JDK Posted December 4, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 4, 2009 I'm not sure about this one. I guess I'm wondering if the numbers under the name in the Ike are supposed to be a serial number, or the date it was made? It is not his correct serial #. I just thought it would be interesting to get others thoughts on this one since the price is getting up there. JD http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=370299107656 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted December 4, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 4, 2009 The jacket is British-made and lined in red as was the custom among some fighter aces...so that much checks out. As for the faint number on the tailor's label..could be a customer order ref number? All in all, I'd be more than happy to have it in my collection...though the price is getting a little rich for my blood! Just my humble opinion/observation. Sabrejet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted December 4, 2009 I think the jacket and patches are all original as well. I guess I'm just not sure how it can be proved that it was Masons besides the name in type that could have been done by anyone. Pretty thin on provenance, but that's just my opinion. I have no dog in this hunt. I would need more provenance to get in the mix. Just thought I would see others thoughts since I'm sure it will probably sell for big $$ to someone thinking they really have something special. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfinder505 Posted December 4, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 4, 2009 The guy selling this has a pretty good reputation. I have never heard anything negative about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted December 4, 2009 Share #5 Posted December 4, 2009 I know this seller....he is honest and gets good stuff. I'm pretty sure he had this for sale last year at the SOS, but I forget what the asking price was. FWIW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted December 4, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 4, 2009 Steve's a super guy. I go in the shop whenever I'm up at Ft. Indiantown Gap. He's actually got LTG Walter Bedell Smith's uniform too. I've had it in my hands. There's no doubt in my mind that this is legit. Now I just have to ask him why he didn't tell me about this one!!! Eh, its 8th AF anyhow. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 4, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 4, 2009 I've had about a half dozen red lined ikes and that's one of the nicest ones I've seen. The blue backed command pilot wing is GORGEOUS. That is the only blue backed CP wing I've ever seen. From the photos, I say the uniform is 100% legit. If someone has the time, they should post the pics here for later reference...trust me when I tell you that you won't see nicer sewn-on insignia in a long, long time. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 4, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 4, 2009 Oh, and here's the chest candy. Just beautiful and from the picture, 100% righteous. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 4, 2009 Share #9 Posted December 4, 2009 I'm not sure about this one. I guess I'm wondering if the numbers under the name in the Ike are supposed to be a serial number, or the date it was made? Oh, also...the number is just a customer number from the tailor. Like I said above, I've owned six of these (including the one photographed in the "Silver Wings..." book), handled at least a dozen more and owned at least four dozen English made Ikes. Nearly all of them have had similar customer numbers in them. The number is esentially meaningless to the collector. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted December 4, 2009 Interesting info. I've been collecting AAF for 10+ years. I've seen alot of jackets with partial serial numbers. I sold my redlined Ike about 3-4 years ago on Ebay. It was un-named, and had blue backed bullion pilots wings. It sold for $600, so if this is truly Masons jacket, the price should get alot higher in comparison. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stony Posted December 6, 2009 Share #11 Posted December 6, 2009 The AM doesn't have any stars on it and that baffles me as anyone flying that many combat missions should have a few. Anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted December 6, 2009 Share #12 Posted December 6, 2009 Stars would be for navy on the AM air corp would be oakleaf clusters . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted December 6, 2009 Share #13 Posted December 6, 2009 The AM doesn't have any stars on it and that baffles me as anyone flying that many combat missions should have a few. Anyone else? I concur, there should be several OLC on both the DFC and AM for a pilot who flew in both theaters of war and was an ACE. Has anyone googled him or checked other historical web sites. I am suprised he did not receive at least a silver star or DSC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted December 6, 2009 Share #14 Posted December 6, 2009 I concur, there should be several OLC on both the DFC and AM for a pilot who flew in both theaters of war and was an ACE. Has anyone googled him or checked other historical web sites. I am suprised he did not receive at least a silver star or DSC. I just finished a goggle search and found 352nd Fighter Group By Thomas G. Ivie which had a portion on an action in which COL Joe Mason shooting down three enemy fighters and receiving the DSC so I am pretty sure this is a put together uniform. :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: I could be wrong :pinch: but I would not buy the uniform. If anyone idsagrees I am open to their comments and responce :think: Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 6, 2009 Share #15 Posted December 6, 2009 I just finished a goggle search and found 352nd Fighter Group By Thomas G. Ivie which had a portion on an action in which COL Joe Mason shooting down three enemy fighters and receiving the DSC so I am pretty sure this is a put together uniform. :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: I could be wrong :pinch: but I would not buy the uniform. If anyone idsagrees I am open to their comments and responce :think: Regards John And he is listed as receiving a Silver Star as well. What's curious is that the insignia is 100% right though. So...do we have the jacket to ANOTHER Colonel Mason? (Not a really uncommon name) or one put together with original insignia? From the pics, the jacket insignia looks good (at least the sewn on stuff) so there's got to be a story somewhere... