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LOT 1436
Identified World War II USAAF 8th Air Force B-24 “Blues in the Nite” Painted A-2 Flight Jacket - This A-2 flight jacket is identified to nose turret gunner Ben W. Johnson, Jr. of the 448th Bomb Group as confirmed in the included statement of provenance indicating the jacket was released by the Johnson family by his granddaughter. Johnson flew 35 missions aboard the B-24 “Blues in the Nite” over occupied Europe and Germany. His life story was
told in the included book “Lifelines of Liberty: The Life and Legacy of Ben W. Johnson Jr.”
by his granddaughter Aliceson Haynes. Johnson’s jacket was made by Perry Sportswear
Inc. (unsigned label), is a size 38, and has a Conmar zipper. The back of the jacket serves
as the leather canvas for painted artwork: a pinup girl surrounded by 34 bomb silhouettes
representing 34 bombing missions and a parachuting create representing an airdrop along with “Blues in the Nite” in blue paint. Originally organized during World War II, the 448th Bomb Group flew bombing missions in support of the Allied strategic bombing campaign against Germany. In all, the 448th BG flew 262 combat missions, dropped 15,272 tons of bombs on enemy targets, and lost 101 bombers in combat.
CONDITION: Very good overall, displaying moderate, as expected, wear overall to the leather, a small hole in the lining, and minimal wear to the waist and cuffs. Much of the original paint to the artwork remains. An attractive example of an identified B-24 crewmember’s A-2 flight jacket.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1437
World War II U.S. Army Pathfinder Grouping - Conceived and assembled following lessons learned on earlier Allied air drops, the Pathfinder units of United States Army served as the tip
of the spearhead of American forces. Selected from among the ranks of the airborne infantry, Pathfinders were trained on an array of signal and guidance devices, with which they could go into an intended drop zone ahead of the main airborne body to act as guides for the larger grouping of planes and gliders. This
job, to be blunt, was exceptionally dangerous; between when they dropped and when
the rest of the unit made it in, they were alone in very hostile territory, and they
were expected to actively seek and destroy
enemies who presented a threat to the drop
zone. Pathfinder forces saw combat in the
parachute assault on Normandy, the invasion
of the South of France in Operation Dragoon,
and Operation Market Garden. This lot consists
of several Pathfinder related World War II
artifacts. 1) Size 34R jacket featuring a large,
fantastic, and rare embroidered 1st Pathfinder
Group patch depicting Bugs Bunny on the left
chest and captain shoulder rank. 2) AN-6530
goggles. 3) “AVIATION” marked binoculars with
leather carry case. Case is marked with the
initials “:J.S.” 4) “U.S. M3 CASE” marked fighting
knife with sheath. 5) “1943 Parachute Training,”
Fort Benning, Georgia, photo booklet. 6) Silk safety
chute marked “PART NO. AN69310/HAYES MFG.
CORP./DATE FEB. 1943” above a U.S. anchor.
CONDITION: The items are very good overall with the jacket showing some light staining and an excellent patch, a scratched goggle lens, and sharpened knife blade.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
322 Estimate: 2,000 - 4,000
LOT 1438
Grouping of Patches and Pins Associated with the U.S. Fifth Army - An included ribbon
bar has the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, WWII Victory, and Army of Occupation ribbons. Also present are a set of “US” and “winged propeller” lapel pins, a brass 5th Army pin commemorating the liberation of Naples, silver jump wings with a silver star on the risers, jump wing, balloonist and glider patches, a Combat Infantry Badge patch, three Airborne Trooper Carrier Patches (one round, two shield, all embroidered with bullion wire), Allied Airborne patch, a unit insignia featuring a parachuting angry cat, “AF” patch and a 5th Army patch.
CONDITION: Fine overall.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500