NICE ORIGINAL 27798 sz 40 DUBOW

[Grant]

Nicely preserved 27798 Dubow belonging to Russell C. Meartz, served in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Meartz enlisted on January 6, 1942, and trained stateside as a flight engineer on B-25s and B-26s. He deployed to Europe in February 1944 and served aboard B-26s as part of the 587th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group. He flew 65 missions from March 20, 1944 to November 26, 1944, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions when his plane collided in the air with another US plane on a mission on April 22, 1944, and surviving his plane being shot down over France on June 13, 1944. The sleeve features an American national flag followed by a British Union Jack next to a Flag of Free France with a Cross of Lorraine in the center.

 

[Flightengineer]

Awesome jacket and so perfectly preserved.
Grant, I have a question - why he have gunner's wings and not a flight engineer wings?

 

[Grant]

Great question! In the B-26 Marauder engineers/gunners were the norm, so maybe that's why??

 

[Flightengineer]

According to the handbook, the B-26 does not have a flight engineer at all, maybe that's why he flew as a gunner? In general, an interesting story, cause an engineer is a more complicated and technically different job than a gunner.

 

[stanier]

Beautiful jacket Grant. Is it one of yours?

 

[London Cabbie]

There is an amazing variation of grains. Looking especially at the rear left arm in comparison to the back panel. Is that purely wear, tear & time or how the matching of leather would have been at manufacture? Superb...

 

[s4rmark]

Stunning jacket in amazing condition, very well preserved.

 

[ausreenactor]

'Caen France 40' over the parachute?

Prior service with the Brits?

 

[2BM2K]

'Caen France 40' over the parachute?

Prior service with the Brits?

There is a biography of him here;

Russell Charles Meartz (1923-2015) - Find a Grave...

Russell C. Meartz, age of 92 of Neenah, passed away early November 13, 2015 at Cherry Meadows. He was born on November 1, 1923 to Carl C. and Martha W. (Fuerst) Meartz in Appleton, WI and was a 1941 graduate of Appleton West High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps the day after World War...

www.findagrave.com

Which states that he was shot down on hiss 40th mission.

 

[ausreenactor]

Thank you much!

Can close the case file on this one!

 

[ausreenactor]

There is a biography of him here;

Russell Charles Meartz (1923-2015) - Find a Grave...

Russell C. Meartz, age of 92 of Neenah, passed away early November 13, 2015 at Cherry Meadows. He was born on November 1, 1923 to Carl C. and Martha W. (Fuerst) Meartz in Appleton, WI and was a 1941 graduate of Appleton West High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps the day after World War...

www.findagrave.com

Which states that he was shot down on hiss 40th mission.

He discharged in 1945 and was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Werner on May 4, 1946 at St. Matthew Church in Appleton. She was married in a dress made from the parachute that saved his life.

How cool is that?

 

[Grant]

Hey Stanier, this beauty is in the collection of the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum.

 

[Greg Gale]

That is a beauty, I love all the artwork on it.

What's interesting to note is that with so much wear it developed a lot of grain, but hardly any "high point wear" if that's what you call it. When the edges of the collar/ pocket/ shoulder lose all color. This is what I don't like on some of made-to-age-fast repros. They don't age like this, they just develop that high point wear.

Another note to self: the collar. We like to wear our collars either buttoned down, or folded in a way that the snaps would touch. Clearly this collar was worn laid flat sideways. Which emphasizes the nice collar shape even more.

 

[ausreenactor]

My Monarch folds flat like a shirt collar. Lack of a collar stand and constant wear have it sitting juuuuust right.

 

[Flightengineer]

Another note to self: the collar. We like to wear our collars either buttoned down, or folded in a way that the snaps would touch. Clearly this collar was worn laid flat sideways. Which emphasizes the nice collar shape even more.

I personally always wear the collar unbuttoned and I like the way it looks at the same time
I'm also not sure if this beautiful jacket was wearing a lot. On the contrary, it was worn little and therefore it is well preserved.

 

[Saint-ex]

Same by my side. My collar snaps are never fastened.

 

[ausreenactor]

My Monarch folds flat like a shirt collar. Lack of a collar stand and constant wear have it sitting juuuuust right.

Have a hefty book sitting on my BR Aero collar..... need to imitate the look!

 

[Silver Surfer]

about collars: as can be seen on many surviving original a-2s the collar fold area is the most vulnerable , and first area to wear out. thus, I always wear and store my originals with the collar turned up. in this way, I am putting less wear and tear on the fold. with that in mind, I wear my repro a-2s with the collar up as well. as to the dubow shown above, I would venture a guess that it was not worn very much in combat, and most of the art work was done late in meartz's service, or post service. the total bombs would indicate that, as would the condition of the paint surface. never the less, watta beauty!

 

[Brettafett]

I do the same. I also turn the cuffs inside the sleeve when not wearing.

 

[Lorenzo_l]

Christ, what a beautiful piece of outerwear. Beautfily preserved and well aged. Belongs in a museum alright. Why is it that repros, however hard they are worn, never seem to get to look like that?