December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 309:
Description
World War II US Army Air Forces A-2 Leather Flight Jacket, directly documented for service in the highly challenging China-Burma-India CBI Theater. This iconic jacket is unique for its extensive leather patches and the rare, original hand-painted Blood Chit sewn onto the back. The jacket is constructed from rich, brown leather, which displays a superb, crackled patina and wear consistent with genuine operational service. The collar tag confirms it as a TYPE A-2, DRAWING NO. 30-1415, manufactured under AAF CONTRACT NO. W535-AC-27753. The inner lining is marked with the pilot s stenciled name MURPHY 1307, providing clear provenance. The jacket retains its original knit cuffs and waistband, and the authentic period Conmar zipper is present and functional. The jacket is heavily adorned with specialized, period-applied leather and textile patches: the left shoulder features the stitched leather US Army Air Forces AAF Patch, and the right shoulder displays the distinctive CBI Theater Patch, a leather shield appliqud with red and white stripes and a black field displaying the star and sun emblem, signifying service in that theater. The back is the highlight, featuring a large, professionally sewn-on leather-backed flag panel displaying the US flag and the flag of Nationalist China, with a cloth panel below bearing hand-painted Chinese charactersÑthe Blood Chit, an essential survival document for airmen flying over occupied territory. The combination of the iconic A-2 jacket, the rare CBI Theater patch, and the unique, original large-format Blood Chit makes this a pinnacle artifact of the air war against Japan.
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