Page 342 - 88-BOOK1

340
LOT 411
Identified, Documented World War II USAAF 456th Bombardment Group B-24 “New Old Men” Painted A-2 Flight Jacket - Offered here is a wonderful 15th Air Force A-2 flight jacket worn by air crewman T/Sergeant Harold Scherer of Baltimore, Maryland, assigned to the 747th Bomb Squadron, 456th Bombardment Group. The jacket was manufactured by Dubow, has a Talon zipper, and is a size 44. This A-2 jacket is pictured and identified in Maguire and Conway’s “American Fight Jackets” on pages 275- 276 where it is noted that TSGT Harold Scherer was an aerial gunner on a B-24 “New Old Men” and the jacket is referenced as “thought to be painted in early 1944 by an Italian artist in the area of the base at Stornara. A B-24 is painted in flight on its bomb run. It is typical of those done by professional Italian artists.” Italian artists were known to set up shop just outside U.S.
air bases. Jackets belonging to 15th AF aircrews were commonly painted by Italian artists, and their work is some of the most impressive collector’s encounter. As mentioned the back of the jacket serves as the leather canvas for a fantastic and large work of in theater art depicting “New Old Men” on a bombing run in a shield with the aircraft’s name, a tally of 22 missions, nine larger bombs in yellow and an additional three bombs being released from the B-24. The left shoulder sleeve has USAAF insignia with the added number “15” for 15th AF. The left chest carries painted aircrew wings and Scherer’s leather name tag (hand marked). Includes Scherer’s cased Air Medal with four bronze oak clusters, one silver oak cluster and
his name engraved on the back and a silver aircrew wing (clutch back). Scherer is identified as a member of the 747th Bomb Squadron, 456th Bombardment Group on the website 456bg.org (https://www.456bg. org/747th-squadron.cfm?ln=s&startrow=1).
Less than two weeks after reaching Italy, the 456th BG flew its first combat mission in February 1944. Operations were mostly against strategic
targets such as in May when the 456th BG made its first of ten raids on the infamous Ploiesti oil facilities. The bombardment group earned its first DUC on a mission over Wiener Neustadt for withstanding heavy fighter attacks while bombing a manufacturing center during adverse weather when the other groups turned back. In July and August the 456th BG supported the invasion of Southern France. The 456th BG received a second DUC for the bombing of the oil facilities at Budapest.