WWII USAAF NAMED A-2 JACKET ~ AIR APACHES PILOT THAT ALSO SERVED IN KOREAN WAR for Sale

WWII USAAF NAMED A-2 JACKET ~ AIR APACHES PILOT THAT ALSO SERVED IN KOREAN WAR For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

WWII USAAF NAMED A-2 JACKET ~ AIR APACHES PILOT THAT ALSO SERVED IN KOREAN WAR:
$4400.00

NAMED WWII USAAF A-2 LEATHER FLIGHT JACKET~ AIR APACHES B-25 PILOT ~ DISTINGUISHED SURVIVOR ~WENT ON TO SERVE IN THE KOREAN WAR
Click to see full size image.
Click to see full size image.To my buyers: For years I have done business on using the name: gpstorageco*. The items I will be selling from this point on are being sold from my estate and from the estates of friends and relatives.

This WWII/Korean War A-2 Grouping was purchased direct from the Vet\'s family years ago. It is one of only three that I have remaining in my collection which at one time consisted of over 100 A-2 jackets/groupings.

This particular A-2 Grouping is related to the service time of George Harding who entered the USAAF is 1942 and was ultimately commissioned and subsequently trained as a B-25 pilot. After training he was assigned to the 345th Bomb Group (Air Apaches), 499th Bomb Squadron (Bats Outta Hell) that operated in the Pacific Theatre.

The grouping consists of Lt. Harding\'s A-2 jacket, his period uniform insignia (wings, rank & other), three original B&W period photos, his signed \"short snorter\", copies of period newspaper articles and period patches (see photos).

The size 40 A-2 jacket was manufactured by Perry Sportswear, Newburgh, N.Y. during WWII (see photos). All components of the jacket are original to the jacket - lining, knits, label, zipper run & pull (see photos). There are no rips, tears, losses or excessively worn areas to the supple/intact leather shell and all jacket components remain serviceable and solid excepting a few snags & losses to the cuffs (see photos).

The jacket has a period sewn nametag and squadron patch to the left chest (see photos). The nametag shows some expected topical wear, has a stenciled pilots wing and is named to George W. Harding (see photos). What\'s unusual about the tag is that along the very bottom below the name is the phrase, \"Bats Outta Hell\" (motto of the 499th Squadron - see photos). The squadron patch below is a textbook example of an Australian made 499th patch that is excellent overall (see photos). Both the nametag & patch are period sewn (see photos). The shoulders have silver painted Captains rank bars and the back has 1950 painted American & United Nations flags (see photos).

George Harding\'s Pacific tour was highlighted with several narrow death escapes according to the enclosed newspaper articles. Firstly upon returning to base (Biak) from an August 1944 bombing mission Harding and a fighter pilot both received permission to land on the same runway at the same time. The fighter plane landed on top of Harding\'s B-25 about ten feet above the runway and both planes crashed/burned. Harding was able to walk away with a few cuts & bruises. The second incident occurred nine weeks later when Harding was returning to Morotai from a mission and simultaneously the Japanese staged a night raid on the field. Harding had no choice but to turn back out to sea where they eventually ditched after running out of fuel. Two of the crew were killed in the ditching and Lt. Harding suffered broken bones & cuts while another crew member had a fractured skull & leg. They drifted for two days before Harding was able to signal a passing transport plane with a small mirror. The transport dropped an additional raft and conditions somewhat temporarily improved. A few days later while Harding & the injured sergeant were fishing a shark attacked and punctured their raft. They were able to repair the hole(s) with some chewing gum. On the sixth day they were picked up by a Navy PBY Catalina plane.

Harding remained in service after WWII and was assigned to one of a few 15th AF components that were sent to Japan in 1950 after the outbreak of the Korean War. One of the included photos shows Harding at his desk at Yokota AFB in Japan.

Lastly, the included WWII \"short snorter\" is signed by Harding , has the date he crossed the Equator and is countersign by friends or possibly members of his crew.

This is an exceptional WWII 345th BG \"Air Apaches\" lot. It is guaranteed to consist of all original period pieces and as described. Great opportunity to complete a WWII USAAF display with a named grouping. Really a great grouping overall that could be further researched. Additionally you will find Hardings article about be \"Lost at Sea\" on the 345th BG website.

Please check my other listings for other items as I continue to sell my collection.

~ offer With Confidence ~

FIXED PRICE, 30 Day Listing

Termsand Conditions
I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO IDENTIFY, DESCRIBE & PHOTOGRAPH THE ITEMS AND CONDITIONS. PLEASE DON\'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I HAVE A EXCELLENT RECORD WITH . PLEASE CHECK MY response UNDER MY FORMER USER NAME: MOTELBUYER.

Payment Policies
PAYPAL IS THE PREFERRED PAYMENT METHOD ~ PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS IF NECESSARY - WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE UNLESS RESTRICTED BY LAW OR RULES. IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY, PLEASE CALL GROSSE POINTE STORAGE CO., DETROIT, clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size clear=\"ALL\">Click to see full size image.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR offerDING!