December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 307:
Description
World War II Era US Army Air Forces AAF Type B-16 Intermediate Flight Jacket. The B-16 was a transitional, short-lived model that succeeded the B-15 and preceded the B-15A, introduced very late in the war. It is a key piece of late-WWII flight gear, utilizing a fabric shell and a fixed wool or alpaca lining for intermediate temperatures.
The jacket is constructed from olive drab OD cotton-blend fabric and features a distinctive synthetic fur or sheepskin collar in a contrasting reddish-orange hue. The lining is a heavy, dark olive wool or shearling material designed for warmth. The jacket retains its original heavy-duty zipper closure, secured by a brown cloth zipper tape and leather pull tabs. The waist and cuffs feature heavy-duty knit wool ribbing in a dark gray-green color. The overall fabric shows a rich patina and fading consistent with long-term storage and age.
Crucially, the jacket retains its original US Government specification tag clearly sewn into the lining. The tag identifies the garment as JACKET, FLYING, INTERMEDIATE, TYPE B-16, Specification No. 3224, manufactured by SOVEREIGN MFG. COMPANY. The tag is dated via the contract number Order No. W 33-038 AC-769AF, which places its production extremely late in the war or immediately thereafter. The size is marked SIZE 14.
Historical Note on W.A.S.P.s: While collector lore has sometimes associated jackets of this size and period with the Women Airforce Service Pilots W.A.S.P.s, the B-16 model s contract date suggests that these jackets were manufactured very late in the war or just after, making their operational use by W.A.S.P.s highly unlikely, as the organization was disbanded at the end of 1944. The jacket remains a very rare, high-quality piece of late-WWII era AAF manufacturing.
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