December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 306:
Description
This lot features an extraordinary, museum-quality grouping of uniforms and documentation belonging to Flight Officer F/O Frank Gless, a Flight Engineer on the B-29 Superfortress Madolyn II, who served with the 29th Bomb Group / 43rd Bomb Squadron of the 20th Air Force during the final, intense air campaign against Japan. The grouping includes two key uniform garments and extensive provenance. The centerpiece is an original Type B-10 Cloth Flight Jacket manufactured by Stagg Coat Co., Inc., as confirmed by the clear specification tag. The OD canvas jacket is lined with heavy alpaca or synthetic fleece for cold protection and retains its fur collar, which is well-worn. The jacket s reverse is adorned with a custom, period hand-painted bomber crew design, featuring the plane s name MADOLYN II in red script over a cascade of bomb silhouettes, signifying missions flown. The B-10 retains its original knit cuffs and waistband, typical of the model.
The archive also includes an M-41 Field Jacket, the standard cloth utility jacket of the WWII US Army, worn over the B-10 in the full display. This M-41 is notable for a modified leather collarÑa common field or personalized tailoring alteration for increased warmth and durability. The M-41 is dressed with the crucial 20th Air Force Shoulder Sleeve Insignia SSI, the unit responsible for the B-29 bombing campaign from the Marianas Islands. The provenance is impeccable, including research materials and period photos confirming GlessÕs service: a photograph shows F/O Frank Gless and his crew Crew #43-22 posed in front of the B-29 Madolyn II at North Field, Guam, with documentation noting they flew 28 missions. This collection is a complete and historically significant testament to the dangerous high-altitude air war over Japan, offering direct, named provenance to a B-29 flight engineer.
Share this lot:
