Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is fantastic A-2 flight jacket worn by Lieutenant H.E. Wilson who was an officer aboard the B-24 "Rage in Heaven" 44-40165 which was assigned to the Eighth Air Force, 491st Bombardment Group, 852nd Bomb Squadron during WWII.

Originally a combat aircraft with the 852nd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, RAF Pickenham, Norfolk, England, Aug 1944 - Jan 1945, she was made the formation assembly ship after her combat career was over. She was salvaged after crashing and burning on takeoff, Jan. 5,1945. He was known for the zebra stripes around outer wings and rear fuselage which were green as well as the Z inside the circle (which is also on the left shoulder of this jacket). Of particular interest is that the nose art on the Rage in Heaven is nearly identical to the style found on this jacket.

Images of the aircraft and additional history can be found at these links:




This A-2 jacket features some wonderful features including:
- Leather branded name tag that reads H. E. WILSON

- 30 yellow painted bombs which represent successful missions painted beneath the name tag.

- Hand Painted Lieutenant bars on each epaulet.

- 8AF bombardment Group Letter Identifiers with 491st Bomb Group "Z" insignia on left shoulder with green zebra stripes as found on the aircraft of the 491st BG.

- Reverse of jacket has exceptional hand painted art, featuring the nose art of B-24 "Rage in Heaven" 44-40165. Which is a coat of arms with lions and the latin phrase ALERE FLAMMAM (to feed the flame) beneath in a scroll. Underneath which it reads "Rage in Heaven".
 
Offered in very good condition, supple leather with original lining, with complete period correct replacement waistband and cuffs with an original CROWN zipper which functions perfectly. The manufacturer is DUBOW and this jacket retains the original data label which indicated that this is a nice large size 40.

The 852d Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was activated in October 1943 as a heavy bomber unit. After training in the United States, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation in an attack against Misburg. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated at McChord Field, Washington in September 1945.

The 852d Bombardment Squadron was activated 1 October 1943 at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona as one of the four squadrons of the 491st Bombardment Group. The following month, the squadron moved to El Paso Army Air Field, Texas and began training with Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.

The squadron was assembled at RAF Metfield with the arrival of the air echelon by 15 May 1944, although the last plane of the 491st Group did not arrive until the 30th.

In August 1944, the 492d Bombardment Group was taken off normal operations and moved on paper to replace the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) on Operation Carpetbagger operations. As a result, the 491st Group, including the squadron, moved to the 492d's base at RAF North Pickenham.

The squadron was occasionally diverted from the strategic bombing campaign. it supported ground forces during Operation Cobra the breakout at Saint Lo; dropped supplies to beleaguered paratroopers during Operation Market Garden, the attempt to seize a bridgehead across the Rhine River; and attacked supply lines and fortifications during the Battle of the Bulge. It supported Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine and Allied forces driving across Germany.

Following V-E Day, the squadron began flying its aircraft back to the United States on 17 June 1945. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Mary on 6 July, arriving in New York City five days later. The squadron reassembled at McChord Field, Washington later that month and was inactivated there on 8 September.