Original Item: Only One Available. This is an absolutely beautiful squadron painted A-2 flight jacket, from a member of the famed 5th Army Air Force, 400th Bombardment Squadron, 90th Bomb Group “Jolly Rogers” a Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit who served in the Pacific Theater during WWII.

The A-2 jacket, in size US 36, is in wonderful condition, and features incredible hand painted insignia. The left chest of the jacket features an incredible painted Black Beard Pirate insignia, which was the unofficial 400th Bombardment Squadron emblem used in the Pacific. The paint is retained nicely though there is some expected cracking present. The right chest of the jacket has the rare large version of the Skull and Crossbones insignia which was a well known yet unofficial emblem of the 90th Bombardment Group as seen in the Southwest Pacific. The paint method used on this insignia was quite popular during the time but is not often seen today. The leather was molded around a solid insignia and then painted, giving it a raised "embossed" look and feel. The paint is cracked and faded but still easily discernible. The left shoulder bears a hand painted 5th Air Force insignia. Additionally, the jack retains all original components including original knit waist and knit sleeve cuffs, something we often see replaced on A-2 jackets that saw extensive service. Original KWIK brand zipper which is still functional. 

The interior lining does have tearing and stitching loss present, so do handle it with caution. The top rear back portion of the liner still retains the original data label which reads as:

TYPE A2
DWG NO. 30-1415
A.C. CONTRACT
NO. 535 ac-23382
CABLE RAINCOAT CO.
BOSTON MASS.
36

The jacket is not named and does not have a laundry number or Army Serial Number. We were able to find images of similar jackets on Air Crew members, most closely resembling the jackets for the crew of ROAD TO TOKYO. Printed copies of these images are included with the sale of this jacket.

This is an incredible example of a hard to find painted A-2 jacket, offered in wonderful condition. Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Approximate Measurements:

400th Bombardment Squadron
The squadron was first organized as the 10th Reconnaissance Squadron at Key Field, Mississippi in April 1942 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit and one of the original squadrons of the 90th Bombardment Group. Within a week the squadron name was changed to the 400th Bombardment Squadron. The squadron trained with Liberators in the southeastern United States under III Bomber Command until August.

The squadron moved to Willow Run Airport, Michigan for conversion training on newly manufactured Ford Liberators. Assigned to VII Bomber Command with B-24Ds, the unit moved to Hickam Field, Hawaii in September. The squadron arrived in northern Queensland, Australia in November 1942 and began bombardment missions under V Bomber Command almost immediately.

The squadron attacked enemy airfields, troop concentrations, ground installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Palau and the southern Philippines. The 400th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its operations in Papua between through January 1943. The unit participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and earned another citation for strikes on enemy airfields at Wewak, New Guinea in September 1943 despite heavy flak and fighter opposition.

During 1944, the 400th supported the New Guinea Campaign through the end of June, then made long-range raids on oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, in September and October. In January 1945, the squadron moved to the Philippines and supported ground forces on Luzon, attacked industrial targets on Formosa, and bombed railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on the Asiatic mainland. Shortly before the end of the war in the Pacific, the 90th moved to Okinawa, from which it would be able to strike the Japanese home islands.

After VJ Day, the squadron flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to Manila. It ceased operations by November 1945. The squadron was inactivated in the Philippines in early 1946.

90th Bombardment Group
The group was first organized as the 90th Bombardment Group at Key Field, Mississippi in April 1942 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit. The group's original squadrons were the 10th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 319th, 320th and 321st Bombardment Squadrons, although within a week of activation the 10th was renamed the 400th Bombardment Squadron. The group trained with Liberators in the southeastern United States under III Bomber Command until August.

The group moved to Willow Run Airport, Michigan for conversion training on newly manufactured Ford Liberators. Assigned to VII Bomber Command with B-24Ds, The unit moved to Hickam Field, Hawaii in September. The group arrived in northern Queensland, Australia in November 1942 and began bombardment missions under V Bomber Command almost immediately.

The group attacked enemy airfields, troop concentrations, ground installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Palau and the southern Philippines. The group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations in Papua through January 1943, The unit participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and earned another citation for strikes on enemy airfields at Wewak, New Guinea in September 1943 despite heavy flak and fighter opposition.

During 1944, the 90th supported the New Guinea Campaign through the end of June, then made long-range raids on oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, in September and October. In January 1945, the group moved to the Philippines and supported ground forces on Luzon, attacked industrial targets on Formosa, and bombed railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on the Asiatic mainland. Shortly before the end of the war in the Pacific, the 90th moved to Okinawa, from which it would be able to strike the Japanese home islands.

After VJ Day, the group flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to Manila. Ceased operations by November 1945. The group was inactivated in the Philippines in early 1946.