PLEASE NOTE: We will be BACK IN THE OFFICE on TUESDAY 01/28 catching up from Travel and Shipping out the Mountain of Orders we received!!
We will be Listing, Packing, & SHIPPING again as of TUESDAY 01/28!!
Update 01/26/25: WE ARE still EXPERIENCING SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH non-PayPal CREDIT CARD PURCHASES!!
If you would like to PAY for an Artifact with a CREDIT CARD, please email and I will get an invoice emailed to you ASAP!
We are HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR ORDERS during this time, and we will promptly SHIP MOST orders within ONE Business Day of Receipt of Payment!
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That DISCOUNT also applies to PayPal GIFT (Fee-Free), Check, and Money Order payments!!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
We look forward to serving your collecting needs, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
This is an early 1944 A-2 flight jacket for test pilot and former AVG pilot Harry R. Bolster (wing man). Bolster became a test pilot while in the United States and died in a crash in November of 1944. As test pilots were allowed to wear pretty much whatever they wanted, it is assumed by both Richard Peacher and myself that Harry had this patch affixed to his newer A-2. The patch dates from his earlier service in China, and he chose to affix it to his new jacket, acquired sometime after its manufacture in early 1944. It was the only example of a multi-piece leather patch Mr. Peacher had ever encountered and the only one I have ever seen or heard of. He sold the jacket to another collector in 2008 when he changed his focus of collecting and wished to use the funds to purchase an important piece in another area of collecting. Prior to that it has been an extremely important part of his collection. The sale of the jacket will include Richard Peacher's original COA and a new one from myself as well. It also has a name strip reading H. BOLSTER, and the remains of a painted patch upon the left shoulder.
VINTAGE:
Circa early 1944.
SIZE:
Size 38: approximately 19-1/2" (armpit to armpit), 23-1/2" from shoulder seam to end of cuff, 16" across back shoulder to shoulder and about 25" from base of collar to hem. Patch: about 4-3/4" in diameter.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Leather with decal and applied insignia, cotton lining, elasticized wool cuffs and waist band, multi-piece leather patch, leather name strip.
ATTACHMENT:
Zipper (zipper pull missing), snaps on pockets, snaps under collar, hook and eye closure at throat.
MARKINGS:
38 on tag in pocket; TYPE A-2 DWG. NO. 30-1415 A.C CONTRACT ORDER NO. W33-038 A.C.1755-(11631) PROPERTY AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY J.A. DUBOW MFG. CO. CHICAGO, ILL. 38 on label; BOLSTER under label.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from an American Volunteer Group collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. CON-CA-20-MHJJX12 L/SBDJJJX10/12
CONDITION:
6+ (Fine-Very Fine): The leather is supple and has spots of light to medium wear, including to the painted shoulder patch, and some minor gapping in the stitching at the shoulder. There are several holes in the waistband and cuffs. Zipper pull is missing but zipper functions.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
