Looking to find VMF(AW)513 flight jacket

[stephen210]

I use to own this flight jacket. Long story. My girlfriend at the time, 1986 , gave it to me. Her parents found it in a rent house.
I found the family of the jackets owner and would love to help reunited it with them. I sold it in a grouping of stuff many many years ago. Big regret.
Thanks for any help

 

[stephen210]

Update on this old post. I finally found the family of Lt. Col. McCaffery, as stated before. Told them the story of how I came into possession of their father's jacket.
I found out it was stolen from his son, during a frat party around 1984. I got it in 1986. the jacket was found at a gym, my girlfriend at the times sister owned. (Correction to what I remembered above. I reached out to her and asked recently how she got it) Thus was given to me.
Of course, with TOPGUN out I worn the heck out of it going to A&P school to get my aircraft mechanic's license.

Fast forward to 2002ish, sold most my flight gear collection to fund lawyers, divorce, the jacket was sold to Garcia aviation. Lost track.
Last year I finally found the family and reached out to them. told them my story of the jacket.
I gifted them some patches I had located that were like the ones on the jacket and have been on the hunt to help reunite it to the family.

FOUND IT! Now the jacket as of 2 days ago was on its way back to them after 41 years.

William McCaffrey Obituary (2018) - -, AZ - The Arizona Republic

View William Francis McCaffrey's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

www.legacy.com

60s USMC Fighter Pilot G-1 Leather Flight Jacket - Medium

Genuine US Military issue Dated 1960 100% goatskin leather with a real mouton fur collar This jacket was worn by Capt. W.F. McCaffrey who served with VMF(AW)-513 (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All Weather) 513) "Flying Nightmares" under Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11). This unit was active...

omegamilitaria.com

It gave me great pleasure helping this family out.

 

[stephen210]

 

[Micawber]

Brilliant - well done in getting the jacket back to the family.

 

[Chandler]

This is really outstanding @stephen210 .

Please keep us updated on the ongoing communication with the family.

 

[stephen210]

This is really outstanding @stephen210 .

Please keep us updated on the ongoing communication with the family.

will do. Jim, the son, is going to call me once he receives the jacket.

 

[Chandler]

Just me, maybe, but this thread is what VLJ is all about to me and the respect for the heroes who earned these jackets.

 

[stephen210]

Just me, maybe, but this thread is what VLJ is all about to me and the respect for the heroes who earned these jackets.

I love that. Yes, you are correct. as a younger man I did not get it, Was a super cool jacket to wear. I do now as a 58-year-old man. I was on a mission to make this right especially when I found out the jacket was stolen.

 

[stephen210]

Quick update if anyone cares. Jacket arrived back with the family yesterday. I have not had a chance to speak with them yet. but I was sent this picture.

 

[B-Man2]

This is a great story with a happy ending. Congrats to you and the family.

I remember a story someone posted back around 2010, where things went a little sideways with a member who tried to return a jacket to a WWII vet . Maybe some of you older guys who were around back then remember it. Where a member found the original owner of an A2 and contacted him offering to give him back his jacket, if the owner simply paid the shipping and reimbursed him for what he paid for the jacket. The vet got very perturbed and argued that the jacket was issued to him and he wanted it returned and wouldnt pay a cent. If I remember the story correctly the member returned the jacket and absorbed the cost out of his own pocket. Later that year he saw the same jacket on eBay .
If anyone recalls the exact event or was involved in it please correct me if I got the story wrong .

 

[Chandler]

Later that year he saw the same jacket on eBay .
If anyone recalls the exact event or was involved in it please correct me if I got the story wrong .

I remember that incident, too -- but I don't remember it then being listed on eBay. What a joke.