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LOT 1314
Documented Identified World War II CBI Theater U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Combat Cargo Group Early Production A-2 Flight Jacket - This early production A-2 fight jacket
was worn by J.B. Bass with the 1st Combat Cargo Group, 1st Squadron, which operated in the China-Burma-India Theater. Equipped with C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft, the 1st Combat Cargo Group’s mission was to carry troops and supplies and maintain supply routes to ensure units in the combat zone remained operational. This included the resupplying and moving Chinese units. The task was extremely difficult made more dangerous by the Himalayas which they flew over. At its conclusion the airlift logged an estimated 1.5 million flight hours and delivered a total tonnage of 650,000 net tons. The operation was one of the most successful of the war.
Bass’ A-2 jacket dates to 1936, is a size 38, was manufactured by Werber Leather Coat
Co. of Beacon, New York, and has a Talon zipper. Werber Leather Coat Co. is a rare
A-2 maker, and the label reads in part, “DWG. NO. 30-1415/A.C. ORDER NO. 36-1112P.” Reinforcing studs, a typical feature of early A-2s, are at the bottom near the end of the waistband. The date of the jacket suggests that Bass was an early member of the Army Air Corps. The jacket is decorated with several fantastic CBI Theater made multi-piece leather insignias including the large American flag and blood chit featured on the back. The left chest carries Bass’ leather name tag and a large 1st Combat Cargo Squadron patch (a rabbit riding a C-47), which is still used today by the 326th Airlift Squadron flying C-17 Globemaster IIIs stationed at Dover AFB, Delaware. The right chest carries a large
1st Combat Cargo Group patch. A CBI patch is featured on the left shoulder, and a 14th
Air Force patch is featured on the right shoulder. The jacket is pictured and identified in
Maguire and Conway’s “American Flight Jackets” on page 250. Also included is a bush jacket
featuring USAAF shoulder patch, CBI shoulder patch with snaps, and embroidered wings,
USAAF officer lapel insignia, and 2nd lieutenant insignia.
CONDITION: Very good displaying honest wear and use with some scattered repairs on the
cuffs and waist band. The patches have aged and remain very attractive. The American flag
and blood chit retain overall strong colors. The bush jacket is good with some staining. A
rare early production Werber Leather Coat Co. made A-2 jacket worn by an airman with the
1st Combat Cargo Group with beautiful theater made multi-piece leather insignias.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 1315
Painted Metal Artwork for Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-222, “Flying Deuces” - Established in 1942, VMF-222 was actively engaged in the Philippines and Okinawa, operating out of Munda, Bougainville, Green Island, Guinan and Samar. The squadron was known as the “Flying Deuces” for the number of the squadron and was later dubbed the “SeaBee Air Force” due to the very tight relationship they established with the 61st Construction Battalion, which was still trying to assemble the airbase at Guinan when the 222 arrived and would carry the CB insignia on their engine cowlings in addition to their own, a winged “V” behind three “2” playing cards (spade, diamond and club). The earliest version of the insignia, as seen here, had a green circle backing the “V” and the words “FLYING/DEUCES” arranged above and below. This example has been stencil painted on a sheet
of blue painted aluminum, which is 27 1/2 inches wide and 19 inches tall, with white matting applied around the front side. The back side is completely exposed, with a set of repeating “24 ST.” and “.040 ANRA” markings on the back and a hand-signed “Save/ Lt. Barnett”. The repeating markings have been seen on sheet metal produced for American aircraft, and available records put a First Lieutenant Robert V. Barnett with VMF-222; while not explicitly documented, this may have been taken directly off a VMF- 222 fighter as a memento for Barnett, likely from a section of fuselage, wing or tail slated for replacement. In contrast to WWI era fuselage canvas which could be rolled up for transport and storage, this would have been a much more awkward memento to transport, and few such items would return to the States following World War II. Full service records for Barnett aren’t available, but available records put him as a resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who qualified for aviator training in 1942, and saw action
over Rabaul in 1944, losing a Corsair but successfully bailing out and returning to the 222; newspapers of the period report that his bailout interrupted a USN instruction film about bailing out then being screened on Green Island. Post-war records are also limited, with a note in 1947 of Barnett being an aviator with the Marine Corps Reserve, but no obituary or other listings. CONDITION: Very good overall. The front shows a few minor scuffs and flakes, while retaining strong color and detail in the paint. The back shows mild wear and traces of old tape around the edges.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN FLIGHT JACKETS
BY MACGUIRE & CONWAY
288 Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000