Hi everyone, I wanted to get some opinoins on this coat. I picked it up from a friend several months ago, and this weekend I decided to finally get around to researching the clues of the coat to see if I could ID it.

 

So first the picture of the coat:

 

First I tried to figure out who "Robert D Smith' last four of 0794 was:

 

But I was not able to locate a Robert D Smith with this last four, then while looking under a good light I saw the faint markings of another name and ASN: it reads J.G. 38165184

 

 

(i know its hard to see but it is there) when I ran this number I got a hit:

 

it was confirmed through NARA and also on the WWII registery:

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/cemetery/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=809922&popcount=2&tcount=2

 

 

Turns out he died in service while serving with the 14th Air force 308th Bomb Group 425th Bomber Sqd.

I am thinking that at one point SGT Smith got this coat off of CPL Grine and had it converted into an Ike jacket, as you can see on his PTO ribbon he has 7 campaign stars and has a PUC on the coat which I believe would account for the Distinguished Unit Citation. I have not had a chance to look up the Meritorious Unit Commendation on the sleeve yet:

 

 

 

Here is a summary of the history of the squadron, http://www.usaaf-in-...web/sqd_425.htm

Here is a close up of the Meritorious Unit Commendation:

So during all of this I noticed that at one time there were DUI's (screw back) attached to the lepels, anyone have any idea of what should be there?

 

So my questions are, does anyone have a roster from this unit? I am thinking that Smith a Grine were in the same unit, also any help on what DUI's should be on this coat would be great as well. and just for anyone that is curious here is a close up of the 14th AF patch:

and the CBI patch:

 

Nice example of an EM's four-pocket coat converted to an "Ike"!

Here's an example of a USAAF EM's CBI uniform from my collection, by way of comparison. As yours lacks a wing or a technical qualification patch it suggests your man was engaged in "ground-support" of some sort.

I dont see any evidence of wings having been on the jacket, so I would guess the same that he was on the ground crew.

 

You have a very nice coat, are those DUI's a general Army Airforce or for specific units?

 

Ryan

I dont see any evidence of wings having been on the jacket, so I would guess the same that he was on the ground crew.

 

You have a very nice coat, are those DUI's a general Army Airforce or for specific units?

 

Ryan

 

USAAF Transport Command.

It would depend on the type of work he did , he could have been part of a service unit ,air depot work , etc that would most likely dictate what the "Di's" were on the collars .

Try this site ,

CBI Order Of Battle

cbi-history.com

Johnny

Thanks for the links, unforutunatly all I have to go on is the 425 fighter squadron.

 

Thanks

Ryan

Jacket looks legit to me. Doesn't have that "put-together" look. Your best bet is to locate a pair of theater-made CBI "patch type" DUI's that are screwback and put those on there. Those aren't tough to find, but a matched pair may be. (Of the many I have found over the years, none are the same!)

Good Idea I will keep my eyes open for some

Thanks for the links, unforutunatly all I have to go on is the 425 fighter squadron.

 

Thanks

Ryan

The only 425th Fighter Sqd I know of for WW2 was the 425th Night Fighter Squadron and it was under 5th AAF command .

Well if the Group had DI's , the emblem was "Unofficial" it had a motto "Percussus Resurgo" and the emblem was a shield witth a tree chopped off near base with small branches with leaves and a medal hanging around base of stump with what looks like the face of medusa and the tree is atop a small garssy hill .

The 425th Squadron was a round design with outer border and had a winged green dragon grasping/astride a large aerial bomb and stars placed around it in a pattern of 3,2,5, respectfully .

 

So if they worn "specific" DI's it would have been one of those ............................................

Johnny

Sorry I meant 425th Bomber squadron not fighter squadron.

 

Thanks

Ryan

It's a very nice jacket with an interesting history. Personally if it were mine I wouldn't worry too much about the DI's as these may have been removed while the jacket was still in use.

 

Matt.