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Documented, Historically Significant World War II USAAF 492nd Bombardment Group B-24 “Mary
Jane Ace of Spades” Painted A-2 Flight Jacket Identified to an Airman who Took Part in OSS
Operations - This World War II A-2 flight jacket was manufactured by I. Spiewak & Sons, is a size 42, has a
Crown zipper, and was worn by SSGT Clarence E. Craver, a radio gunner aboard the B-24 “Mary Jane Ace of
Spades.” Craver flew a number top secret missions for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Craver’s jacket
is pictured and identified in Maguire and Conway’s “American Flight Jackets” on page 274. In this publication Craver’s military service record is cited: “Tech Support Clarence E. Craver was a radio gunner who took part in ‘Operation Carpetbagger.’ He flew combat missions into France, Denmark, Italy, and Yugoslavia from July 30, 1944, to April 24, 1945. He was assigned to the 15th Provisional Special Group, 859th Bomber Squadron. Originally, he was assigned to the 492nd Bomber Group, then to the 15th Provisional Group, and later to the 261st Special Group. Craver and his unit were top secret. They were told to remove their insignia, which is evidenced on the front of the jacket, and were instructed not to speak about their operations even after the war. Craver related that they were briefed only on what they had to know, and before night missions people were mysteriously driven up and loaded on their aircraft. He also mentioned that they made several landings in France to drop off and pick up passengers and supplies—no mean accomplishment for a B-24.”
In 1943, the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, requested the services of the U.S. Army Air Forces to participate in special convert operations to France from Harrington, England. Initial operations were dedicated to leaflet dropping missions, but plans quickly become more audacious as the OSS called upon the USAAF to fly under the cover of darkness deep into occupied Europe and drop supplies to resistance groups. These highly dangerous clandestine missions operated under the codename Operation Carpetbagger. The 492nd Bombardment Group was the best known unit involvement in the operation. For these missions to be successful, the 492nd BG received modified B-24s. The Liberators were equipped with a special two-way radio that allowed aircrews to contact individuals on the ground in order to coordinate final airdrop instructions. The planes received a gloss black paint scheme to better the odds in evading German searchlights. Pilot and copilot windows were replaced with special blisters that allowed for greater visibility. The ball turret was replaced with a cargo hatch called a “Joe Hole” for parachutists
to drop through. The waist guns were replaced with blackout curtains. The bulk of the missions were flown in support of the upcoming invasion of Normandy. Missions began to taper off once the allies were on the continent. Aircrews always ran the risk of German night fighters and flak as well as crashing into hillsides during low level airdrops. According to the National Museum of the United States Air Force: “From January 1944 to May 1945, [Carpetbaggers] completed 1,860 sorties and delivered 20,495 containers and 11,174 packages of vital supplies to the resistance forces in western and northwestern Europe. More than 1,000 parachutists dropped through the B-24 Joe Holes into enemy territory. Twenty-five B-24s were lost and eight more were so badly damaged by enemy action and other causes that they were no longer fit for combat. Personnel losses initially totaled 208 missing and killed and one slightly wounded. Fortunately, many of those listed as missing had parachuted to safety and returned to Harrington with the help of the same resistance forces they had been sent to resupply.”
Craver’s name is hand marked in ink on the lining of the jacket. The back of the jacket serves as the leather canvas for a fantastic painted artwork depicting Carver’s B-24 in darkened colors and flying through a moonlit sky. Above the B-24 is an impressive tally of 50 missions. As noted in the aforementioned book, 50 is “an astonishing number of missions for heavy bomber crewmen, even though most of the missions were dedicated
to the supply of the resistance and partisans.” The small burnt spot on the left sleeve is referenced in the publication as the spot “where hot flak
had embedded itself, shows that such missions could be extremely dangerous.” As noted, the front of the jacket shows evidence of insignia Craver
was instructed by his superiors to remove. Also includes a service shirt, tie, belt, web belt with double magazine pouch, garrison cap, U.S. Army sewing kit (incomplete), and the period booklet “Hup! Hoop! Heep! Haw!” by Private S.D. Babbitt, Jr. Babbitt’s booklet is a collection of comics depicting life in aerial gunnery school. The cover is hand marked with Craver’s name and many of the pages have signed well wishes from Craver’s classmates. CONDITION: Very good displaying honest use and wear. The noted small burn on the sleeve caused by flak is an authentic hallmark proving this
A-2 flight jacket saw actual combat! The fantastic artwork associated with top secret OSS missions of the Carpetbaggers retains most of the strong original paint. This identified Carpetbagger A-2 flight jacket is worthy of the most advanced public or private aviation collections.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN AMERICAN FLIGHT JACKETS BY MAGUIRE AND CONWAY
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