World War Two U.S. Army Air Force contract A-2 jacket. Poughkeepsie, New York: Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co., [1942]. Size 42.

The back of this leather jacket features a painting of the B-24 Liberator "BEWILDERED BABE" dropping bombs on a swastika that is in flames. The 33 painted bombs, designating 33 missions, form a “V” for Victory as they hurdle towards this hated symbol of the Third Reich. The paint is stable with expected age wear and crazing. The exterior of the jacket body is in overall very good condition showing wear commensurate with regular use. The M-41 Talon gold gilt zipper is functional. The zipper slide and pull tab are both stamped Talon. There is a tear on the upper left sleeve.  The cotton lining is complete and intact with stress wear along the collar. The manufacturer’s label is intact. This large size 42 jacket was made by the Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co. Inc., Poughkeepsie, New York.  The contract number on the label – W535 ac28560 identifies this jacket as part of a May 18, 1942 contract with Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co. for 50,000 A-2 jackets. The airmen’s laundry number S9858 is stenciled beneath the manufacturer’s label.

While there is no owner’s identification beyond the laundry number, an article in the Spring 2003 issue of the 8^th Air Force 2^nd Air Division Association’s publication “The Journal” discusses the history of B-24 Liberator number 42-94898 B-24H “898”. Plane 898 was used by both the 392^nd and 489^th bomb groups. The article’s author stated that some evidence suggests that “898” was named “BEWILDERED BABE” for a short period of time during the plane’s assignment to the 489^th bomb group just before it was transferred to the 392^nd bomb group.

[World War II, WWII, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adolf Hitler, Allied, Axis, George S. Patton, Air Force]