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Flight Jacket IDed To Iwo Jima P-51 Pilot


Maverickson
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Maverickson

Hi All,

 

Recently picked up a late War model AN-J-3A jacket made by Monarch MFG. Once received I found that it was in fact IDed to a one time member http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?pid=176088754

of the 46th Fighter Squadron, 21st Air Wing that flew out of Iwo Jima.

 

Since this jacket is a AN model and intended to be used by all services I thought that it may have been worn during the Iwo Jima Campaign. However, I'm aware that just because this same fellow wore this particular jacket, It does not mean he wore it at Iwo. But it would be nice to find out if it could have been.

 

As seen below, the jacket is missing it's leather ID tag. Those empty stitches left behind once the tag was removed measure 1 3/4" by 3 1/8". I do not know if the USAA wore a like dimension leather ID tag during the War or not.

 

post-6553-0-76745600-1520679161.jpg

 

The answer to what I am seeking is to whether or not the USAA wore a like dimension leather ID tag during the War? If so, it may be a good indicator if this jacket was possibly worn at Iwo Jima while escorting those B-29's during the Japan Air Offensive. .

 

Looking forward to any in put!

 

Dave

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Hi there,

Nice jacket, esp since it belongs to a 7th AF P-51 pilot :-) If you would like to know any info about the pilot, I might have a little bit on him. How do you know it belonged to him? Serial number and/or name on the jacket?

 

You definitely see USAAF pilots with leather ID tags on jackets and sometimes flight suits, although I'm not sure what/if there was protocol on wearing that stuff on missions. Also don't know exact dimensions, but they could be different lengths depending on the name.

 

There is another P-51 Iwo pilot grouping that is shown here on the forum, and that had a M-422A USN jacket with it. So it's really interesting to see another non A-2/B-10/B-15 jacket from one of these pilots.

 

I have to look through the photos and see if there's any guys wearing something like this. Most of the time, you see A-2s and B-10s/B-15s being worn, if at all. However, it's not to say he didn't wear it....just going to be pretty hard to determine if it saw 'actual' combat. But that doesn't take anything away from it all!

 

Brian

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Maverickson

Hi Brian,

 

To answer your question, when received the lining on the jacket had been repaired at the collar yoke. Thus covering up his name which had been rubber stamped to the original lining.

 

Apparently, to facilitate that repair the label was removed and reattached to connect the replacement and tie the two lining layers together. When I removed the repair I found his name rubber stamped on to the original lining material and situated directly underneath where the label was originally attached.

 

As seen here.

 

post-6553-0-74703500-1520868027.jpg

 

With the repair in place his name was covered up.

 

I've looked around but other than his obituary so far I have not found much. I would enjoy hearing about what ever info you have on Leo!

 

My plan was to restore this jacket Because of it's decent hide It is a good candidate

 

Cheers, Dave

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I can help you a little with this. The USAAF usually issued thinner and longer name strips. However, guys on Iwo had name strips theater made that fit the dimensions listed. The below photo is a A-2 jacket that came from a storage locker sale and is as found. I can also tell you as mentioned by Brian mentioned above that 7th AAF guys flying out of Iwo did a lot of trading with Navy Pilots. I have 2 78th Fighter Squadron Pilots groups that both came with M-422A jackets. One also included a well used Navy flight helmet.

 

JD

 

 

Name strip that I had mentioned above

 

 

post-2901-0-32022400-1520868264_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

The whole group showing the M-422A that he also brought home

 

 

post-2901-0-83505100-1520868280.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Maverickson

HI All,

 

 

As it turns out this jacket which once belonged to Leo Langfield had participanted in an interview conducted by the Warhawk Museum. A fact found by readying through the Leo's obituary. The museum has a few examples of those interviews that they have available among the reported thousand plus on file can be seen here https://warhawkairmuseum.org/explore/veterans-history-project/

 

After contacting the museum I was able to obtain a copy of Leo's interview. That interview detailed Leo's service during the War. To include his time in service as a USAA fighter pilot during WW-2. Which included his time at Iwo Jima and Saipan.

 

According to Leo he was brought to Iwo as a replacement pilot for those lost as a result of a Bonsai Charge. The attack resulted in the loss of many of the lost of pilots initially brought in to the Island.

 

In short, as a P-51 Pilot Leo arrived late in the conflict. So late in fact that he only participated in two combat flights from Iwo to Japan. The last of which coincided with the capitulation of Japan.

 

From there his squadron was transferred to Saipan and immediately thereafter transitioned from the P-51 to the P-47. He remained on Saipan for one year and from there discharged after completing his hitch.

 

Cheers, Dave

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pararaftanr2

Can we see a photo of the label please? That will determine who the jacket was made for, not just it's style and manufacturer.

Regards, Paul

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Maverickson

Can we see a photo of the label please? That will determine who the jacket was made for, not just it's style and manufacturer.

Regards, Paul

 

 

See here.

 

post-6553-0-97976000-1521913597.jpg

 

A late War jacket. Leo was discharged in 1946

 

Cheers, Dave

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pararaftanr2

Thank you. That is a Navy contract number, so the jacket was probably obtained in a trade with a Navy or Marine flier, but not an issue item through "official" channels. It's possible he just sent it home and never wore it as part of his flight gear.

Regards, Paul

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