Original U.S. WWII Named 5th Tow Target Squadron 5th Air Force Patched A2 Jacket with Blood Chit - Captain Charles H. Shuff
In stock
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is the outstanding A-2 Flight Jacket of Captain Charles H. Shuff, who served in the 5th Tow Target Squadron, 5th Air Force during World War II. The mission of the squadron was to provide aerial support for radar tracking and A.A.A. firing for U.S. Army A.A.A. Battalions in Europe. The jacket is double-patched to the front with the Disney-designed squadron patch of the 5th Tow Target Squadron over Shuff’s name tag and a 5th Air Force patch. In the pocket of the A2 Jacket was a Blood chit.
On the left breast between the two patches is his name tape, reading C.H. SHUFF. The interior retains the original data tag:
TYPE A-2
DWG. NO. 30-.. 45
A.C. CONTRACT
ORDER NO. 42-532-P
PROPERTY
AIR FORCE, U.S. ARMY
AERO LEATHER CLO. CO.
BEACON, N.Y.
48
Over his name tape is a period-applied embroidered squadron patch for the 5th Tow Target Squadron. The patch is a Walt Disney-designed emblem, and depicts a small plane nick-named “Pedro” flying with the small bit he’s towing scaring him. The patch has outstanding embroidery work and is the best example we’ve seen. During World War II, the squadron was stationed at Ellington Field, Texas, and then later Camp Hulen, Palacios, Texas. The squadron does not appear to have made it overseas.
Below the nametape is a great period-applied patch for the 5th Air Force. The jacket has some heavy wear overall with some crazing and tearing to the leather at the shoulders. It retains the TALON marked zipper in great working order. The knit cuffs and waistband do show some tearing, fraying, and possibly some repairs, but it is overall in great order.
A great detail is that Shuff cut a small pencil pocket into the front closure on the left side, and there is still a pencil inside! The pencil is of the period with advertising for Staley’s Soy Flour. What an interesting addition!
Also in the pocket was a USAAF Pacific Theater American Flag China Burma India Blood Chit in 17 different languages. It is quite creased but is still complete, measuring 11 ¾ x 17 ¾”.
Charles H. Shuff was born on November 6th, 1915 in New York City. He first enlisted in the New York National Guard on January 6th, 1940, for a period of three years with the 102nd Observation Squadron, 27th Division Aviation. On February 10th, 1941, he became an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps. On September 18th, 1942, while stationed with an air corps group at Ontario Municipal Airport in California, Shuff was driving a coupe when he dozed at the wheel and crashed into a eucalyptus tree, severely injuring Colonel John Jeffers. He purportedly served overseas, but we couldn’t find much information about his overseas service. After the war, he became a prominent figure in the air force, serving as Deputy for Mutual Security Assistance Affairs under the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. He later served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs. He passed away in February 1986, at the age of 70.
An outstanding A-2 Jacket with good period wear, ready for further research and display!
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