Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare original WW2 Japanese Army tunic for a 1st Class Private in the IJN Army Air Service, Maintenance and Ground Services Unit. The tunic is in near unissued condition, but there is some mothing on the insignia. This is a high quality construction, cotton shell and lining with polished buttons. Features Private First Class collar tabs, all red with 2 gold stars. There are several lines of Kanji ink stamped to the inner lining, one being 昭 和 十 七 年. This would be read: SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu Nana Nen (17th year of reign - 1942).
 
The chest mark featured on the right side has been made a meal of by moths unfortunately, however, there are still colored thread visible, which allows us to identify the unit! Around the edges, still stitched into the wool backing is light blue thread, indicating service with the Air Services. Given that he wasn’t a pilot, this would mean he would’ve worked in a ground unit.
 
In April 1944, a reorganization of the Japanese Army Air Service occurred. Maintenance and ground service units, formerly a separate command, were merged into the Air Combat Group (Hiko Sentai). The flying squadrons of the Air Combat Group were re-designated as Squadron (飛行隊, Hikōtai), and the ground units were designated Maintenance Units (整備隊, Seibutai).
 
Other changes in the final stages of the war was the formation of "Special Attack Units" and "Air-shaking Units", which were short-lived units with their own names (often taken from Japanese mythology or history) and markings, but located within existing squadrons. These units were specially designated and trained with the mission of air-to-air ramming of Allied bomber aircraft. They usually had their armaments removed and their airframes reinforced.
 
This is a truly remarkable example of a genuine WW2 Imperial Japanese Army tunic! Comes ready to display.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 8.5”
Shoulder to sleeve: 22”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 17”
Waist width: 18”
Hip width: 21”
Front length: 29"