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LOT 1502
World War II USAAF CBI Theater 331st Troop Carrier Squadron, 10th Air Force A-2 Flight Jacket - This World War II A-2
fight jacket was worn by James N. Thompson, assigned to the 331st Troop Carrier Squadron, 10th Air Force, which operated in the China Burma India Theater. The squadron’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 of Chinese units. The task was extremely difficult made more dangerous by the Himalayas which they few 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. The
jacket is a size 40, was manufactured by Aero
Leather Clothing Co. and has a Talon zipper.
The left front of the jacket has Thompson’s
leather name tag above insignia of the 331st
Troop Carrier Squadron in multi-piece leather. The 10th Air Force and the CBI patches on the right and left shoulders respectively are also multi-piece leather. The back of the jacket features a fantastic, large multi-leather blood chit.
CONDITION: Very good overall showing the wear and tear for a jacket worn during wartime operations with a couple repairs on the waist band. The cuffs and waist band show typical wear and insect holes. Faint, illegible markings appear on the front right. The jacket has received in theater alterations meant to shorten the size. The multi- piece leather patches and blood chit are fine. An attrractive example of an A-2 flight jacket that flew over “The Hump” during World War II. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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