dinomartino1
Well-Known Member
I don't usually buy jackets unless they are my size but I made an exception for this one. I'm still waiting for the jacket and these are all the pics I have, I will post some more when it arrives.
Maverickson knows a hell a lot more than I do about US navy jackets so I will quote from him.
"The B-G INC was a 1950 model 55J14 USN type G-1 flight jacket. Notably the 55J14 model G-1 was the first redesigned series of USN jackets immediately following WW-2. Presumably this model jacket was let once WW-2 era flight jackets were used up. Better tailored to fit it's intended use over most earlier WW-2 era jackets.
This B - G INC. jacket is truly a between the Wars mil spec made jacket, issued just prior to the Korean War and during a time when naval aviation had been diminished to pre WW-2 levels. By 1950 the number of active duty aviators were at an all time low. Likewise, this particular make jacket is from an extremely low volume contract and as a result seldom if ever seen come available.
This particular maker utilized the classic design as the WW-2 era M-422A. Yet, with it's maker's own spin having multiple individualized unique characteristics and transitional by design. In addition, the changes implemented to create this 55J14 model jacket verses the WW-2 type can be found in the sleeves. With more taper set into sleeve ends and having an ever so slightly shorter body length. Yet that body length is still slightly longer than all late model G-1s.
As an early G-1 design this jacket has a relatively small back panel as opposed to it's front panel and a design that dates back to the first model M-422. That longer length front panel extends back past the underarm & connects to the back panel behind the sleeve. However & in this case done with a more modern tapered cut by not using all 90 degree angles to create it's panels. Thus eliminating the inherently more boxy looking earlier design utilized by most but not all WW-2 era jacket makers.
In addition, this B - G INC and not unlike another (Aviators Clothing Co.) early 55J14 jackets, this maker incorporated a slight drop to the front panel. All of which creates a blousy look to the jacket.
Another interesting fact about the original B - G INC jackets was it's hide. In this case, arguably the last maker to utilized vegetable tanned goat hides for their builds. Not seen with every jacket from this same maker but more often than not."
45th infantry division patch on the sleeve, a shame we will never why that was put there the 45th did see a lot of action in Korea.
VF-112 patch on the sleeve.
VA-112 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber-Fighter Squadron VBF-11 on 9 April 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-12A on 15 November 1946, then as VF-112 on 15 July 1948. It was finally redesignated as VA-112 on 15 February 1959. The squadron was disestablished on 10 October 1969. Its nickname from 1961 to 1969 was the Broncos
Handle 1946, Fighting Twelve.
1959, Broncos.
1966, Bombing Broncos.
VA-172 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-82 on 20 August 1945, redesignated as Fighter Squadron VF-18A on 15 November 1946, as VF-172 on 11 August 1948, and as VA-172 on 1 November 1955. The squadron was disestablished on 15 January 1971.
Its handle was the Checkmates from 1946-1950, and the Blue Bolts thereafter.
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB/CVA/CV-42) was the second of three Midway-class aircraft carriers. To her crew, she was known as "Swanky Franky," "Foo-De-Roo," or "Rosie," with the last nickname probably the most popular. Roosevelt spent most of her active deployed career operating in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the United States Sixth Fleet. The ship was decommissioned in 1977 and was scrapped shortly afterward. She was the first aircraft carrier of the United States Navy to be named in honor of a President of the United States.
From the book VF-11/111 ‘Sundowners’ 1942–95
By Barrett Tillm
Maverickson knows a hell a lot more than I do about US navy jackets so I will quote from him.
"The B-G INC was a 1950 model 55J14 USN type G-1 flight jacket. Notably the 55J14 model G-1 was the first redesigned series of USN jackets immediately following WW-2. Presumably this model jacket was let once WW-2 era flight jackets were used up. Better tailored to fit it's intended use over most earlier WW-2 era jackets.
This B - G INC. jacket is truly a between the Wars mil spec made jacket, issued just prior to the Korean War and during a time when naval aviation had been diminished to pre WW-2 levels. By 1950 the number of active duty aviators were at an all time low. Likewise, this particular make jacket is from an extremely low volume contract and as a result seldom if ever seen come available.
This particular maker utilized the classic design as the WW-2 era M-422A. Yet, with it's maker's own spin having multiple individualized unique characteristics and transitional by design. In addition, the changes implemented to create this 55J14 model jacket verses the WW-2 type can be found in the sleeves. With more taper set into sleeve ends and having an ever so slightly shorter body length. Yet that body length is still slightly longer than all late model G-1s.
As an early G-1 design this jacket has a relatively small back panel as opposed to it's front panel and a design that dates back to the first model M-422. That longer length front panel extends back past the underarm & connects to the back panel behind the sleeve. However & in this case done with a more modern tapered cut by not using all 90 degree angles to create it's panels. Thus eliminating the inherently more boxy looking earlier design utilized by most but not all WW-2 era jacket makers.
In addition, this B - G INC and not unlike another (Aviators Clothing Co.) early 55J14 jackets, this maker incorporated a slight drop to the front panel. All of which creates a blousy look to the jacket.
Another interesting fact about the original B - G INC jackets was it's hide. In this case, arguably the last maker to utilized vegetable tanned goat hides for their builds. Not seen with every jacket from this same maker but more often than not."
