Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 316:
Description
Original World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Type A-2 leather flight jacket, manufactured by J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co., Chicago, Illinois, size 38, retaining its original wartime specification label. The label identifies the jacket as a Type A-2, Drawing No. 30-1415, produced by J.A. Dubow under an Army Air Forces wartime contract. Dubow was one of the major wartime manufacturers of the A-2, and its jackets are readily recognized by their distinctive collar, pocket, epaulet, and construction details.
The most significant feature is the large embroidered 718th Bombardment Squadron insignia sewn to the left chest. The 718th Bombardment Squadron was one of the squadrons of the 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and entered combat from Italy with the Fifteenth Air Force during World War II. The squadron operated Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers on long-range missions against strategic targets throughout southern and central Europe. The 718th participated in the Mediterranean strategic bombing campaign and was part of the 449th Bomb Group’s operations against heavily defended targets including rail centers, airfields, oil facilities, and industrial complexes. Wikipedia
The insignia deserves particular attention. The eagle-in-flight design is associated with the 718th Bombardment Squadron and is known in wartime and later variants. The Air Force did not formally approve the squadron’s emblem until 21 March 1957, but historical Air Force material specifically notes that the design had been used by the squadron since World War II. Therefore, the fact that an exact embroidered example may differ from the later standardized USAF rendering does not automatically indicate postwar manufacture. Theater-made and privately acquired WWII squadron patches often varied substantially in size, embroidery technique, colors, borders, and details. Wikipedia
On this jacket, the patch exhibits age and wear consistent with the surrounding garment, but without documentary provenance its exact date of manufacture should be presented conservatively as a 718th Bomb Squadron insignia of a design known to have been used during WWII, rather than claiming definitively that the individual patch was manufactured during the war.
The jacket retains its brown leather shell, original-style brown lining, knitted waistband and cuffs, front zipper, shoulder epaulets, and characteristic patch pockets. The leather displays extensive genuine service wear including finish loss, rubbing, crazing, creasing, scuffs, and abrasions throughout. Of additional interest is a large ghosted circular area on the upper sleeve, apparently indicating that another insignia or painted device was once present there. This kind of evidence of changing insignia can be particularly interesting on wartime flight garments, which were sometimes modified as airmen changed assignments or units.
The original specification label remains strongly legible and identifies the manufacturer as J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co., Chicago, Illinois, with size 38 indicated below. The lining also retains wartime inspection markings. Knitted cuffs and waistband show expected age and wear, including localized holes and deterioration. The leather retains an attractive heavily worn combat appearance rather than having been refinished or cosmetically restored.
A very appealing and extensively worn original WWII USAAF J.A. Dubow Type A-2 flight jacket, distinguished by its scarce 718th Bombardment Squadron / 449th Bombardment Group insignia. The combination of an identifiable wartime Dubow contract, original label, strong service wear, surviving squadron insignia, and evidence of earlier insignia placement makes this an especially interesting example for collectors of Fifteenth Air Force, B-24, and WWII flight clothing. Condition as photographed.
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