World's Most Expensive A-2 Jacket Ever

[Fletch]

Maybe he had a junior officer break it in for him.

 

[derleicaman]

MacArthur was truly a larger than life character and you can damn well be sure he wore whatever he wanted. Brilliant with an incredible ego and a showman to boot. He and Patton were alike in many ways. While Patton was limited to North Africa and the ETO, MacArthur had an entire hemishphere to himself to command. Eisenhower was his chief of staff in the Phillipines between the wars. Then he presided over the Japanese surrender and was the main force behind rebuilding Japan. Then Korea and the Inchon landing. He advocated taking the war to China and using the bomb against them. He went up against Truman one too many times and was relieved of command. I can't imagine any military man today with those kind of balls.
I can highly recommend the biography William Manchester (Death of a President) wrote about him, American Ceaser. The title says it all.

 

[ButteMT61]

MacArthur was truly a larger than life character and you can damn well be sure he wore whatever he wanted. Brilliant with an incredible ego and a showman to boot. He and Patton were alike in many ways. While Patton was limited to North Africa and the ETO, MacArthur had an entire hemishphere to himself to command. Eisenhower was his chief of staff in the Phillipines between the wars. Then he presided over the Japanese surrender and was the main force behind rebuilding Japan. Then Korea and the Inchon landing. He advocated taking the war to China and using the bomb against them. He went up against Truman one too many times and was relieved of command. I can't imagine any military man today with those kind of balls.I can highly recommend the biography William Manchester (Death of a President) wrote about him, American Ceaser. The title says it all.

Thanks for that info. Will,give that a read.

 

[Phantomfixer]

I'm surprised that the MacArthur museum here in Norfolk, VA doesn't have it as part of their collection. They have all of his other stuff.

I read somewhere that an A-2 was stolen from VA museum. Not sure how true that article was...

 

[Aerojoe]

And what contract is the jacket that wears the guy on the right then?

This is my kind of A-2; dark seal brown, dark knits and dark stitches. I'd bet it's a 1942 Werber.

BTW, I own an ELC Cable Raincoat. It's a very good A-2 if you like russet brown.

 

[aswatland]

MacArthur had several A2s. The very expensive RW was one of the ones he wore in the War, whilst his no name Cable 27753 was worn by him in Korea. I understand this jacket was stolen some years back, and no it is not in my collection chaps!

 

[Aerojoe]

and no it is not in my collection chaps!

oh, come on, 'fess up

 

[aswatland]

Very good. :eusa_clap I suspect his Cable A2 is sitting in someone's collection in the USA.

 

[regius]

MacAuthor had two A2 jackets issued to him? or he went to John Chapman to get a Roughwear made cause he liked his Cable too much? ha

 

[aswatland]

Very good! Seriously his RW contract dates to very early 1942, whilst the Cable contract was issued several months later.

 

[rocketeer]

Worn by General Douglas MacArthur. This is a Cable Raincoat in pristine condition (Andrew S. doesn't even have one this nice!). I particularly like the 5-oak clusters on the epaulets. Don't know what the final sale price was, but the pre-auction range was 75-150k.

http://rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/51/lid/3588

As usual things of REAL value don't go on eBay.
But a lesson in punctuation is badly needed here. Anyone else have trouble wading there way through the description without loosing there place?
For a minute forget the jacket. Andrew! How about a professional opinion on the description text.
J

 

[Sloan1874]

Yes! They're obviously are strangers to the concept of paragraphing! That makes my eyes bleed.

 

[aswatland]

As usual things of REAL value don't go on eBay.
But a lesson in punctuation is badly needed here. Anyone else have trouble wading there way through the description without loosing there place?
For a minute forget the jacket. Andrew! How about a professional opinion on the description text.
J

I have seen much worse, including on this forum. The English is not great and could be better organised.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

hmmm, yes. There they are: They're over there in their glass house …

 

[rocketeer]

I doubt anyone minds a few mistakes, I'm probably just as guilty but I do try to set out things in paragraphs.
(Going off topic again)

Anyone know how much theMacArthur jacket sold for in the end?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yes. It looks like an auction catalogue entry that's been quickly thrown up online.

In their defence I suspect it's just been done by someone who doesn't know html and has tried hard returns without adding the correct code. There's at least one period not followed by a space which suggests this might be the issue.

 

[majormajor]

Here's a pic of Eric Clapton with his legendary "Beano" guitar, that apparently got stolen in 1966.

Obviously, he's disguised MacArthur's jacket, here, with a fur collar, and lost it at the same time as the guitar!!:eeek:

 

[Doctor Damage]

Here's a couple pics of the general on MacArthur's left.

And another of Mac, although with a brighter exposure his jacket looks lighter in colour.

And one of Mac showing the back of his jacket.

 

[aswatland]

He is wore at least two different A2s. He wore a RW 23380 in the War and a Cable 27753 post War. The RW was a darker brown than the Cable which was more of a russet colour. Only the Cable is shown in the pictures above.

 

[thor]

In "Hell bent for leather", the authors state that one of MacArthur's A-2 jackets was stolen from the MacArthur Memorial in the early 1970's. First a theft, then a sale. Hopefully Mac had lots of A-2 jackets and at least one or two are on public display somewhere.