December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 327:
Description
This is an exceptional and combat-identified World War II United States Navy Type AN-6552 Flight Jacket, attributed to a pilot of the legendary Fighting Squadron 33 VF-33 . Manufactured by the American Sportswear Co. under Contract N288s-24332, this Size 40 jacket is a rare variation of the intermediate flight gear used by the Navy, closely related to the AN-J-3A. The centerpiece of this garment is the spectacular, fully embroidered five-inch squadron patch sewn to the right chest. It depicts the VF-33 -Hellcat- insigniaÑa grotesque, winged cat-like head engulfed in flamesÑwhich is widely considered one of the most striking and desirable patch designs of the Pacific War.
The jacket is personalized with a leather name strip embossed with the wings of a Naval Aviator and the name -C. M. ERICKSON.- Historical records identify the owner as Lieutenant jg Charles M. Erickson, a Naval Aviator who served with VF-33 during their pivotal deployment to the Solomon Islands in 1943-1944. VF-33 was one of the first squadrons to introduce the Grumman F6F Hellcat to combat, flying intense missions from land bases on Guadalcanal and New Georgia Ondonga to neutralize Japanese air power at Rabaul.
The jacket itself displays a rich, dark chocolate goatskin shell that remains supple and showcases the classic -US- stencil on the back of the collar. While the leather and mouton collar are in good condition given their age, the original wool knit cuffs and waistband exhibit extensive damage and blowout, a testament to the heavy wear faced by aviation gear in the abrasive coral environments of the South Pacific. This is a museum-grade artifact linking a named pilot to the debut of the Hellcat fighter.
Share this lot:
