WWII Ww2 A2 Leather Flight Jacket Bomber Named 82nd BS Earthquakers
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:53581718 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Conflict: WW II (1939-45) | Original/Reproduction: Original |
Here's an original, not reproduction, leather A2 flight jacket identified to then Major McDaniel Bush Jackson, a North Carolina veteran who flew 65 bombing missions as a B-25 pilot against German forces in North Africa with the 12th Bombardment Group's 82nd Bombardment Squadron "Earthquakers." According to his lengthy obituary on findagrave (and based on his ribbon bar in the included photos), Jackson was awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purpl...e Heart.
This auction comes with several modern copies of photos of Jackson along with a 260 minute DVD that has original, wartime footage of his unit. One photo is of Jackson with his brother Zacharia, who, as a B-17 co-pilot, died on his first mission in the ETO in early 1944 following a take-off accident. Also included is a reprint of an Oct. 30, 1942 news story that mentions Jackson. The jacket frame/case in the first picture is not included.
This relatively large (see dimensions below) jacket is well-used, but still in solid shape, and comes with several extras as shown in the last picture. The liner and zipper (now has original Crown zipper) appears wartime replaced based on the neck wear, and knits look like modern replacements. The patches are the hand, carved leather type you would expect to find in the African/ Mediterranean theaters. The shoulder Ninth Air Force patch was found in the pocket, and likely removed when the unit was transferred from the Ninth to the Tenth Air Force in 1944. I have loosely re-stitched the patch to the shoulder using the original holes for display, but this can easily be removed. Given the presence of a few extra holes the 82nd BS patch looks to have been replaced or moved, but the name patch and wings look to be in their original spots. The shoulder insignia also looked to have replaced, likely upon Jackson's promotion through the pilot ranks. I believe he left the Air Force as a Lt. Col.
The jacket is about 17 1/4 inches across from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, and 22 1/2 inches across from armpit to armpit. The height from shoulder to the bottom of the knits is 25 1/2 inches. The sleeve length is 25 1/2 inches from the seam to the bottom of the knits.
US shipping will be $25 via priority mail. International shipping through ebay global shipping program.
This auction comes with several modern copies of photos of Jackson along with a 260 minute DVD that has original, wartime footage of his unit. One photo is of Jackson with his brother Zacharia, who, as a B-17 co-pilot, died on his first mission in the ETO in early 1944 following a take-off accident. Also included is a reprint of an Oct. 30, 1942 news story that mentions Jackson. The jacket frame/case in the first picture is not included.
This relatively large (see dimensions below) jacket is well-used, but still in solid shape, and comes with several extras as shown in the last picture. The liner and zipper (now has original Crown zipper) appears wartime replaced based on the neck wear, and knits look like modern replacements. The patches are the hand, carved leather type you would expect to find in the African/ Mediterranean theaters. The shoulder Ninth Air Force patch was found in the pocket, and likely removed when the unit was transferred from the Ninth to the Tenth Air Force in 1944. I have loosely re-stitched the patch to the shoulder using the original holes for display, but this can easily be removed. Given the presence of a few extra holes the 82nd BS patch looks to have been replaced or moved, but the name patch and wings look to be in their original spots. The shoulder insignia also looked to have replaced, likely upon Jackson's promotion through the pilot ranks. I believe he left the Air Force as a Lt. Col.
The jacket is about 17 1/4 inches across from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, and 22 1/2 inches across from armpit to armpit. The height from shoulder to the bottom of the knits is 25 1/2 inches. The sleeve length is 25 1/2 inches from the seam to the bottom of the knits.
US shipping will be $25 via priority mail. International shipping through ebay global shipping program.
