Established in 1942, VMF-222 was actively engaged in the Philippines and Okinawa, operating out of Munda, Bougainville, Green Island, Guinan and Samar. The squadron was known as the "Flying Deuces" for the number of the squadron and was later dubbed the "SeaBee Air Force" due to the very tight relationship they established with the 61st Construction Battalion, which was still trying to assemble the airbase at Guinan when the 222 arrived and would carry the CB insignia on their engine cowlings in addition to their own, a winged "V" behind three "2" playing cards (spade, diamond and club). The earliest version of the insignia, as seen here, had a green circle backing the "V" and the words "FLYING/DEUCES" arranged above and below. This example has been stencil painted on a sheet of blue painted aluminum, which is 27 1/2 inches wide and 19 inches tall, with white matting applied around the front side. The back side is completely exposed, with a set of repeating "24 ST." and ".040 ANRA" markings on the back and a hand-signed "Save/ Lt. Barnett". The repeating markings have been seen on sheet metal produced for American aircraft, and available records put a First Lieutenant Robert V. Barnett with VMF-222; while not explicitly documented, this may have been taken directly off a VMF-222 fighter as a memento for Barnett, likely from a section of fuselage, wing or tail slated for replacement. In contrast to WWI era fuselage canvas which could be rolled up for transport and storage, this would have been a much more awkward memento to transport, and few such items would return to the States following World War II. Full service records for Barnett aren't available, but available records put him as a resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who qualified for aviator training in 1942, and saw action over Rabaul in 1944, losing a Corsair but successfully bailing out and returning to the 222; newspapers of the period report that his bailout interrupted a USN instruction film about bailing out then being screened on Green Island. Post-war records are also limited, with a note in 1947 of Barnett being an aviator with the Marine Corps Reserve, but no obituary or other listings. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection

Very good overall. The front shows a few minor scuffs and flakes, while retaining strong color and detail in the paint. The back shows mild wear and traces of old tape around the edges.