M-422A jacket with patch and art 728th sqn USAAF

[dinomartino1]

United States Navy Bureau of Aeronautics M-422A pebble grained goatskin leather flying jacket.
Maker Fried, Ostermann Co. Wisconsin
Date made c 1941

Included in the left front pocket is a pen or pencil slot and the jacket has a Talom zipper. the rayon lining has split and torn, revealing four horizontal black elastic strips which assist in retaining the jacket's fit.
Painted on the back of the jacket in red and yellow is the legend "Stinger", over a depiction of a green camouflaged B-17 bomber with all turret guns firing and dropping a bomb load. Painted under this are two lines of 24 bombs, each with a white swastika, representing bombing missions; plus seven black and white German crosses, probably representing German fighters shot down, and one red bomb with a white swastika within, accompanied by the words "25 missions 1944" in red.
This jacket has on the right breast ta 130mm painted leather patch of the 728th Bombardment Squadron, 452nd Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force. The 452nd Bombardment Group was formed in 1943 and was one of the twenty four Heavy Bomber Groups operating the Boeing B-17G "Flying Fortress", stationed in England and flying almost constant raids against German industrial, civilian and military targets.

 

[Brettafett]

Now thats interesting. Would love to hear how this jacket got into the hands of an AAF B-10 crew member...

 

[Stony]

Now thats interesting. Would love to hear how this jacket got into the hands of an AAF B-10 crew member...

Trade more than likely.

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

Recently picked up an AN model Monarch named to a USAA Iwo veteran. Whether or not worn in combat is any ones guess.

Yes, I believe that the original owner of my jacket sourced it through a trade. It is my understanding that most all USAA personnel were shipped out throughout the Pacific via USN. So there was plenty of opportunity for inter service trade.

In addition, I have a CD interview he made with an aviation museum. During the interview one of the points made was that he was brought in as a replacement due to the March 26, 1945 Bonsai charge made against the 21st Fighters Group officers sleeping area.

He flew his last combat mission in a P-51 as a B-29 (Long Range) CAP escort and then doing interdiction attack work upon mainland Japan. Carried out on the last day of hostilities. Making the point that all was more than likely all done that day post end of hostility agreement.


Cheers, Dave

 

[B-Man2]

Hi All,

Recently picked up a AN-J-3A Monarch named to a USAA Iwo veteran. Whether or not worn in combat is any ones guess.

Yes, I believe that the original owner of my jacket sourced it through a trade. It is my understanding that most all USAA personnel were shipped out throughout the Pacific via USN. So there was plenty of opportunity for inter service trade.

In addition, I have a CD interview he made with an aviation museum. During the interview one of the points made was that he was brought in as a replacement due to the March 26, 1945 Bonsai charge made against the 21st Fighters Group officers sleeping area.

He flew his last combat mission in a P-51 as a B-29 (Long Range) CAP escort and then doing interdiction attack work upon mainland Japan. Carried out on the last day of hostilities. Making the point that all was more than likely all done that day post end of hostility agreement.


Cheers, Dave

Dave
Any chance of seeing some pictures of it?

 

[Maverickson]

Hi B-Man,

The jacket was received in fairly good shape. Here is the jacket.

[

Monarch AN-J-3A Purchase

• Maverickson
• Mar 23, 2018

The original owner Leo's obit https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?pid=176088754.

After reading his obituary I noticed that they mentioned an interview given. When I contacted the museum they were happy to let me have a copy.

Leo's name is rubber stamped into the lining. Then covered up by a expedient collar repair.



Cheers, Dave

 

[Grant]

Nice looking Monarch Dave! Given the AN designation, weren't these jackets issued to both AAF and Navy?

 

[Maverickson]

Nice looking Monarch Dave! Given the AN designation, weren't these jackets issued to both AAF and Navy?

Hi,

Yes, maybe used by both services but USN by both design and contract.

Many are of the mind set that leather flight jackets were not worn at all in the Pacific Theater. After speaking with Charles Stoher a VT-5 TORPCATS member & aviator who flew several combat missions off of the USS Franklin (CV-13) in March of 1945 over mainland Japan indicated that during those missions he and his flight crew nearly froze to death.

More over, seeing is believing. If you look here

at this obvious USAA crash on IWO I see ground crew participants definitely wearing USN type flight jackets.

Not unlike the the fore referenced Fried, Ostermann M-422A I just think that it is beyond cool that my jacket may have actually been there. If so, worn flying the P-51 for long range escort at both Iwo and Guam. In addition, I also know that my size 40 Monarch AN-J-3A was worn in combat during The Battle of Okinawa.

In the end, all used to perfect that my medium size AN-J-3A Monarch patterns.

Cheers, Dave