Completed A-2! (RoughWear 27752 from Eastman Leather)

[Talon884]

I bought this jacket few weeks ago from History Preservation (Eastman Leather - Rough Wear #27752) and added a replica of my Grandfathers squadron patch from the South Pacific in during WW II (82nd TRS, "Strafin' Saints") done by Johnny Signor who I found here on this site, and added a CBI Blood Chit sewn into the lining as a map pocket as they did at the time, complete with "Escape Map" .... come on and get cool here in FL so I can wear it!

 

[HPA Rep]

Absolutely fab!!!! Thank you for posting the wonderful photo, and especially for being a valued customer. This is a wonderful tribute to your grandfather. If you have any wartime pics of your grandfather, I'm sure we'd all love to see some here.

If you need anything at all down the road, please let us know. Please enjoy in fine health!

 

[Talon884]

He was a member of the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st TRG in the South Pacific, flying P-39's then onto P-51's / F-6's. He joined the 82nd in early '45 in New guinea and made the trek up the Philippines and finally to Ie Shima (small Island off of Okinawa) and was one of the first fighter outfits able to reach Japan, their unit did the recon for Nagasaki.

One of the first original members father was friends with Walt Disney, after being told that the 82nd would fly photo recon, bomb and strafe Walt came up with the squadron patch, Binoculars and Camera for the Photo Recon, Bomb under the arm for bombing and the Tommy Gun for strafing.

Thank you to "Trotsky" on this site for his post that led me to Johnny Signor who replicated the Squadron Patch for me, he does great work! (an original and his work below)

 

[HPA Rep]

He was a member of the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st TRG in the South Pacific, flying P-39's then onto P-51's / F-6's. He joined the 82nd in early '45 in New guinea and made the trek up the Philippines and finally to Ie Shima (small Island off of Okinawa) and was one of the first fighter outfits able to reach Japan, their unit did the recon for Nagasaki.

One of the first original members father was friends with Walt Disney, after being told that the 82nd would fly photo recon, bomb and strafe Walt came up with the squadron patch, Binoculars and Camera for the Photo Recon, Bomb under the arm for bombing and the Tommy Gun for strafing.

Thank you to "Trotsky" on this site for his post that led me to Johnny Signor who replicated the Squadron Patch for me, he does great work! (an original and his work below)


Thank you for posting this history and the pics - all of it is fabulous! There's so much to like here: awesome portrait-type image with the six-shooter in a shoulder rig and what appears to be an Australian-made 5th AF SSI, P-51 bearing ID stripes, squadron mates, original unit insignia, and the memorial to the man. So, did your grandfather serve in the National Guard, too?

 

[Talon884]

Yes he did, He enlisted in the Texas National Guard while going to college in 1939, Texas 133rd Artillery, 39th Infantry (Left side of the case) then joined the Air Cadets in 1940 (Right side of case) and was commissioned in the USAAF in 1942 and Retired in 1966 (Center of display case)

 

[kojax]

nice jacket i would like to get this jacket in a size 38

 

[HPA Rep]

Yes he did, He enlisted in the Texas National Guard while going to college in 1939, Texas 133rd Artillery, 39th Infantry (Left side of the case) then joined the Air Cadets in 1940 (Right side of case) and was commissioned in the USAAF in 1942 and Retired in 1966 (Center of display case)

Thank you - quite some history of service! He's very fortunate to have chosen the Air Cadets because his fellow T-Patchers were really ground to a pulp throughout their campaigns in the Mediterranean and Europe. As the saying goes among those of the 36th who attempted the crossing of the Rapido River in Italy: "If you weren't killed, wounded or captured, you weren't at the Rapido River."

 

[Tommy-VF51]

He was a member of the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st TRG in the South Pacific, flying P-39's then onto P-51's / F-6's. He joined the 82nd in early '45 in New guinea and made the trek up the Philippines and finally to Ie Shima (small Island off of Okinawa) and was one of the first fighter outfits able to reach Japan, their unit did the recon for Nagasaki.

One of the first original members father was friends with Walt Disney, after being told that the 82nd would fly photo recon, bomb and strafe Walt came up with the squadron patch, Binoculars and Camera for the Photo Recon, Bomb under the arm for bombing and the Tommy Gun for strafing.

Thank you to "Trotsky" on this site for his post that led me to Johnny Signor who replicated the Squadron Patch for me, he does great work! (an original and his work below)



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Great History, wonderful Jacket as well!

 

[SIGGY]

Hey Phil first off much thanks to your Grand Father for his service in WW2 , much appreciated
Secondly for the orders of the 4 -82nd patches, your second batch will be on it's way today, I very much enjoyed making them for you and all the best !!!!
Johnny Signor

 

[Airacobra JB]

Phil,
There is a Facebook group page about the unit your grandfather flew with: 71st TRG. Feel free to join !