Item Description
Original Items: One-of-a-kind set. Looking through this grouping feels like taking a step back in time into the Pacific Theatre during World War Two! 2nd Lieutenant Jackie M. Horner was a pilot of a North American P-51 Mustang as a member of the 457th Fighter Squadron. The 457th was activated in October 1944 and assigned to the 506th Fighter Group, 20th Air Force.
The 457th was stationed in the western Pacific Ocean in spring of 1945, they escorted B-29 bombers in raids against Japan, and attacked targets such as enemy airfields from May to August 1945. They flew P-51 Mustangs in the Pacific Theater, Air Offensive, Japan, receiving the Distinguished Unit Citation. Lt. Horner was awarded the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, as well as the Purple Heart when wounded in air combat over Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with two bronze battle stars. He also received a special Citation for meritorious achievement while in aerial flight. He was cited for numerous long over water missions of more than 1500 miles, penetrating deep into the Japanese Empire to eliminate the Japanese Air Force both in the air and on the ground. They stated, “His display of high professional skill and courage reflects great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.” After the War Lt. Horner stayed in the Air Force, but unfortunately was killed in a training accident, a mid-air collision, at Randolph Air Force Base August 6th, 1948.
Contained in this amazing grouping are the following:
- WWII “Intermediate flying, Type B-15” jacket size 38R, by Aero Leather Clothing, Army Air Forces stamped inside. This handsome jacket with faux fur collar features a beautiful 457th hand painted squadron patch on the left breast. The reverse of the jacket features an incredible hand painted Tokyo Club with a P-51 flying over Mt. Fuji. Left shoulder features a hand painted Army Air Forces insignia. Jacket is in overall good condition with very, very minor staining and slight mothing. Conmar zipper in working order. The Tokyo Club. as mentioned in the wonderful book The Fight in the Clouds: The Extraordinary Combat Experience of P-51 Mustang Pilots During World War II by James P. Busha was reserved for pilots that that flew over the Japanese capital escorting B-29 heavy bombers during the closing months of WW2.
- Purple heart, medal ribbons, lieutenant bars.
- Two sets of sterling silver pilot wings (one for his jacket the other for his shirt).
- Officer's overseas garrison cap.
- Original photo of Horner sitting atop his P-51.
- Excellent “Handbook of the Pacific for Fighter Pilots,” featuring Map of ocean currents, Map of Central Pacific, West Central Pacific, detailed maps of major Island/Atoll groups, aircraft and ship identification, etc., many pages long and very informative.
- War Department Identification Card with his photo, dated December 12th, 1944.
- 20th Air Force Patch
- A binder full of original photos, documents, citations, orders, and correspondence. That includes a letter from his wife from 1997 verifying that all of this material belonged to her husband.
- Social Security card from before the war showing, “unemployed”.
On his “Application for Commission in the Regular Army” he lists civilian employment as grocery clerk, soda clerk and railroad clerk. From that humble beginning he went on to fight a war, winning the Air Medal and Purple Heart. A truly wonderful rare collection from a fighter pilot that flew a P-51 Mustang over Japanese skies in WWII.
- This product is available for international shipping.
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