This World War II USAAF A-2 flight jacket was manufactured by Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co., is a size 42, has a Talon zipper, and was worn by Peter A. Donovan. According to our consignor the jacket was acquired from the Peter Donovan family in the late 1990s. As told by his brother, Peter Donovan served in the China Burma India Theater and was a pilot in a reconnaissance unit flying the Lockheed F-5 Lightning (the reconnaissance version of the P-38). Carrying up to five cameras in the nose instead of weaponry, the F-5 saw use in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. It has been estimated that Lightning photo missions contributed to 80-90 percent of all aerial reconnaissance photos during the war. In the 14th AF the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron flew F-5s. The back of the jacket carries a wonderful and large multi-color leather blood chit featuring Burmese and Chinese characters. A rather unusual removable silk blood chit is secured to the inside of the jacket via buttons so that it can be easily detached in case of an emergency. The blood chit also acts as a large interior pocket to hold money and papers to be used if the airman was captured. As told by the family, the pilot inserted a metal plate in the pocket out of caution as Japanese snipers were active around the airfield. The large and vibrant 14th AF patch on the right chest is hand sown on silk. The USAAF and CBI sleeve patches are multi-color leather. Donovan’s name leather name tag is also in Chinese and Arabic.

Very fine, with some staining and a few small tears in the lining, scattered wear on the cuffs and waist band, and supple leather. The patches and blood chits are also very fine with vivid colors. An identified WWII 14th AF A-2 flight jacket with unusual blood chit pocket that displays very nicely.