45th infantry division patch on the sleeve, a shame we will never why that was put there the 45th did see a lot of action in Korea.
VF-112 patch on the sleeve.
VA-112 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber-Fighter Squadron VBF-11 on 9 April 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-12A on 15 November 1946, then as VF-112 on 15 July 1948. It was finally redesignated as VA-112 on 15 February 1959. The squadron was disestablished on 10 October 1969. Its nickname from 1961 to 1969 was the Broncos
Handle 1946, Fighting Twelve.
1959, Broncos.
1966, Bombing Broncos.
- 25 Mar 1948: USS Valley Forge operated in the Persian Gulf with Saudi Arabian Prince Ibn Saud embarked to view air operations. However, the air display was cancelled because of a sand storm and hazy conditions.
- 29 Apr 1948: Valley Forge moored port side to Dokkeskjaerkaien Dock, Bergen, Norway. The mooring was conducted without the aid of tugs, using the engine power of the squadron’s eight F8Fs spotted on the forward deck and eight other aircraft on the aft deck. The mooring operation was called Operation Pinwheel.
- 5 Aug 1950: The squadron participated in its first combat operations, flying sorties against targets in the Mokpo-Kwangju area of South Korea.
- 12–19 Sep 1950: The squadron participated in the pre-assault strikes against targets in and around Inchon, Korea, in preparation for the Inchon landing on 15 September. These strikes included road, rail, and airfield sweeps and Combat Air Patrol. During and after the invasion the squadron continued to fly daily air sweeps, striking at targets of opportunity and the enemy’s lines of communications.
- 10 Nov 1950: The squadron’s first encounter with MiG-15s occurred during a sortie over Sinuiju, North Korea. One MiG-15 was damaged during the engagement.
- 23–24 June 1952: The squadron participated in coordinated strikes against North Korean hydroelectric power plants, the first heavy attack conducted against these installations. Nine different hydroelectric power plants were struck by forces from Carrier Air Groups 2, 7, 11, 19, and the 5th Air Force.
- 6–13 Feb 1955: The squadron was on station and available for air support during the evacuation of over 26,000 personnel from the Tachen Islands during the First Taiwan Straits Crisis.
- 24 Apr 1967: Squadron aircraft participated in a multi-carrier coordinated strike against North Vietnam’s Kép Air Base, northeast of Hanoi. This was the first time a strike had been conducted against a North Vietnam MiG airfield.
- 10 May 1967: Commander M. L. Minnis, Sr., was awarded the Silver Star for action during a strike into North Vietnam against the thermal power plant at Haiphong.
VA-172 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-82 on 20 August 1945, redesignated as Fighter Squadron VF-18A on 15 November 1946, as VF-172 on 11 August 1948, and as VA-172 on 1 November 1955. The squadron was disestablished on 15 January 1971.
Its handle was the Checkmates from 1946-1950, and the Blue Bolts thereafter.
- 28 Jan 1949: Squadron aircraft, while secured to the flight deck and engines running, were used to assist in berthing USS Midway in Augusta, Sicily. This procedure is known as Operation Pinwheel.
- 23 Aug 1951: The squadron participated in its first combat sortie over Korea. This also marked the first use of the F2H-2 in combat.
- 25 Aug 1951: The squadron’s F2H-2 aircraft, along with F9Fs from VF-51, provided escort for 30 U.S. Air Force B-29 bombers raiding the marshalling yards at Rashin, North Korea.
- Nov–Dec 1956: USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, was ordered to deploy and operate off the coast of Spain as a result of the Suez crisis.
- Sep–Oct 1957: A detachment of squadron’s F2H-2 aircraft were embarked on USS Tarawa to provide fighter support for the antisubmarine warfare (ASW) carrier during a NATO exercise in the North Atlantic.
- Nov 1961: VA-172, embarked on Roosevelt, operated off the coast of the Dominican Republic to support the newly established democratic government.
- May 1963: Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, deployed to the Caribbean and operated off the coast of Haiti in response to a rebel attempt to overthrow the Haitian government.
- Jul–Sep 1963: A detachment from the squadron was deployed aboard USS Randolph to provide fighter coverage for the ASW Task Group during operations in the Caribbean Sea.
- 8–29 Aug 1964: Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, was ordered to operate in the vicinity of Cyprus after fighting escalated between Turkish and Greek forces on the island.
- Aug 1966: The squadron commenced combat operations in Vietnam. These were its first combat sorties since the Korean War in 1952.
- 2 Dec 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Bruce A. Nystrom, was lost in a night reconnaissance mission over the Red River delta area in North Vietnam.
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB/CVA/CV-42) was the second of three Midway-class aircraft carriers. To her crew, she was known as "Swanky Franky," "Foo-De-Roo," or "Rosie," with the last nickname probably the most popular. Roosevelt spent most of her active deployed career operating in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the United States Sixth Fleet. The ship was decommissioned in 1977 and was scrapped shortly afterward. She was the first aircraft carrier of the United States Navy to be named in honor of a President of the United States.
| Commissioned: 27 October 1945 | |
| Decommissioned:30 September 1977 |
From the book VF-11/111 ‘Sundowners’ 1942–95
By Barrett Tillm
