Item Description
Original Items: One-of-a-kind. Excellent condition WWII B-15 Intermediate Flight jacket which is named to B.R. Baldwin who flew in B-24 bombers and was a member of the MAREEBA BUTCHERS which were the 403rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force. The squadron had been based at Mareeba, Australia, in early 1943 and the nickname was given to the unit by radio propagandist "Tokyo Rose," who claimed that during one mission the unit has specifically attacked women and children.
The jacket is offered in excellent condition and features a fantastic full color MAREEBA BUTCHERS insignia patch to the right chest and a embossed leather name tag that reads B.R. BALDWIN. Size 36 with typical signs of age and use, has a working zipper and working snaps, original collar and internal lining as well as original data tag.
This jacket has been in a private collection for decades and is the best example of a painted B-15 Jacket we have ever encountered. It is perhaps also one of the very best Jolly Roger's flight jackets in any collection. This is an opportunity not to be missed!
History of the 403rd Bomb Squadron
403rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force. Established in 1940 and activated in 1941 as a long range reconnaissance squadron, assigned to the GHQ Air Force Northeast Air District . Trained and was equipped with both early model B-17C/D Flying Fortress heavy bombers. along with and B-18 Bolo medium bombers and A-29 Hudsons at Langley Field . Primarily flew training missions over the Mid-Atlantic States . After the Pearl Harbor Attack , was deployed to New England and began flying antisubmarine missions from Bangor Airport over the Newfoundland Straits and performing aerial convoy patrols over the North Atlantic shipping lanes. Deployed to Australia in February 1942, being assigned to the new Fifth Air Force being formed after the withdraw from the Philippines of remaining heavy bombers. The squadron reached Australia in March 1942 and was redesignated as a heavy bombardment squadron in April. Did not enter combat until September, when it finally had a reasonable complement of aircraft. From then until November 1944 the squadron operated in support of the campaign in Papua New Guinea , first from Australia, then from New Guinea and Owi Island , concentrated in particular in attacks on shipping. The unit experimented with low level skip bombing, using this tactic at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea , 2-4 March 1943 with some success. Between May and September 1943 the squadron's B-17s were replaced with B-24 Liberators , believed to be more suited to the long ranges of many Pacific missions. In November 1944 the squadron moved to the Philippines, helping the ground campaign on Luzon as well as conducting long range strategic bombing missions against targets in China and Formosa . Finally in July 1945 it moved to Le Shima , from where it flew missions over Japan , still attacking shipping, as well as airfields and railways until the Japanese Capitulation in August. Squadron demobilized on Okinawa , aircraft being sent to the Philippines for reclamation. Inactivated as a paper unit in April 1946.
"Along the shores of beautiful Owi Island may be seen the colorful signs of many a fighter and heavy bomb squadron, but it is the general consensus of opinion that the 403rd 'Mareeba Butchers' head the list of unique names and colorful signs. They gained their grizzly cognomen from an incident that happened while they were based at Mareeba, Australia.
The story goes, that the 43rd Bomb Group, in conjunction with the old 19th Bomb Group, allowed a few of their bombs to stray into a Geisha-girl house while on a mission over Rabaul. The damage to the darlings of the Japanese soldiers according to Madam Tojo of Radio Tokyo fame, was a little more than devastating, and she swore vengeance on the 'butchers' of her 'innocent girls'. The 403rd Squadron of the 43rd Group, because several of their crews had figured in the bombing, took an almost malicious delight in the attention they received, and they adopted the name, 'Mareeba Butchers'. Since then the 'Butchers' have laid down their bombs on targets from Lao to Davao. So well they have done their job, Madame Tojo continues to threaten them at frequent intervals, on her radio program, and the 'Butchers' accept each threat as an additional incentive to live up to their name, and put their bombs where they will do the most good.
However, the name 'Mareeba Butchers', is not the 403rd's only claim to fame. They are, also, the oldest heavy bomb group in the Southwest Pacific, and the first heavy bomb squadron in New Guinea. So when along the beach road, watch for the sign 'Mareeba Butchers,' but don't expect any fresh meat -- they eat it all themselves!"
The story goes, that the 43rd Bomb Group, in conjunction with the old 19th Bomb Group, allowed a few of their bombs to stray into a Geisha-girl house while on a mission over Rabaul. The damage to the darlings of the Japanese soldiers according to Madam Tojo of Radio Tokyo fame, was a little more than devastating, and she swore vengeance on the 'butchers' of her 'innocent girls'. The 403rd Squadron of the 43rd Group, because several of their crews had figured in the bombing, took an almost malicious delight in the attention they received, and they adopted the name, 'Mareeba Butchers'. Since then the 'Butchers' have laid down their bombs on targets from Lao to Davao. So well they have done their job, Madame Tojo continues to threaten them at frequent intervals, on her radio program, and the 'Butchers' accept each threat as an additional incentive to live up to their name, and put their bombs where they will do the most good.
However, the name 'Mareeba Butchers', is not the 403rd's only claim to fame. They are, also, the oldest heavy bomb group in the Southwest Pacific, and the first heavy bomb squadron in New Guinea. So when along the beach road, watch for the sign 'Mareeba Butchers,' but don't expect any fresh meat -- they eat it all themselves!"
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