ID’D WW2 LEATHER A-2 FLYING JACKET, 351ST BOMB GROUP – B-17 P.O.W.

ID’D WW2 LEATHER A-2 FLYING JACKET, 351ST BOMB GROUP – B-17 P.O.W.

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$2,750.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 534-46

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This nice condition A-2 jacket was worn in WW2 by Lt. Kenneth Lester Vaughn. He was a B-17 co-pilot with the 511th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force in England.

The Type A-2 flying jacket was standardized by the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 9, 1931 under Specification No. 94-3040 and Drawing Number 30-1415. It served as the iconic intermediate flight jacket for pilots, bombardiers, and aircrews throughout World War II.

Offered here is Lt. Vaughn’s WW2 jacket. Of typical construction with single back panel, stitched-down shoulder epaulets, and two ventilation grommets under each arm. Lined with cotton in typical reddish-brown shade. Two front patch pockets with snap-down flaps. Closed with a heavy-duty front zipper (Talon) protected by a leather wind flap. The collar also features snap-down points, and throat has a metal hook-and-eye clasp (hook is broken). Seamless wool worsted knit cuffs and waistband. Condition is fine overall with moderate wear and sweat stains to inside lining, and wear to the cuffs. Leather remains supple. There are a few lines of newer stitching visible inside that were done simply to reinforce areas of original separated stitching. There is no mil-spec label remaining on the inside collar. Some of original paint remains on the back, now only remnants of a white circle, likely relating to their plane “Speed Ball”. Specific details of note are: Leather 1st lieutenant bars sewn to shoulder epaulettes, leather name tab sewn to left breast, 351st Bomb Group and 511th Bomb Squadron patches sewn on front, and Army Air Corps “meatball” on shoulder.

Kenneth Vaughn proudly served his country throughout a distinguished military career. In 1941 he enlisted as a Private in the Army and retired in 1967 as a Colonel in the Air Force. He was a decorated WWII combat veteran earning an Air Medal and Purple Heart as a B-17 co-pilot. On December 31, 1943, his plane--Speedball--was shot down on an air raid into France. Of the ten-man crew, only two survived, one was killed by flak during the raid, and seven froze to death after ditching in the English Channel. He and the other surviving crew member washed ashore on Guernsey Island New Year’s Day 1944, and were captured by the Germans. Within days he was transported to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. After a week in solitary confinement, he spent the next 1 1/2 years (until the end of the war) as a Prisoner of War.

B-17, Speed Ball, s/n 42-29877. Shot down by flak: Lt. Albert E. Jones (MIA), Lt. Kenneth L. Vaughan (POW), Lt. Alfred L. Dearborn (MIA), Lt. Charles A. Bronako (POW), S/Sgt. David H. Van Dyke (MIA), S/Sgt. William J. Brennan (KIA), S/Sgt. Casimir Pavlic (MIA), Sgt. Michael T. Morey (KIA), Sgt. Carl Q. Bekken (KIA), Sgt. Raymond F. Bittner (MIA).

For the majority of his military career, Mr. Vaughn was a pioneer integrating computers into military operations; installing the first computer into the Pentagon Operations Center in the early 1960s, and later served as the first Director of Data Automation for HQ Military Airlift Command at Scott AFB, IL.

The 351st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth United States Army Air Force, was based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, England, during World War II. During the three years at Polebrook, the Group flew 311 missions and lost 124 aircraft in combat.

This is a fine example of a WW2 leather flight jacket with a wonderful history. The lucky future owner of this piece should visit the 351st Bomb Group website to view photos of the crew and aircraft.  [jet][PH:L]

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