{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-b-24-liberator-745th-bomb-squadron-lardassaurus-named-bombardier-a-2-flight-jacket","title":"Original U.S. WWII B-24 Liberator 745th Bomb Squadron Lardassaurus Named Bombardier A-2 Flight Jacket","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an exceptional A2 leather flight jacket issued to a \u003cstrong\u003eLieutenant G.S. Tate\u003c\/strong\u003e who was a Bombardier in the  15th Air Force, 456th Bombardment Group, 745th Bomb Squadron who's motto was \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiberantus Lardassarus Rex\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eFantastic Russet brown leather Type A-2 flight jacket from World War II in size 40. Manufacturer tag inside neck reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType A-2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDWG No. 30-1415\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA.C. Order No. 42–16175\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerry Sportswear Inc\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNewburgh, N.Y.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProperty\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAir Force, U. S. Army\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn faded ink inspection stamp can be seen below the data label. The jacket itself features incredible hand-painted insignia, including: a set of 50 yellow-and-black bombs to right chest; an Italian made leather 15th Air Force patch to left shoulder; a hand-burned branded leather Bombardier wing patch stitched above the painted name \"Tate,\" and a large custom leather 745th Lardassarus Rex patch on the left chest. The back of the jacket bears an even more detailed and impressive hand-painted image of a B-24 Liberator Lardassarus Rex emblem. The jacket is in functional, original condition, with Conmar zipper to front, two front pouch pockets, and original knitted waist with cuffs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso included: a cream-colored souvenir silk scarf that measures 15.5\" x 47.5\" bearing an \u003cstrong\u003eLardassarus Rex\u003c\/strong\u003e emblem above the lettering \u003cstrong\u003eIsle of Capri\u003c\/strong\u003e; a pair sterling silver pilot wings; a pair of matching Air Force collar pins with snowflake patterns on reverse, one missing its pin back; and an embroidered blue felt Air Force patch 2.5\" in diameter. In overall very good to fine condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe grouping is accompanied by a year 2000 certificate of authenticity from Manion's Auction House, as well as an off-white 9.5 x 7.5 inch print of the \"Liberantus Lardassarus Rex,\" showing the emblem and listing ten members of the \u003cb\u003e745th Bombardment Squadron\u003c\/b\u003e, including \"Lt. G. S. Tate,\" the original owner of this jacket.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOther members of his crew, as seen in the print, include the following men all of whom appear in the 496th Bomb Group website roster. Tate does not appear on the website but neither do a few other members of his crew, and the website roster is by no means complete.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLieutenant Curtis F. Ashley \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.456bg.org\/ashley-curtis-a9109-456bg.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.456bg.org\/ashley-curtis-a9109-456bg.cfm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLieutenant Kemp D. Solcher \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.456bg.org\/solcher-kemp-s9385-456bg.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.456bg.org\/solcher-kemp-s9385-456bg.cfm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLieutenant John D. Krepp \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.456bg.org\/krepp-john-k5750-456bg.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.456bg.org\/krepp-john-k5750-456bg.cfm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSergeant Joseph F. Arcangeli \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.456bg.org\/arcangeli-joseph-a4028-456bg.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.456bg.org\/arcangeli-joseph-a4028-456bg.cfm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStaff Sergeant Kenneth B. Blake \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.456bg.org\/blake-kenneth-b8547-456bg.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.456bg.org\/blake-kenneth-b8547-456bg.cfm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eEstablished in mid-1943 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group; trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to Southern Italy at Stornara Airfield under Fifteenth Air Force.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEngaged in very long range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transportation targets. Operations included attacks against such objectives as marshalling yards, aircraft factories, railroad bridges, and airdromes in Italy, Austria, and Romania. Helped to prepare the way for and supported the invasion of Southern France during Jul and August 1944. At the same time, expanded previous operations to include attacks on oil refineries and storage facilities, locomotive works, and viaducts in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReturned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May 1945; re-manned and re-equipped as a B-29 Superfortress heavy bombardment squadron. Began training under Second Air Force in August 1945, however was inactivated in October after the Japanese Capitulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis exceptional A-2 jacket is sure to be a focal point of any WWII collection!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":19706981154885,"sku":"ON7988","price":3495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ON7988__1A_d251f6cd-4073-4cc2-a2b8-61b319ef3802.jpg?v=1597150359","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-b-24-liberator-745th-bomb-squadron-lardassaurus-named-bombardier-a-2-flight-jacket","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}