ID'D WWII USAAF 341ST BOMB GROUP 491ST BOMB SQUADRON A-2 FLIGHT JACKET

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2021

Fantastic WWII USAAF Type A-2 flight jacket that is ID'D to Staff Sergeant Chester R. Bigelow. Born in 1915, Bigelow would grow up through the great depression and find work as a machine operator. When World War II broke out, Bigelow enlisted in the Army Air Forces and was assigned to the 491st Bomb Squadron of the 341st Bomb Group as an Armorer/Gunner. The 341st Bomb Group was activated in India during 1942 and operated B-25 Mitchells. The group engaged Japanese forces throughout the duration of the war and compiled an impressive combat record. The exterior of the jacket boasts theater made patches that are constructed of thin leather with hand painted squadron insignia. The left breast displays a leather name strip with the name “C.R. Bigelow” with the Chinese translation underneath. Below the name strip there is a 491st Bomb squadron patch while the right breast exhibits a 14th Air Force patch that depicts the famous “flying tiger”. There is ghost stitching around both patches suggesting that the jacket was reissued. The left shoulder displays a hand made leather CBI patch, and the right shoulder displays a hand made leather Army Air Corps patch. There is no artwork on the reverse but there is evidence that a multi piece blood chit was once sewn to the back of the jacket. The interior of the jacket is in excellent condition and displays two blood chits. On the wearer’s left, there is a blood chit with a US flag and several translations. On the wearer’s right there is a theater made leather blood chit depicting the Chinese Nationalist flag with a message written in Chinese below. Both chits are sewn to the jacket at the bottom and both sides so the wearer could use the chits as functioning pockets. The jacket retains its original liner and specification tag and is marked as a size 40. Bigelow is listed on the 491st BS roster and a picture of him wearing this A-2 can be found on rshonor.org with the rest of his B-25 crew. CONDITION: The jacket is in overall great condition. The leather is soft and pliable, there are no tears, the original Talon zipper is functioning, and the cuffs are original to the jacket and in perfect condition. This is a great example of a WWII A-2 jacket that has service history with a renowned bomb group. JD

Item Dimensions: 14" X 16" X 6"