTSWEAR INC.
NEWSBURGH, N.Y.
PROPERTY
AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY
38
This is an incredible example of a hard to find painted A-2 jacket, offered in wonderful condition. Comes more than ready for further research and display.
The
Co-Pilot, Lt. Pedrotta, gave the following detailed account later on the crew’s emergency, after his repatriation from POW status.
"After ringing the bail out bell, I prepared to bail-out. (Pilot) Buaas called to me to release his seat that had jammed. I finally released the seat and made for the bomb bay. I called to Buaas while I was standing on the catwalk and said "lets get the hell out of here". He turned and said ‘lets go’. At this point I knew he had not been injured. He made his way out of the seat and on to the flight deck at the radio compartment. It was here that he collapsed face down. I reached back in an attempt to pull him out but I could not move him under the circumstances since the ship was completely out of control. So in order to get out at all, I had to do it right then. We were to the best of my knowledge about 4,500 or 5,000 feet then. Just seconds after I bailed out, I heard the ship explode but I couldn’t tell whether it was still in the air or not. It is my opinion that he (Buaas) never had a chance to leave the ship. Not long before Buaas had complained to me of his heart. I suggested he see the Doctor, but he wouldn’t. That is why I suspect he died of a heart attack (in-flight)".
Another crew survivor’s account regarding the tail gunner, Sgt. Callejas, stated that the latter was bleeding badly and was taken from the tail turret unconscious, having been hit in the chest with a 20mm cannon shell, and died prior to the bail out attempt. The Co-Pilot’s detailed report of bail outs also stated that the Bombardier bailed out of the nose wheel door hatch at about 18,000 feet and had sustained no injuries; the Engineer exited out of hole blown in the waist section, around 18,000 feet about (25) miles from the target, as had the Bombardier that Sgt. Sopha had jumped through the bomb bay area earlier around 20,000 feet along with the Radio Operator, the latter suffering a slight leg injury on bail out; and Sgt. McGrew had bailed out from the waist section around 15,000 feet and incurred several bail out injuries and was hospitalized later. A last account by one of the surviving members, given back in the States after the war in 1945, Sgt. Sopha, stated that their plane had blown up while still in the air which information had been given to him by one of the waist gunners, Sgt. Coleman, who observed this event while descending in his parachute. Accounts indicated that this crew was on about their 16th combat mission.
BURIAL ACCOUNTS: German reports indicate that the (3) casualties were buried in the village cemetery of Merrheim on 4 December. Subsequent U.S. National Overseas Cemetery records indicate that Sgt. Worchester was re-interred in the plot at LORRAINE (Grave C-28-73), awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. No other information exists on the re-burials of the two remaining members.
The jacket still retains all of its artwork including a lovely handpainted squadron patch on the front left as well as the nose gunner position painted on the right. The reverse has a large winged number 8 with the B-24 name “Trips Daily” above it. Beneath the 8 is the B-24 dropping 33 bombs.
