Need a little help gathering information about this jacket.

[Wedge417]

Hi everyone,

I've had this picture for a while now.

I don't recall where I found it but I thought the Japanese kanji with the p-38 was interesting and would make a good project (and simple) for leather art.

Now Japanese kanjis mean "I feel sorry / pity for you" mind you that it's a bit hard to translate into English words, but the spirit is there.

Can any body provide any more information as to when this was taken? What unit etc.?

I see a mae vest, so water is not too far from the pilot.
It's Japanese alright but it would seem odd for a US pilot to write in Japanese on his jacket during the pacific war. Unless he was a college boy, and studied Japanese, or was part of some exchange with Japan before the war where he learned enough Japanese to write sarcastic lines. Could it be an early Korean War picture, and the gentleman had it painted while on some R&R in Japan ?

Thanks for all the help.

Cheers.

 

[mulceber]

It's Japanese alright but it would seem odd for a US pilot to write in Japanese on his jacket during the pacific war. Unless he was a college boy, and studied Japanese, or was part of some exchange with Japan before the war where he learned enough Japanese to write sarcastic lines. Could it be an early Korean War picture, and the gentleman had it painted while on some R&R in Japan ?

IMHO, that last option is far and away the most likely possibility. American college kids in the '30s or '40s who were studying Japanese would have been pretty rare. We weren't that worldly back then (some would say we still aren't, but that's another matter). The few students of the Japanese language would almost certainly have been snapped up by intelligence when the war broke out. They wouldn't have been flying combat missions.

 

[917_k]

Pretty sure he’s wearing a B-3 life preserver and whilst this doesn’t say a huge amount, I’d be highly doubtful any pilot would still be using such an old and obsolete life preserver during the Korean War (particularly as it wasn’t very good either).

 

[Wedge417]

Thanks for identifying the life preserver. So we are talking pacific war. What would the jacket be then a 422?

 

[mulceber]

The jacket doesn't look like it has the bi-swing back. If that's the case, it's probably an A-2.

 

[YoungMedic]

Could also be a Japanese American airman?

How bout the jacket? Kinda looks like my Poughkeepsie at a glance

 

[YoungMedic]

347th Fighter Group (USAAF)

The 347th Fighter Group (USAAF) fought on Guadalcanal, the Solomons, New Guinea, Borneo, the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines.

www.historyofwar.org

After some quick reading, there is a 70 on the nose of the lightning. 70'th Fighter Squadron flew 38's in 43 while assigned to Guadalcanal and took part in long range missions over the pacific due to the Lightning's range with drop tanks. Maybe closing in on the answer for you

 

[mulceber]

Good sleuthing, Tim!

 

[YoungMedic]

Thanks, looking for a roster / aircraft for the 70th FS

 

[YoungMedic]

Another twist in the path, this plane was not in the Pacific but in the Aleutians, 54th Fighter Squadron

 

[Wedge417]

Wow that's outstanding research work! Thanks a lot! Look at GW's Poughkeepsie's pictures it's true it does look like it could be it. Thanks for helping me move forward with that project. I know what jacket to order from GW now.

 

[YoungMedic]

Wow that's outstanding research work! Thanks a lot! Look at GW's Poughkeepsie's pictures it's true it does look like it could be it. Thanks for helping me move forward with that project. I know what jacket to order from GW now.

You're very welcome. FiveStar leather also makes a good poughkeepsie if you add about an inch to the length from the rack size.