New Made Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of a hand painted copy of what we believe to have been from an original A2 bomber jacket. The jacket is a high quality, hard to tell reproduction attributed to Captain David Breece, a pilot from the 84th Bomb Squadron.

Breece obtained a degree in Economics at East Carolina Teachers College, and knew that if America went to war, “I wanted to fly”. He was working as a Tobacconist making $20.00 a week when he enlisted into the "Regular Army" on November 5, 1941. His pre-flight training began at Maxwell AFB in Alabama and for Advanced training moved to Dorr Field, Arcadia, Florida before graduating from Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA on July 3, 1942.

He saw action with his #12 A-20 light bomber, Carolina in Tunisia; Algeria; including Kasserine Pass; as well as at Malta, Sicily and Italy, In Italy, he and his crew survived a forced landing, with only minor injuries, caused by one engine being “shot out” and failure of the other. A farmer took him 7 miles for help in a donkey cart. David was an avid photographer, carrying a camera everywhere. His wartime photos are available here at this link: David Breece Lt. Col, USAF, Ret'd: Pilot, 84th Bomb Squadron collection.

He returned Stateside in Dec 1943, assigned to the Army Air Transport Command's Ferrying Division, in Long Beach, CA. This assignment included a squadron of eighteen women pilots now known as the Women Air Force Service Pilots or "WASPS." During this tour, the women flew every type of multi-engine aircraft used in WWII, sometimes planes that had not yet been air-born. About 50 years later and long overdue, the WASPS received recognition for their service to America.

At the end of the war, he and his family returned to civilian life in Raleigh, NC where he worked as a negotiator for Liggett-Myers tobacco company. But on July 1, 1950, Breece was recalled for extended active duty and was assigned to Japan with the rank of Captain. His new station was Tokyo as a non-combat pilot during the Korean Conflict. In his free time, he was active in the reconstruction of the Tokyo Lawn & Tennis Club and served on their Executive Committee. He also spoke on “Conversation Radio” to Japanese youth and taught them the value of sports on physical and mental well-being. He received numerous letters from them, one who wrote: “Your fluent voice caught my heart.”

By 1954, he decided to make a career out of the new USAF. Assigned to Norton AFB, CA, his next step in 1956 was Jet Flight Training again in Alabama. Later assignments were Wright-Patterson AFB, OH when he traveled extensively during attachment to the Inspector General’s Office.

His final station was Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc, CA during the Minuteman missile program. He was awarded a Medal for Meritorious Service from September 11, 1961 to November 3, 1965 while at VAFB. In 1966, he retired, a Lt. Col., having flown every type of aircraft in the sky.

This jacket features a lovely hand painted 84th Bomb Squadron leather patch with a leather name tag above with the name D. BREECE on it. The reverse side has the words “EM BARE ASSED” painted above the side profile view of an unclothed woman with 18 bombs surrounding her.

The jacket is in great condition and all of the artwork has a lovely worn look to it, but still recognizable. This would make for a great addition to a WWII pilot collection, and is hard to tell that it’s a reproduction!

Comes more than ready for display!

84th Bombardment Squadron
The 84th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the post-World War II-era 47th Bombardment Wing, stationed at RAF Sculthorpe, England. It was inactivated on 22 June 1962.

Approx. Measurements:

Collar to shoulder: 9”
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 18”
Chest width: 19”
Waist width: 19”
Hip width: 18”
Front length: 27"