A few A-2's from the collection

[JGC]

This last jacket was also to an NCO with the 22nd Photo Squadron, 7th Photo Group, attached to the 8th airforce. This squadron flew P-38's, P-51's, and also Spitfires early in the war.

 

[JGC]

Another item from the collection is this M-442A flight jacket of Cmdr. Reuben H Denoff, USN. Denoff was an ace with 5 confirmed kills, he flew with VF-9 and later was the CO of VBF-12. He flew off the USS Ranger, USS Essex, and the USS Randolph, a true American hero.

 

[jack aranda]

Hi, JGC:
I'm way late with my wows! and thank yous! for this amazing collection you've shared with us, but, they are no less earnest for being late. What an amazing history you've put together. Thank you.

 

[Chris217]

I agree!! What an impressive collection of flight jackets!

 

[bseal]

This last jacket was also to an NCO with the 22nd Photo Squadron, 7th Photo Group, attached to the 8th airforce. This squadron flew P-38's, P-51's, and also Spitfires early in the war.

:arrow: http://www.gibson-barnes.com/index.php? ... rod_id=242

 

[JGC]

bseal, thanks for the link. That's a pretty descent reproduction patch, you can see where they missed on the smaller details when compared to the original. Thanks Jon

 

[Stony]

Another item from the collection is this M-442A flight jacket of Cmdr. Reuben H Denoff, USN. Denoff was an ace with 5 confirmed kills, he flew with VF-9 and later was the CO of VBF-12. He flew off the USS Ranger, USS Essex, and the USS Randolph, a true American hero.

Nice jacket JGC! Denoff was also the recipient of the Silver Star, DFC and seven Air Medals according to the American Fighter Aces album. His first two victories were with VF-9 and were a Val and a Kate in the F6F-3. His next three victories came with VF-12 and were a Zeke, a Tojo and a Jill in the F6F-5 according to "Stars and Bars". He died January 5, 1988 of cancer.


<S>

 

[JGC]

Another item from the collection is this M-442A flight jacket of Cmdr. Reuben H Denoff, USN. Denoff was an ace with 5 confirmed kills, he flew with VF-9 and later was the CO of VBF-12. He flew off the USS Ranger, USS Essex, and the USS Randolph, a true American hero.

Nice jacket JGC! Denoff was also the recipient of the Silver Star, DFC and seven Air Medals according to the American Fighter Aces album. His first two victories were with VF-9 and were a Val and a Kate in the F6F-3. His next three victories came with VF-12 and were a Zeke, a Tojo and a Jill in the F6F-5 according to "Stars and Bars". He died January 5, 1988 of cancer.


<S>

Stony, thanks for the input. I've been trying to locate a photo of Denoff, any suggestions? Thanks Jon

 

[Stony]

Stony, thanks for the input. I've been trying to locate a photo of Denoff, any suggestions? Thanks Jon

Jon, the only photo I have of Denoff is in the American Fighter Aces album. He's wearing a kahki shirt with his wings and a kahki garrison cap with his Lt. bars on one side and the Navy anchor/shield pin on the other. I could scan the picture and send it to you, but it's fairly small (2.5x3 in.) and will probably come out grainy.

Let me know.

 

[oose]

Hi,

This is all I could find on the web, again poor quality sorry.

yours stu

 

[JGC]

Stony, thanks for the input. I've been trying to locate a photo of Denoff, any suggestions? Thanks Jon

Jon, the only photo I have of Denoff is in the American Fighter Aces album. He's wearing a kahki shirt with his wings and a kahki garrison cap with his Lt. bars on one side and the Navy anchor/shield pin on the other. I could scan the picture and send it to you, but it's fairly small (2.5x3 in.) and will probably come out grainy.

Let me know.

