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The size 36 jacket was made by Star Sportswear Manufacturing Co. (contract no. 42-18245-P). On the left chest is Lt. Keeny’s leather name tag. This tag features his name in English as well as in Chinese. Below the name tag is a fantastic multi-color leather insignia of the 374th Squadron: a highly stylized wombat clutching a pair of bombs. On the right chest
is a painted white triangle with “80 DAYS” in red lettering. The shoulders carry a multi-leather CBI patch on the left and a 14th AF patch on the right. Lieutenant bars are sewn to the shoulder straps. A blood chit is pinned to the lining. The back of the jacket has a wonderful multi-color leather blood chit. At the end of World War II, the 308th Bomb Group
had dropped more than 3,000 tons of bombs on Japanese targets and officially shot down 22 enemy aircraft.
CONDITION: Very good overall as an A-2 jacket worn by a bombardier
of the 374th Squadron operating out of China. The painted “80 DAYS”
has faded. The cuffs and waist band show wear and repairs. The leather patches and both blood chits are fine. A-2 jackets identified to a B-24 crewmember stationed in the Pacific theater are rarely encountered. Finding one in any condition is difficult. The tropical environment meant many did not survive. This A-2 jacket is certainly a prized crown jewel for the World War II aviation collector.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 27,500
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