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Item:
ON7969

Original U.S. WWII 576th Bomb Squadron Painted A-2 Flight Jacket Grouping

Item Description

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Remarkable painted A-2 flight jacket and grouping of World War II Staff Sergeant William C. King, a B-24 aerial gunner with the 576th Bomb Squadron, 392 Bomb Group, 8th Air Force based out of Wendling, England. W.C. King Jr. appears in 39 missions on the “392 Bomb Group” website all of which can be found at this link. Sergeant King remained in the Air Force through the Korean war and was promoted to Captain in the 1950s.

This collection is highlighted by a leather Type A-2 flight jacket, size 36, with inside collar area stamped with laundry number K–2385 and twice “King, W. C., 14182385,” with manufacturer tag reading: "Type A-2, Drawing No. 30-1415, A. C. Order No. 1756, Property, Air Force, U. S. Army."

The reverse of the jacket features an excellent hand-painted insignia of the Eighth Air Force Winged Star with a central B-24 dropping a total of 35 bombs, and the front left chest marked in white paint, “King.” The original CONAMR zipper is fully functional and original knit waist and cuffs. Overall condition is very good to excellent.

Also included in this grouping:

- Korean War era United States Air Force (USAF) blue officer’s tunic, size 36B, with embroidered ribbon bars, embroidered US collar insignia, embroidered shoulder captain rank insignia, and Air Force uniform buttons.

- Korean War era United States Air Force (USAF) blue officer’s visor cap with prominent US eagle pin, black chinstrap with Air Force buttons underside of visor marked, “Capt. King.” In overall very good to fine condition.

- Glossy 7.5 x 9.5 photo of King wearing his flight uniform with goggles.

- King’s personal copy of a second edition of The Air Officer’s Guide: 1949 Edition, hardcover with dust jacket, signed on the first free end page in black ink, “Lt. William C. King, Jr., A01856823, USAF,” with notable wear to dust jacket.

- Original handwritten notes from King’s widow, listing her husband’s various military career accomplishments, including: “392nd Bomb Group/756th Bomb Squad, 8th Air Force,” “Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air medal—4 bronze oak leaf clusters,” “American Campaign medal,” “World War II victory medal,” “Korean Service medal—4 service stars,” and many others. and printed information packets from the “392 Bomb Group” website, which indicates that King participated in a total of 39 bombing missions, rather then the 35 indicated by the bombs painted on the A-2 jacket.
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