8th Air Force – 712th Bomb Squadron 448th Bomb Group (dual) A-2 Jackets Grouping

8th Air Force – 712th Bomb Squadron 448th Bomb Group (dual) A-2 Jackets Grouping

~ Features (2) A-2 flights jackets and additional materials belonging to two crew

members from the same B-24 flight crew during WWII. These men were a part of Lt.

Snavely’s flight crew, which was a replacement crew arriving at Seething, England in

June 1944. They flew their first mission in July of ‘44 and flying their last mission

January 1945. They were designated as a “Lead Crew” flying a B-24 Liberator equipped

with “H2X” radar system.

The first is S/Sgt. Fredrick Aldrich (Radio Operator/ Gunner) – this A-2 jacket features a

fantastic large back painting of a B-24 bomber imposed with flak bursts with target cities

in the bursts ~ 30 bomb missions painted below. Paint shows some use wear, but still

very solid – 90% or better paint remaining. This is an early “Rough Wear” made (size

38) jacket with typical age wear, original knit elements with wartime replaced cuffs both

show some wear, original “Talon” zipper fully functional, and an added fur mouton to

original leather collar. The liner shows typical age and use wear with some soiling and

arm pit use wear and splitting. The leather body is very nice and supple with normal use

wear only. Accompanying the jacket is a large display case of his original English made

patches, bullion Gunner wing, EM collar brass, hand written notes for combat, original

discharge and record of separation, misc. cards, etc. as well as lots of additional

biographical research information.

The second is S/Sgt. Lawrence Barham (Engineer/ Gunner) – this jacket features a nicely

painted 712th Bomb Squadron patch painted on chest with leather name strip above.

Original hand stenciled artwork with B-24 scene very similar in size and content as the

Aldrich jacket – just not painted. This is an early AAF Contract jacket (size 38) with

typical age wear, original knit elements with wartime replaced cuffs. Original “Conmar”

zipper fully functional. The liner shows typical age and use wear with some soiling. The

leather body is very nice and supple with normal use wear only. Accompanying the

jacket is a large display case of his original English made 8th Air Force patch, sterling

Gunner wing, EM collar brass, various cards, several photos, as well as lots of additional

biographical research information.

There is a lot of additional misc. bits of information included with the paperwork,

including several 8th Air Force 2nd Air Division Journals.

Also included are hand written letters from each veteran regarding these jackets and

accompanying materials when they were sold to the collector in the 1996. They also

included hand typed biographies of their service careers.

All-in-all, a very nice pair of jackets straight from the veterans to the collector.

Brief history of the 448th in WWII, Listing both Aldrich & Barham on Snavely’s Replacement Crew: View HERE