Description

Double patched, painted and identified A-2 Flight Jacket belonging to Lt. Richard Dumond Lodge (T-62683 / O-2024967) of the 859th Bomb Squadron, 492nd Bomb Group. This is the pinnacle of A-2 jacket collecting, featuring both patches and superb artwork on the back, all identified to this highly important unit with colorful history. The jacket is in very nice condition. Leather is free of dry rot, holes, rips and tears. Original cuffs and knits with some slight wear and a small tear on one of the cuffs. The front is patched with the squadron patch of the 859th bomb squadron known as the « Happy Warrior ». Featuring a native American holding a jug of alcohol in one hand and a bomb over his shoulders, true Americana. A rather interesting fact is that the squadron patch was designed and drawn by one of the flight engineers S/Sgt Sydney Leith and was only officially approved after the three « X’s » were taken off the jug making this a rarer patch to find period attached to the jacket. The other patch is the « Liberamus » on the right chest pocket area. Size and number tag is still present under the right outer pocket. The interior of the jacket is frail, with the lining coming off in a few areas. The original contract and manufactures tag has somehow managed to be still present « ROUGH WEAR CLOTHING CO. PROPERTY AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY » and sized « 42 ». Zipper is present and fully functional with no problems opening or closing, manufactured by « TALON », pull tab is missing. The back of the jacket features the name of the plane « THE MONSTER » a good looking voluptuous brunette holding a bomb under her arm in great detail. The 26 bombing missions are represented by white painted bombs with the names of the cities in Germany. Including some famous ones such as Dresden, Coblenz, Kiel, Nürenberg, Hambourg, Münich but also a french town « Royan ». According to the missions it places Lodge in the fight between May 1944 until August 1944. According to the reference source the unit Was deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command, being stationed at RAF North Pickenham. Entered combat on 11 May 1944, and throughout the month operated primarily against industrial targets in central Germany. Attacked airfields and V-weapon launching sites in France during the first week in June. Bombed coastal defenses in Normandy on 6 June 1944 and attacked bridges, railroads, and other interdiction targets in France until the middle of the month. Resumed bombardment of strategic targets in Germany and, except for support of the infantry during the St-Lo breakthrough on 25 July 1944, continued such operations until August 1944 when after only 89 days of combat, the squadron was withdrawn from combat due to heavy personnel and equipment losses. Remaining personnel and equipment were reassigned to other units in theater. Lodge was then assigned to 467th Bomb Group as B-24 pilot and took part of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Included with the jacket is a sweetheart bracelet with Lodge's name and serial numbers. His Lieutenant OS Cap, photo album belonging to Lodge, along with an out of print unit history publication featuring him in a photo along with the « THE MONSTER ».

Do not miss this special opportunity to own the pinnacle of  painted A-2 jacket groupings, the likes of which do not surface often on the open market.