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WWII US NAVY FLIGHT JACKETS M-422, M-422A , M-421A , M-445A , AN-J-3A , AN-6552


KASTAUFFER
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I just got this jacket named to a VC-70 pilot that saw action in the Pacific from November 44 to the end of the war. The jacket came with an original VC-70 patch and pictures. I got it directly from the family. Jacket is in great condition. Unfortunately the patch was removed at one point. The patch I got with the jacket is original but not the same one that was on the jacket originally but issued to the original owner in WWII nonetheless.

The escort carrier they were on was the first to enter Tokyo Bay in August 45.

 

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I got this jacket recently and it is just incredible. It has 3 patches related to HU-1 and saw cockpit time in a rescue helicopter in Korea. HU-1 was the first Navy Helicopter rescue Unit (http://www.hu1.vacau.com/pages/history.htm).
The jacket was refurbished probably at the end of WWII at NAS Denver. The lining was replaced but oddly enough they put the label back. The waistband and knits were also replaced but they put the waistband upside down (I saw it done on many refurbished jackets). Zipper was never replaced and is original to the jacket. THe jacket in its current patched condition never had a nametag. The shadow nametag comes from before the refurbish.

 

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Nice Ron! WW2 era painted Navy flight jackets are very rare! Cool to see one.

 

JD

Thanks JD

Its a bit rough condition wise.Owned it for years.Got it from a collector in Nebraska back inbthe late 80s.

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Since we are talking about painted jackets, I have anice Block M-422A with painted wings on the chest and fully documented. Pilot was deployed in the Pacific in early 1945 and saw action with VPB-28. Jacket is in great condition. I just wish the label was there. Lining is in beautiful condition which is extremely rare for an H&L Block. Jacket came with original separation papers named to the pilot.

 

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Nice one. What is the blue circle around the wings?

 

JD

 

JD I don't really know it was painted like that. There is one large blue circle and a smaller one in the center.

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M-422A named to Donald G. Clarke who saw action with VMF-524 in 1944 in the South pacific. His service number was 020960. By April 1945 he was overseas with "Headquarters Squadron 23, Marine Aircraft Group 23, Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.
In July 1945 he's with "Marine Fighting Squadron-324, Marine Aircraft Group-23, 3Rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force.

He's on the reserve rolls until Oct. 1951 when he is at "Hmr-262 Airfmflant, Usmcas Cherry Point NC".

He was certified as a helicopter pilot in January 1952, and was with HMX-1, Quantico.
In July 52 he was deployed overseas with "Hmr-161 1Stmaw, C/O Fpo Sfran California" and was still with them in the October 52 muster roll.
After becoming the first helicopter squadron to deploy troops into combat, HMR-161 successfully flew from the USS Sicily (CVE-118) to test new concept of combining vertical envelopment with amphibious assault during Operation "Marlex-5" off the coast of Inchon on September 1, 1952. While not the first ever ship to shore helicopter flight with Marines aboard, that having been done by HMR-162 during Operation Lex Baker off the coast of Southern California in February, 1952, it was the first on foreign shores. During the course of the Korean War, HMR-161 flew 16,538 hours during 18,607 sorties eventually accounting for over 60,000 troop movements and moving 7.5 million pounds of cargo.[4][5] The Greyhawks then participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from July 1953 to March 1955. The Squadron then relocated that month to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG 13). While in Hawaii, HMR-161 was redesignated on December 31, 1956 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 161 (HMR(L)-161), MAG 13, 1st MAW. In May 1960, the Squadron received the new Sikorsky H-34 Seahorse.

By Jan. 1953 he was a major and with "Hqsq-12 Mag-12 1Stmaw Fmf, Korea." He was still with that unit in April 53.
By Oct. 53 he was back stateside as Executive Officer with "Hmr-261 Mag(Hr)-26 2Dmaw Afmfl Mcas, Cherry Point NC".

I love the history on this one. I had the fur collar and the cuffs replaced on the jacket. Once again my seamstress did a stellar job and she even fixed the lining at the collar (the lining at the bottom is a different color from the rest but is original to the jacket and was made liker that. I knew that W&G had mismatched leather but I did not know they also used mismatched material for the lining). I am usually against fixing named jackets but the collar was just falling apart and the knits were just shreds so this one really needed it and i can't complain about the rest.
There is also a nice USNR stamped on the back on the jacket.

 

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Here is one I have had for a while but haven't posted it. Its a 1950's Caleco G-1 with a nametag to an Ex-POW who was captured when the USS Houston was sunk in 1942. He was the Senior Naval Aviator on the ship. I have quite a bit of his stuff.

 

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