A Fraction of a Friend’s Collection

[Jennison]

I while back I posted a few photos of an early War Irvin jacket from a friend’s collection. He graciously allowed me to take as many photos as I wished, for posting here. I was only there for a couple of hours and I just started snapping away (it would take way too much time to remove a jacket from its mannequin for detail photos). Plus, this is a sampling of his collection; I couldn’t get them all in the time I had (they’re displayed in a building 120’ long). There are AAF, RAF, Navy/Marine Corps & AVG (Flying Tigers) jackets. Some of the A-2s are actually theatre made. The photos are in no particular order:

 

[Jennison]

More…

 

[Jennison]

Some Navy/Marine Corps jackets. I include the life jacket because it was plucked out of the oil covered, burning water at Pearl on Dec 7, 1941

 

[Jennison]

Some Flying Tigers jackets. Note that the blood chit is signed by Pappy Boyington (1981). Boyington was a Flying Tiger prior to his WWII service as a Marine aviator. Among many other AVG items not pictured is Robert L. Scott’s leather footlocker and other stuff of his. He wrote “Gd is My Copilot.”

 

[Jennison]

The WASPS….

 

[Jennison]

Before I left, we tooled around in his 1942 Willys Jeep, then we had a shot of Old Overholt in his Officer’s Club (yes, he recreated a full AAF Officer’s Club) He’s even got a staff car done up as General Savage’s from 12 O’Clock High.
I’ll take more photos next time I go back.

 

[warguy]

Thanks Jennison, looks like quite a collection. I would love to see his recreation of the officers club. I am considering doing something similar (I am building a new home soon and will be designing a new space for my collection). A few photos of the officers club would be greatly appreciate if possible. Best, Kevin

 

[Jennison]

Here are a few (poor) photos of the Officer’s Club. I’ll take some more & larger ones when I go back.

 

[Jennison]

And just to show what a heavy B-3 jacket could not protect against, here are a couple of his nasty, nasty, pieces of flak.

 

[Silver Surfer]

afriggnmazing!

 

[CBI]

niiiiiiice

 

[Dumpster D]

 

[B-Man2]

What an amazing personally owned collection.
Please extend an invitation to the owner to join the forum . We’d love to hear more about his collection and how it all began .

 

[Jennison]

Will do, and a nicer guy you couldn’t hope to meet.

 

[coolhandluke]

Wow...

The 490th BG jacket is my personal favorite out of that collection. A very dear late friend of mine's uncle was a pilot in the 490th (bottom row, center in photo below). I really need to find a reproduction of that patch or have one made.

 

[Jennison]

Seriously? The 490th is his focus. He’s going to join the Forum and can probably give you all the help you need. Swell guy. Here’s a photo of his father-in-law at Eye, Station 134, right after his A-2 was painted.

 

[coolhandluke]

Seriously? The 490th is his focus. He’s going to join the Forum and can probably give you all the help you need. Swell guy. Here’s a photo of his father-in-law at Eye, Station 134, right after his A-2 was painted.

Awesome photo!

The photos that I posted earlier are unfortunately the only copies of period photos that I have on hand. My late friend gave me his uncle's wings 10-15 years ago and his widow recently ran across those two photos as well as the documents below. His uncle, AC Jones Jr. is the co-pilot listed on both documents. It would be interesting to know if your friend is familiar with AC or any of his crew members.

 

[warguy]

Thanks for posting the photos of the “Officers Club”. This is a great thread. I really appreciate seeing the collection and his concepts for display. I love the painted bomb hanging in the room. I read the 100th bomb group used a traffic signal in their officers club to announce missions for the following day. Red, and green lights would illuminate so the guys could decide when they needed it stop and go to bed. I went to a vintage show a few months back with my wife and found a great vintage traffic signal wired up and on a stand for display. It was a great price and I couldn’t pass it up. Thanks again!

 

[Lorenzo_l]

What an outstanding collection. There are gems out there that we are not aware of. Thanks for posting and sharing the pictures @Jennison. It'd be great to have your friend on the forum and get to know about his collection in general and details of some of his jackets.

 

[Spitfireace]

I guess I don't need to feel guilty about my

Wow...

The 490th BG jacket is my personal favorite out of that collection. A very dear late friend of mine's uncle was a pilot in the 490th (bottom row, center in photo below). I really need to find a reproduction of that patch or have one made.

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View attachment 153095

Nice assortment of B-15s there!