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LOT 1489
Highly Desirable, Identified World War II USAAF B-17 “Mary Alice” Painted
A-2 Flight Jacket - World War II USAAF A-2 flight jackets identified to B-17 Flying Fortress crewmen have captured a special place in the hearts of modern collectors.
As they should, as these jackets serve as personal reminders to the gallant effort put forth by a generation in their fight against fascism. The details to this jacket tell a very interesting story. The jacket has a Crown zipper, and the data label is absent. The back
of the jacket serves as the leather canvas for artwork to the famed B-17 “Mary Alice,” Bugs Bunny carrying a bomb beneath the text “Mary Alice” and above the text “GNATZI KNIGHTMARE.” Assigned to the 615th Bomb Squadron, 401st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, the B-17 “Mary Alice” was named after pilot Don Knight’s mother and returned to the United States after the war having completed a total of 64 bombing missions. Like the majority of B-17s of the post-war era, the “Mary Alice” was scrapped. A B-17 representing “Mary Alice” is on display at the Duxford War Museum. A-2 jackets associated with the “Mary Alice” are highly desirable, and only a few have come up for sale. A leather name tag for Kelly F. Harrouff is sewn to the left chest above a heavily worn leather patch that is unfortunately unidentifiable but likely was bomb squadron or bomb group insignia. 2nd Lieutenant Kelly F. Harrouff (1924-1994) served as a navigator assigned to the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.