ORIGINAL & VG+ 15th AF Tailor-Made Flying Jacket (38-40) w/ Provenance & Pants

Description

ORIGINAL & VG+ 15th AF Tailor-Made Flying Jacket (38-40) w/ Provenance & Pants
ORIGINAL & VG+ 15th AF Tailor-Made Flying Jacket (38-40) w/ Provenance & Pants
Click images to enlarge
Description
This is an ORIGINAL tailor-made clone of one of the RAREST flying jackets issued to AAF officers in WWII, the Type B-13 Flying Jacket. Based upon the general design of the "Ike" jacket, which in turn was patterned after the British battle dress jacket, the Type B-13 Flying Jacket was an effort to provide flying officers with a flying jacket that was both stylish and practical. Since large numbers of flyers were being shot down over the Continent and making their way as "Kriegies" to Oflags and Stalag Lufts, there was a practical need to supply downed airmen with flight clothing which would be presentable while in captivity, so they could at least look like officers and retain some self-dignity.  Here, perhaps due to supply shortages in the Italian Theater, the officer went to a tailor shop in Catania, Sicily and had a jacket tailor-made, but with some significant differences from the B-13,
such as the use of a Conmar zipper for closure, rather than the B-13's buttoned front.
The 15th Air Force SSI has been moved to the right shoulder, indicating that the officer moved on to another assignment, although there is currently no insigne on the left shoulder, but shows signs of one having been there.
The jacket is constructed of the same green "wool elastique" gabardine twill as the officer's four-pocket blouse, which was usually worn with either the drab shade "pink" trousers or matching green trousers of the Class A uniform.  The jacket has two cut-in pockets on the lower torso (see image above). The jacket is in VERY GOOD+ used condition with no flaws, holes, tears, moth nips, etc. The jacket still retains the original tag of the tailor in the neck and has the typical "suppressed" waist which officers favored during WWII (See image above). The jacket is approximately a size 38-40, with the following measurements: Chest 23"; Sleeve 23.5"; Waist 17"; Shoulders 18"; and Overall 23".
Best of all, the blouse has provenance with the officer's name ("Capt. Carl Holcomb") and last four digits of his Army Serial Number ("ASN") written on the inside of the right pocket of the pants and on some laundry tags which came with the blouse when I purchased it at the Show of Shows back on February 23, 2006 (see image below)
.  Armed with this information, Capt. Holcomb might be researched on either Ancestry.com or one of the veterans research firms available online.
The jacket comes with a pair of "regulation" green trousers, which has had the original manufacturer's QM tag obliterated by wear.  The measurements of the pants are as follows: Waist 34" + 2" to let out; Inseam 30.5" + 1.5" to let down; Hips 40"; and Overall length 42".  The pants are also in VERY GOOD+ condition with no flaws holes, tears, moth nips, etc.  As mentioned above, Capt. Holcomb's name is inked on the right inside pocket (see image).
Here's an opportunity for the advanced AAF jacket collector or re-enactor to obtain a rare and stylish "bespoke" flight jacket of WWII.  As usual, the buyer will have my unconditional guarantee of authenticity and a five-day (
not the 14-days that they insert in my listings without my consent
) right of inspection and return/refund privilege, excluding postage.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWNWARD TO SEE THE REMAINING IMAGES!
Condition:
Used
Payment
Paypal
Paypal:
PayPal is gladly accepted and is accommodated through the checkout or may be made directly from PayPal's website at www.paypal.com. Your item will be mailed the next business/mailing day after your Payapl payment is received, unless I happen to be out of my office.
Payment Policy:
PayPal: PayPal is gladly accepted and is accommodated through the checkout or may be made directly from PayPal's website at www.paypal.com. Your item will be mailed the next business/mailing day after your Payapl payment is received, unless I happen to be out of my office.
Shipping
Domestic shipping: Weight based Shipping Charges.
Domestic Carriers are: Usps Priority
International shipping: Weight based Shipping Charges.
International Carriers are: Usps Priority Intl
I will ship to:
United States, Worldwide
Weight:
10 lbs.
Shipping and Handling:
Please check eBay's Shipping & Payment tab
Hello! I'm a militaria collector like you and I do this as a sideline to my own collecting.  Nonetheless, I'll handle your order in a business-like and professional manner.  Thanks for your business!
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