Early WWII USAAF Painted & Patched-Out A-2 of 14th AF B-24 80 Days 374 BS 308 BG

ARTIFACT: This is a great EARLY WWII (mid-1942!) painted and patched-out A-2 flight jacket from an officer on the 308th Bomb Group, 374th Bomb Squadron B-24 "80 Days". It has a great iconic Chinese Flag Blood Chit on the reverse, and another tacked to the liner inside, a CBI-theatre (and EARLY) oversized 14th AF (China Air Task Force) patch on the shoulders, and a wonderful multi-piece leather 374th Bomb Squadron "Flying Wombats" patch. This jacket belonged to Lt. Carvell G. Keeny (he is pictured at center in the black and white photo above in front of the 80 Days B-24, and at right passing his A-2 on to a collector in the 1980s or early 1990s). Aside from an AVG jacket sold earlier this year, this is the earliest CBI A-2 I have ever had the opportunity to offer. Lt. Keeny reported to an airbase at Chen Kung, China, July 3, 1942, the day before the Flying Tigers disbanded. He was assigned to the 308th Bomber Group, 374th Squadron,"The Flying Wombats", 14th Air Force, as a bombardier on a B24 Liberator. Lt. Kenny was a crew member on the B-24 nicknamed "80 Days". On July 5th, 1942, he flew his first combat mission, thereafter logging 33 missions totaling 335 hours of combat flying time. After completing his 300 combat hours he then returned stateside in 1943. Returning stateside, he came home BEFORE the Chinese Flag Blood Chits were replaced by US Flag Chits, and long before they were removed completely, so this jacket sports an iconic early war Chit on back, and a great early Aviation Commission Blood Chit inside. Again, this is worn in an "early" fashion: it was originally just sewn at the corners into the liner (3 of the 4 corners' stitching have come undone). Later on aviators had these sewn in to form pockets. The A-2 is a scarce Star Sportswear 1942 contract jacket. It has a lovely patina overall, with the only detriments being the poor quality paint obviously used to paint the aircraft name on the jacket. It is a size 36, but a larger 36. The zipper, cuffs, waistband, liner, etc. are all original to the jacket. The only possible modification looks to be that the Wombats patch may have been re-attached to the jacket at some point, but if so, it appears to have taken place long ago.

VINTAGE: Circa early World War II (mid-1942).

SIZE: Size tag: 36. Jacket: measurements to follow soon. The rest of the artifacts are of various standard sizes, call for more specific details.

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Leather with painted details, cotton/nylon cuffs; multi-piece leather patches, leather name strip, cotton/linen inside chit.

ATTACHMENT: Zipper, pocket snaps.

MARKINGS: Crown on zipper; Type A-2 Dwg. No. 30-1415 Order No. 42-18245-P Star Sportswear Mfg Co. Lynn, Mass. Property Air Force, U.S. Army 36 label; AN P198 stamp; chops on blood chit.

ITEM NOTES: This is from a WWII USAAF flight jacket collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. CON-LL-MCJJJX14 LDGEJX9/14 HdDGEJX12/14 SLDGEJX4/15 RET8/15

CONDITION: 7+ (Very Fine+): The jacket has a lovely patina overall, with the only detriments being the poor quality paint obviously used to paint the aircraft name on the jacket. .