This World War II USAAF A-2 flight jacket was manufactured by J.A. Dubow Manufacturing Co. is a size 38, has a Talon zipper, and was worn by twice Purple Heart recipient Staff Sergeant John Sladek, ball turret gunner aboard the B-17 “Stage Door Canteen” of the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. On the right chest is the name Johnny in white paint above a large 381st BG patch. A large 535th BS patch is sewn to the left chest. The back of the jacket serves as the leather canvas for a stunning depiction of Stage Door Canteen flying through flack along with a 35 mission tally. The name of the bomber was derived from the Stage Door Canteen entertainment venue in a basement club that operated in the Broadway theater district of New York City and opened to American and Allied soldiers, airmen, and sailors during the war. The popularity of the establishment led to other canteens operating in the U.S., London, and later Paris. The Stage Door Canteen also inspired the 1943 film of the same name. To publicize the film the B-17 “Stage Door Canteen” was christened by Winston Churchill’s daughter, Mary. Images of the christening are provided. Sladek served in the USAAF from 1943 to 1945 and was the ball turret gunner aboard “Stage Door Canteen.” The ball turret was a very dangerous place to be on a B-17. It has been estimated that B-17 crews had a 30% mortality rate; however, mortality rate for ball turret gunners was 60%. Sladek earned the Air Medal with four Oak leaf Clusters, two Purple Hearts, and European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Stars. The ribbons are included as well as a ball turret data plate, two sterling silver gunner wings, embroidered gunner wing, and a piece of the ball turret which was struck by an included piece of flak that logged in the turret gunsight on a raid over Munster, Germany on October 28, 1944. He was injured by flak on the October 28th mission aboard “Chug A Lug,” earning him his first Purple Heart. He received his second Purple Heart on a December 12, 1944 mission to Stuttgart and aboard “Boulder Buf,” which crashed. Sladek completed his tour of duty as a crewmember of “Stage Door Canteen.” Several wartime photos of B-17s including “Stage Door Canteen” and crew and a photo of Sladek are among his personal belongs offered in this lot. All of Sladek’s 35 missions are listed in a April 19, 1945 Record of Operational Missions. Also included is a small reference library: “The 8th See England,” Ron MacKay’s “381st Bomb Group,” and Ken Stone’s “Triumphant We Flay: A 381st Bomb Group Anthology.”

The jacket is a well-worn piece of personalized World War II aviator gear with tears and dry leather. Much of the paint remains to the stunning work of art on the back. The patches are fine. A very historic A-2 flight jacket identified to an 8th Air Force ball turret gunner.