Private Purchase...

[jschare]

... or a repro passed off as real?

http://cgi.ebay.com/OFFICERS-A2-LEA...072?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c31cdce0

 

[watchmanjimg]

I have serious questions about this one, but as usual I'll defer to those more versed in A-2s than I. In any case, the following link appears to depict the same jacket:

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/showi ... &itemid=18

 

[Roughwear]

The numbering on the label is not your standard USAAF script and the contractor is not one used by the government. It would appear to be a private purchase jacket from the 1940s.

 

[dmar836]

In my limited experience, private purchase jackets didn't typically have labels so closely simulating a government contract. Those I've seen kept their own maker's labels. I'm not the most experienced at this but that strikes me as a bit strange. Why would a manufacturer, during wartime, spend the extra money and materials to make a "replica" contractor label?

That aside, the squadron patch sure doesn't appear to have been on there long and the stitching doesn't look very soiled or recessed considering the age and wear on the jacket. After 65yrs, the patch usually wears the jacket - not the other way around. I've seen some crude jacket art but any P-51 pilot that would be proud of that would not last long . It actually looks written in chalk by children.

I say it's just that. A post war rendering and a poor one at that.

I couldn't buy it without provenance unless it was $100 or less.

Just my $.02

Dave