Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Sergeant Joseph A. Drahnak Army Serial Number 33245795 participated in over 40 missions as a member of Crew #56, 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He flew as a gunner on missions in the Spring and Summer of 1944 on various planes including B-24s The Duchess 42-94861, The Duchess 2 44-40208, Cock of The Sky 41-29569, Chesty 42-94890, the B-17 Joy Riders and others. He flew in more than 40 missions all of which we have researched and are documented with over 100 pages of research in an nicely prepared binder. Below is some sample research. We have lists of nearly every mission he flew with details of his crew, aircraft, target and outcome.

The jacket features truly exceptional vibrant nose art painting on the reverse of a bikini clad woman holding a bomb with THE DUCHESS and Joy Riders above her. On the left shoulder is an early was embroidered 8th Ari Force patch. The front bears an embossed leather name tag that reads J.A. DRAHNAK and beneath that another embossed leather tag that read ARMOR. GUNNER Faded maker tag inside reads:

TYPE A-2
DRAWING No.30-1415
ORDER No.42018777-P
PROPERTY
AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY
-------
UNITED SHEEPLINED
CLOTHING CO.
LONG BRANCH, N.J.

Offered in good condition with some areas of cracking, but overall solid, supple and with original lining, waistband and cuffs which both show wear. Original functional zipper still intact. Overall a really amazing jacket who's owner's missions are incredibly well researched.

CREW #56 391st Squadron
CLIFF JOHN W (P) (1024)                            2 LT        391          O-808380
ZIMMERMAN ROBERT E (CP) (1024)         2 LT        391          O-817566
TRUTANICH ANTHONY A (N) (1034)           2 LT        391          O-704106
TALLOCHET EDWARD L JR (B) (1035)        2 LT        391          O-698052
BROOKSHIRE LESTER E (AEG) (748)         SGT        391          34685221
HAMMOND JOHN F (ROG) (757)                  S/ SGT    391          33582165
DRAHNAK JOSEPH A (AG) (612)                  SGT        391          33245795
JACKSON MARION L S (BG) (611)                CPL         391          17098278
MOORE WARREN E (BG) (611)                      S/SGT     391          36179863

MISSION LIST
CREW #56; 391st Squadron with Pilot Cliff
Mission #2 May 24, 1944 41-29569 L/C 391BS Cliff Cock of the Sky Aborted – complete electrical system failure.
Mission #3 May 25, 1944 42-94861 L/B 391BS Cliff The Dutchess
Mission #4 May 27, 1944 42-94762 B/K 391BS Cliff The Uninvited (Airborne spare)
Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-94890 L/J 391BS Cliff Chesty one man wounded. Plane Category E
Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-94889 B/O 391BS Cliff Patches (Aborted)
Mission #10 June 6, 1944 41-29518 L/H 391BS Cliff Picadilly Lucy
Mission #12 June 6, 1944 41-29561 L/C 391BS Cliff
Mission #13 June 7, 1944 42-94878 L/Q 391BS Cliff; Airborne Spare
Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-52752 L/E 391BS Cliff unknown name

NOTES: By June 22, 1944, Cliff was replaced as pilot of crew #56 by Nigg.Cliff became the Co-pilot on the Baker crew, #64, swapping places with Nigg who had been the Baker crew co-pilot)

Mission List
Crew #56; 391st Squadron with Pilot Nigg
Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #21 June 23, 1944 42-94762 B/K 7BS Nigg The Uninvited
Mission #23 June 24, 1944 41-29599 L/B 391BS Nigg Boots
Mission #25 June 25, 1944 42-94780 L/M 7BS Nigg Smitty (Airborne spare)
Mission #26 June 27, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #29 July 2, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #34 July 12, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #36 July 17, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #37 July 18, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #38 July 19, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #41 July 24, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #42 July 25, 1944 44-40208 L/C 391BS Nigg
Mission #44 July 27, 1944 44-40208 L/U 391BS Nigg

Sample Mission Detail:

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40208 (The Duchess 2) L/C 391BS Nigg
Took off at 1454 hours.
Flew position 3-3 in Lead Squadron.
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1916 hours from 20,000 feet.
Major damage reported.
Landed 2148 hours.
Nigg (P)
Zimmerman (CP)
Stutts (N)
Tallichet (B)
Hammond (R)
Brookshire (E)
Jackson (BG)
Moore (TG)
Harris, E. L. (NG)
Drahnak (G)