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FW12 Posted December 6, 2009 Share #16 Posted December 6, 2009 Before I dish out that kind of money, I would want more information on the group's provenance. The description is pathetic, it doesn't tell a person anything about the group, where it came from, etc. The uniform, cap, ribbons, wings, it all looks great. But, we've all seen groups that were put together from period items. Unless it has solid provenance, I wouldn't go near it, not for that kind of money. Beau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted December 6, 2009 Kinda what I thought all along. Provenance is key when it comes to famous personality as this. On a side note, there was a Col Mason that was involved in the 1st Air Division that received the Croix de Guerre. Maybe a possibility? Photo of him getting the above on footnote. link... http://www.footnote.com/image/32017355/Col%7CMason/#32017354 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted December 6, 2009 Share #18 Posted December 6, 2009 Kinda what I thought all along. Provenance is key when it comes to famous personality as this. On a side note, there was a Col Mason that was involved in the 1st Air Division that received the Croix de Guerre. Maybe a possibility? Photo of him getting the above on footnote. link... http://www.footnote.com/image/32017355/Col%7CMason/#32017354 JD I dunno,the picture is dated 1945 and the guy appears to be wearing general staff collar insignia and regular pilots wings(not comand pilot) :think: RD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share #19 Posted December 6, 2009 Missed the collar insignia. Well then, I'm all out of ideas! :wink2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stony Posted December 6, 2009 Share #20 Posted December 6, 2009 According to the American Fighter Aces album, these are the awards Colonel Joe L. Mason recieved. According to the same album, he did not fly in the Pacific. I wouldn't touch this jacket with a "ten foot pole". Distinquished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinquished Flying Cross w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters Air Medal w/6 Oak Leaf Clusters Distinquished Unit Citation French Croix de Guere w/Palm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted December 6, 2009 Share #21 Posted December 6, 2009 JDI dunno,the picture is dated 1945 and the guy appears to be wearing general staff collar insignia and regular pilots wings(not comand pilot) :think: RD If you look further down the sleeve of the uniform you will note that the pilot served in WWI as well, 5 Hershery bars and three chevrons, a full length four pocket jacket and not the one for sale. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 6, 2009 Share #22 Posted December 6, 2009 Guys: This jacket is 100% right...but for Colonel Gerry Leonard Mason. THIS Col Mason was Chief of Staff of the India-China wing of the ATC and received his Air Medal at the beginning of the War and was later the Commanding Officer of the 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force where he received his single DFC. He graduated from the USMA in 1930 and retired in 1954. In my 1948 Army Register, he's listed as being the ONLY Mason with Command Pilot (and Command Observer) ratings. The fighter-ace Mason is only listed as a Senior Pilot in 1948. 100% righteous jacket....BUT attributed to the wrong guy. Case closed! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 6, 2009 Share #23 Posted December 6, 2009 I couldn't resist sending an e-mail to the seller. He'll probably try to verbally shoot me in the head for calling him a liar or something, but I don't care. Here it is.... Greetings: After spending several days researching Col Mason, I've discovered that this Ike jacket belonged to Colonel Gerry Leonard Mason, who was Commanding Officer of the 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He ended the War as a Command Pilot with only a single DFC and AM. The fighter-ace Colonel Mason earned the DSC, Silver Star, multiple DFCs and AMs during the War and wasn't rated as a Command Pilot until the 1950s. I don't collect WW2 US items, so I don't have a dog in the fight, but I thought you might like to know because you have a good reputation as an honest seller and I've been very pleased with what I've bought from you in the past. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted December 6, 2009 Share #24 Posted December 6, 2009 I think you nailed this one Dave. Good job! I know the seller wouldn't fake a group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 6, 2009 Share #25 Posted December 6, 2009 An update: Got a very nice reply from the seller and he's thinking about pulling the auction. I think it has less than 24 hours right now, so he's kind of stuck. His response was very gentlemanly and I give him a definite :thumbsup: Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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