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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.