Established in 1942, the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment would participate in airborne landings in support of Operations Overlord and Market Garden, as well as ground combat during the drive into Germany. This jacket, a Type A-2 produced by the Cable Raincoat Company for the Army Air Force, appears to have been owned by at least two officers. Note the A-2 was normally only issued to Airborne officers. The first, "LT. R. LERMAN", shows evidence of a 4 1/2 inch unit patch having been removed. The second, "COL. WOLF", has a nametag in an area of the removed patch, and a machine embroidered World War II patch for the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, specifically an Indian chief wielding a lightning bolt beneath an open canopy, with "GERONIMO" in a banner below. Neither Lieutenant Lerman nor Colonel Wolf have been identified. A-2 jackets were in great demand and one can find multiple owners as people were phased in and out.

Good overall. The cuffs and waist show some fraying and material loss, as does the lining around the collar, with some mild cracks and stains on the leather. The nametag has lost some stitching, and the exposed leather underneath shows a much lighter brown color than the rest of the leather, while the 501st patch shows minor ink bleed on the banner and mild dirt overall.