KASTAUFFER Posted March 1, 2011 Share #1 Posted March 1, 2011 I picked this up at the Show of Shows last week and thought it was extremelly cool even though the flight jacket collectors who saw it before me were not impressed with its condition. This jacket was worn by a P-51 pilot from the 339th FG who was shot down New Years eve 1944 by an ME-262 near Hamburg Germany. It has his flight equipment stencil on the inside ( name and service number ) and USA painted in red on the outside and inside. When the Russians liberated Stalag Luft 1 , many of the Americans painted USA on their clothes so the Russians would know they were " friends" . The condition is not great, but I think after surviving a bailout and 5 months in a POW camp it looks good! I also bought a few other items that came with it named to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted March 1, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted March 1, 2011 Share #3 Posted March 1, 2011 "... the flight jacket collectors who saw it before me were not impressed with its condition...." There are those who collect wardrobe, and those who collect history. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted March 1, 2011 Share #4 Posted March 1, 2011 There are those who collect wardrobe, and those who collect history. Congratulations! Agreed! This is a fabulous find and one to be respected & appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted March 1, 2011 Share #5 Posted March 1, 2011 Kurt, You never cease to amaze me with the outstanding pieces that you acquire. Of course, I know that you are able to do this because you don't just look at the item, but you evaluate the piece completely. This is why it always seems like you are so "lucky" when you are out there hunting for historic militaria. Thanks for sharing this piece! Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted March 1, 2011 Share #6 Posted March 1, 2011 Great piece absolutely loaded with history. Who cares about the condition? This thing was used, and kept the pilot warm during some difficult times of their involvement in WWII. Wish I'd have seen it at the SOS! What day did you pick it up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camelgreen44 Posted March 1, 2011 Share #7 Posted March 1, 2011 Great find Kurt,In good hands now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted March 1, 2011 Share #8 Posted March 1, 2011 Great piece of history !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted March 1, 2011 Share #9 Posted March 1, 2011 Nice jacket. I agree, it is about the history. I think this is your man. 339th Fighter Group Gallery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted March 1, 2011 Share #10 Posted March 1, 2011 Knowledge is power! Kurt, it looks like you had a great show. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted March 1, 2011 Share #11 Posted March 1, 2011 This appears to be the man that shot down him down. Heinz-Helmut Baudach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted March 1, 2011 Share #12 Posted March 1, 2011 In case the link that hhc1stidf posted is lost, here's the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted March 1, 2011 Share #13 Posted March 1, 2011 In case the link that hhc1stidf posted is lost, here's the picture. Thanks! I should have thought of that sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted March 1, 2011 Share #14 Posted March 1, 2011 I also seen this one !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrobertscv Posted March 1, 2011 Share #15 Posted March 1, 2011 Great history over Mint condition any day of the week!!! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agvd Posted March 1, 2011 Share #16 Posted March 1, 2011 "... the flight jacket collectors who saw it before me were not impressed with its condition...." There are those who collect wardrobe, and those who collect history. Congratulations! Well said. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted March 1, 2011 Share #17 Posted March 1, 2011 Very cool item! I would love to see the other items you picked up that belonged to this pilot! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted March 1, 2011 Thanks for the links and photos! I found the jacket on Thursday late in the day. Some of the other items included was a small address book, a photo, an unused German Heinkel data plate, and the spoon he used in Stalag Luft 1. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted March 2, 2011 Share #19 Posted March 2, 2011 Well that explains it... I didn't show up till Friday. Next year, I'm going to be there on Thursday for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KVSkelton Posted March 3, 2011 Share #20 Posted March 3, 2011 Well that explains it... I didn't show up till Friday. Next year, I'm going to be there on Thursday for sure! I echo those sentiments as well, Longbranch! Wonderful B-10, Kurt! Thanks for sharing. What a fantastic piece of history. And gwb123, that may be the best quote I've seen regarding uniform collecting. Sums up my thoughts exactly. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 12, 2014 Author Share #21 Posted April 12, 2014 Here is an artists rendition of his P-51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted April 12, 2014 Share #22 Posted April 12, 2014 Awesome jacket! I have a tag to a bombardier of a B-17 who was in the same camp for 16 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share #23 Posted February 20, 2015 A kind Forum Member contacted me with a lot of items that belonged to this POW. They turned up in the same town where he lived. After WWII he was in the New Jersey Air National Guard and some of these items are from that time frame. Some are WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share #24 Posted February 20, 2015 Some NJNG Medals and ANG Patches in Bullion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsoon Posted February 20, 2015 Share #25 Posted February 20, 2015 Condition? Damn, it looks pretty good to me for one that was in a POW camp for five months. And it has a very unique history behind it too. Good score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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