Stony, I definitely would be interested in the photo. Thanks Jon

 

[JGC]

Hi,

This is all I could find on the web, again poor quality sorry.

yours stu

Thanks Stu, I appreciate the help. Jon

 

[JGC]

I have the day off so I thought I'd post a couple more of my Navy flight jackets. I don't have much information on either one of these jackets, they came in a small navy aviation collection I purchased some time ago. The first is a G-1 and the 2nd is a M-442a. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jon

 

[dadgad]

The G1 looks like a Pritzker's but would be better to see the top edge of the wind flap and the bottom front of the jacket near the zipper box and the waistband.

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

Again, thank you all for the welcome to this forum. This next A-2 is named to Lt H.W. Agan, he flew P-38's with the 339th Fighter Squadron. This is the outfit that was given the task of intercepting Japanese Admiral Yamamoto's plane and shooting it down. If anyone has information on the patch on the left breast, I'd be interested in finding out if this is a Group or Squadron patch. Thanks Jon

Patch of hand gripping knife is the early P-39/P-400 era 12th Fighter Squadron
[email protected]

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

I have the day off so I thought I'd post a couple more of my Navy flight jackets. I don't have much information on either one of these jackets, they came in a small navy aviation collection I purchased some time ago. The first is a G-1 and the 2nd is a M-442a. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jon

First jacket wasp in boxing gloves is VF-72 a disney design, second patch is VT-88 "the Tormentors".
[email protected]

 

[JGC]

I just added this fantastic M-421b Navy summer flight jacket to my collection, but what makes this one special is who it belonged too. This jacket is ID'ed to Navy Cdr Charles L. Crommelin, winner of the Navy Cross, 2 DFC, and the Purple Heart. Crommelin flew Hellcats and was Commander of Carrier Air Group 5 aboard the Yorktown, and later commanded Carrier Air Group 12 aboard the USS Randolph. He was a member of one of the most distinguished families in Naval history, the 5 brothers all graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Four of the brothers were fliers during WWII, and the 5th was a Capt of a destroyer. I've included a copy of the Citation for the Navy Cross, Commander Crommelin was Kill in Action while flying a mission over Okinawa.
*CROMMELIN, CHARLES LAURENCE (KIA)
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Charles Laurence Crommelin (0-070011), Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Fighter Plane and Commander of AIR GROUP TWELVE (AG-12), embarked from the U.S.S. RANDOLPH (CV-15), during the first attack on Japan by Naval carrier-based planes on 17 February 1945. Acting as Strike Leader for a coordinated attack on a vital aircraft engine plant in the Tokyo area, Commander Crommelin courageously refused to turn back when he discovered, upon reaching the Japanese coast, that his engine was operating at greatly reduced power and he knew extremely adverse weather conditions made necessary a long trip over the Japanese mainland to the target area. Pressing home the attack in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition, he was last to leave the target area, taking damage assessment photographs before delivering his own rocket and strafing attack. Commander Crommelin, by his outstanding professional skill, inspiring leadership and gallant devotion to duty, contributed materially to the serious damage of an important enemy installation, thus upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Commander, 1st Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 0540 (September 12, 1945)
Personal Awards: Navy Cross (WWII), 2@ Distinguished Flying Crosses, Purple Heart

 

[Willy McCoy]

Nice to meet you and thank you for posting all those nice jackets. The 55J14 jacket looks to be a PX purchase. Very nice jacket. The M-421b is also one of my favorite jackets, just too hard to find them.

 

[JGC]

Nice to meet you and thank you for posting all those nice jackets. The 55J14 jacket looks to be a PX purchase. Very nice jacket. The M-421b is also one of my favorite jackets, just too hard to find them.

Thanks Willy, I love to share them with other collectors. Jon

 

[zoomer]

After the AAF cancelled the A-2, in some cases they ran out of jackets to issue to later war
flyers, thus the PP jackets.

It's been heavily alluded that the A-2 remained on in stores for many years after WW2, and after the cancellation from issue, some even into the Korean conflict. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to know the whys and wherefores for the purchase of this jacket.

AIUI, it was kind of a privilege for WW2 vets. I'm not sure a young puke could have worn one without being razzed.