WWII D1 Flight Jacket

[Pudgy (V)]

I'm hoping someone can help me with the vet associated with this jacket.  I believe this is a WWII D1 jacket with painted insignia and ribbons.  I found a tag with the name Sgt Harry E. Winick 8th AAF.  Maybe finding something out about him can shead more light on the jacket.  Thank-you!!  I appreciate any help you can give!!  

[VietnamCollectors2823]

The arrowhead on the EAME was given for amphibious landings, pretty sure it was handed out to a large amount of the men on d-day. I don’t know if he was on d-day, but it’s likely he took part in another landing. 

[atb]

Arrowhead also earned for airborne assaults by parachute or glider.

[sundance]

Very nice jacket. I'm not familiar with the model. Any label you can give a picture of?

[Pudgy (V)]

I'm guessing he did bombing missions during D-day, that's the reason for the arrowhead. The label is missing.  The guy I bought it from said it was a D1, I'm not familiar with these either.  I looked it up and it appears they were used mainly by ground crews. However, flight crews used them also because they were a lighter jacket and it was easier to maneuver in them.  

[warguy]

Bombing missions on D-day didn't earn you the arrowhead. Nice jacket. 

[Pudgy (V)]

Ok, I wasn't sure how that worked.  Thank-you!!  

[History Man]

Something standing out to me is that the name painted on the jacket looks to say "Eddie" and not "Henry." 

 

Wondering if this jacket was a gift from Henry to Eddie or vice verse at the end of the war, but my money is the jacket detailing Eddie's service rather than Henry. 

[Pudgy (V)]

That does look like Eddie.  I found the tag in the pocket.  The guy I bought it from purchased it from a big collector's auction.  The collector passed away.  He didn't even know the tag was in the pocket until I told him.  He is looking into it for me, maybe he will come up with something.  

[Pudgy (V)]

I believe the "Eddie"on the jacket was this guys middle name Harry Edward (Eddie) Winick.  Can someone please help with some info? When I search for his full name, info pops up on the internet, but I can't access it.  Thank-you!!  

[Pep]

D-1 Mechanics jackets had zippered pockets if I remember correctly.

 

[Pudgy (V)]

Hi Pep,

Some were produced without pockets.  Someone stitched these pockets onto this jacket; maybe the vet or somesort of rigger.  

[manayunkman]

Where did the info come from that the jacket belonged to an aviator?

 

All the insignia point to him being an amphibious engineer.

[Pudgy (V)]

The named tag was in the pocket of the jacket stating he was with the 8th AAF and the name Eddie is on the front of the jacket.  The jacket was bought from an auction of a collector who passed. I found something online referencing Harry Edward (Eddie) Winick, but I can't access it.  

[manayunkman]

There is nothing on this jacket remotely 8th AF but there is evidence that he served with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Army as an amphibious engineer in Europe and received a spear head on his ribbon.

[Pudgy (V)]

I agree with you!!  I'm just going by what I found.  It is definitely a mystery!!  I was hoping to shead some light finding more info about Harry Winick.  Did the engineers wear these type of jackets? 

[manayunkman]

He probably hustled it somehow.

[JohnK83882]

I think a lot of servicemen wanted a leather flight jacket. No doubt there were ways to get one if you weren't a pilot. With no label in the collar, maybe a pilot swapped it out for a new one and the old one found a new home.

[Pudgy (V)]

That's true.  I guess it will remain a mystery.  I definitely think it was D-day related.  

[8thairforce]

Interestingly the red triangle on the black square thats them been painted on the green circle to highlight it is identical ( red triangle on black ) to the British 3rd infantry Division from here in the UK which took part in the Dday landings on sword beach incase it bares any relevance . Regards . Jim 

[Nack]

On 11/6/2024 at 6:40 AM, 8thairforce said:

Interestingly the red triangle on the black square thats them been painted on the green circle to highlight it is identical ( red triangle on black ) to the British 3rd infantry Division from here in the UK which took part in the Dday landings on sword beach incase it bares any relevance . Regards . Jim 

Could be.  I was thinking XIII Corps, though.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XIII_Corps_(United_States)#:~:text=World War II.-,World War II,Netherlands to the Elbe River.