December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 320:
Description
This is a scarce and identified United States Air Force Type L-2B Light Zone Flight Jacket dating to the late 1950s, named to a Command Pilot of the 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron DSES . Manufactured by the Skyline Clothing Corporation under specification MIL-J-7448C, this jacket represents the definitive -Sage Green- era of Cold War aviation gear. The highlight of this piece is the large, fully embroidered squadron patch on the right chest, featuring the unit s distinctive -Big Crow- mascot clutching a red lightning bolt and a boxing glove. This imagery symbolized the squadron s electronic warfare mission: flying specially modified Martin EB-57 Canberra bombers to act as -aggressors,- jamming friendly radar and testing the readiness of North American air defenses.
The jacket is personalized with a cloth name tag featuring the embroidered wings of a USAF Command Pilot and the name -W.W. SAMS.- The garment itself is a textbook example of the 1958Ð1960 production era Contract AF 36 600 -5175 , featuring the wool/rayon blend lining in a champagne/sage hue, snap-closure slash pockets, and the cigarette/pencil pocket on the left sleeve. The nylon shell exhibits honest, combat-grade wear with staining and patina consistent with flight line usage, while the original wool knits show expected fraying. This is a highly collectible artifact from the -Electronic Wizards- of the 4677th, a unit that played a silent but critical role in the cat-and-mouse games of the Cold War.
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