Originalvs. Reproduction: Original - Bronco Mfg. Co.
Era: WWII:Contract No.W535ac 29191, Order No. 42-19172P-21996, May 18th, 1942
Branch: United States Army Air Corps. The squadron patch is of the 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile).
Markings: The black tag label reads: \"TYPE A-2 / DWG NO. 30-1415 / A. C. No. W 535 ac 29191 / PROPERTY / AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY / BRONCO MFG. CORP. / NEW YORK, N.Y.\". The size tag is \"38\". The front has a very attractive 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile) Squadron Patch, With a layered leather CBI Patch on the left shoulder, a layered leather AAF patch on the right shoulder, a silk Blood Chit on the inside of the right jacket breast and a leather blood chit on the inside of the back. The Jacket was bought with a Tunic that is also included. This jacket has a name written on the inside pocket, with the date 9-28-44 and the number 35403. This jacket has an embroidered felt AAF patch on the left shoulder and the owners initials on theinsideof the left breast. The date on the Tunic corresponds with the time period that the 1st was in the CBI theater.
The 1st Airlift Squadron was constituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile) on 13 March 1944. Activated on 23 March 1944 at Homestead AAFld, FL, it was assigned to the Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command.
Reassigned to the India-China Wing (later, India-China Division), Air Transport Command, c. 2 May 1944 (though attached to XX Bomber Command, 17 May-20 November 1944), the unit relocated to Kalaikunda, India, 3 May 1944 (though an air echelon operated from Kharagpur, India, from 7 May-4 August 1945). The squadron was reassigned to XX Bomber Command, on 21 November 1944 (though attached to 22d Air Depot Group, from November-December 1944).
Size: 38 - Shoulder to Shoulder: 17 1/2\", Sleeve not Including Cuffs: 212\", Back, Including Waist Band: 24\", Armpit to Armpit: 20\"
Description: This isan original CBI Type-A-2 Jacket. This jacket contract was placed with Bronco Mfg. Corp. on May 18th, 1942 for a total of 50,000 jackets.
I bought this jacket (pair of jackets) for my collection and am letting them go as display space is dwindling... This jacket is very well worn and I bought it with the intention of framing it, but I never got that far... I love how the shoulder patches have faded appropriately considering theconditionof the jacket and blood chits. The blood chits are hand done and there is evidence of at least two others having previously been sewn to the back. I wish I could read the language and interpret them. The squadron patch is a great patch and is definitely original. It is also apparently the only squadron patch ever on the jacket.
Condition:The jacket now exists as a very well worn and poor condition CBI Jacket, but this made it all the more attractive to me. The jacket andcomponentsdefinitely show their age, but are definitely original. There is a lot of hide loss at the shoulders, with lost stitching, cracking, scattered rot and stiffening throughout. A name tag was removed from above the squadron patch, and there are stitch holes left on the back from two previously applied blood chits. The layered leather shoulder patches are faded but still complete. The silk blood chit is very worn and I would consider it tatterred and falling apart. The leather chit shows cracking and loststitching, but still has a lot of color and the writing can still be read. The waist is original, but in poor condition. The zipper is original, but broken, missing the pull and completely not functional. The cuffs look to be old period replacements using what looks like wool socks. If so, this could very well have been a clever in-theater way of repairing torn cuffs. (Which was another reason I found this to be an interesting jacket). I thought about having this jacketrestored, but I love the age and patina so much that I left it alone. (I can refer you to a good restorer if you so choose). The jacket does not have an offensive smell.
The condition of the wood jacket is solid, with only ahandfulof small holes and losses. The pictures will accurately show the condition of both jackets.
Please see the pictures to get a better idea of condition.
AdditionalItems: Everythingphotographed is included and only what is photographed is included.
Allitems included in this sale are shown in the pictures.
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LSB
