{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-b-24-380th-bomb-group-king-of-the-heavies-pilot-uniform-grouping","title":"Original U.S. WWII B-24 380th Bomb Group “KING OF THE HEAVIES” Pilot Uniform Grouping","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an incredible genuine WW2 issue pilot’s grouping which features a A-2 leather flight jacket in size US 38 that belonged to \u003cb\u003e Captain Harry Blum\u003c\/b\u003e serial number \u003cb\u003e34682935\u003c\/b\u003e. Blum was the pilot of the B-24 Liberator \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMALE CALL\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e who piloted his B24 Heavy Bomber over China, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He was assigned to the 531st Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group which was known as the \u003cb\u003eThe Flying Circus, King of the Heavies\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left breast of the jacket has a painted leather DONALD DUCK squadron patch designed by WALT DISNEY for the 531st Bomb Squadron. The reverse of the jacket is beautifully and vibrantly painted Winged lion swatting a globe and:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFlying Circus \n\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing of the Heavies \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e380th \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBomb Group\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jacket is in overall excellent condition and extremely desirable due to its provenance and the presence of the ultra rare Donald DUCK squadron patch. One the left shoulder is an original 5th Air Force embroidered patch. There is typical minor cracking to the leather, primarily on the sleeves and the collar edge. The leather remains supple and pliable. The zipper is complete and functional, the cuffs and waist bands are excellent. The lining is totally original and features an USAAF logo, laundry number (last for digits of Blum’s serial number) and the original maker label. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso included are his officer peaked visor cap in excellent condition as well as his Khaki tropical issue pants offered in very good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis grouping came out of The Veterans Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCant Blum and his crew can be seen posing in front of their B24 MALE CALL in multiple photos and his flight combat history in that plane has been recorded at the link below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e?http:\/\/380th.org\/HISTORY\/PARTV\/MR\/MR42-72799-073.htm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 531st Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, 5th AAF “Flying Circus” “King of the Heavies” B-24  \"Donald Duck\" history:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 380th Bombardment Group flew B-24 Liberator bombers in the South West and Western Pacific areas in WWII. We were part of the 5th Air Force. They were known as the FLYING CIRCUS and as the KING OF THE HEAVIES.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 380th went overseas in April 1943 to become the second B-24 unit in the Fifth Air Force at that time after the 90th Bomb Group. The other Heavy Bomber unit (the 43rd) flew B-17s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 380th was placed under the control of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and assigned to the Australian North West Area Command operating out of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. They were the only heavy bomber unit available to cover the whole of the Dutch East Indies (1,000,000 square miles) from July 1943 until late in 1944. At that time the successes in the New Guinea campaign had brought the other Fifth Air Force units close enough to the East Indies to join us in that task.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 380th made the longest bombing missions of WWII, to the oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo (200 miles further than the Ploesti mission in Europe) and to those at Surabaja, Java (as long as Ploesti).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to attacks on the Japanese oil supply, they we were heavily engaged in crippling their shipping fleet to reduce the Japanese capability of supplying their far-flung forces. They also heavily bombed the numerous Japanese airfields in the East Indies to reduce the Japanese threat to Australia and our New Guinea forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn its service with the Australians, the 380th served longer under the operational control of an Allied country than any other Air Force unit (from June 1943 until February 1945).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs part of its duties in Australia, the 380th carried out the operational training of 52 Australian crews and their associated ground staffs so that the Australians could take over the East Indian campaign activities of the 380th when they were assigned to The Philippines in February 1945. Many of the Australians so trained have become part of the 380th Bomb Group Association.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 380th was composed of four Squadrons: the 528th, 529th, 530, and 531st.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":26168686277,"sku":"ON3765","price":4995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/on3765__01a.jpg?v=1601208823","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-b-24-380th-bomb-group-king-of-the-heavies-pilot-uniform-grouping","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}