Jacket, Flying, Type A-2, United States Army Air Forces

In 1931, the United States Air Corps issued an order to update and modify the Type A-1 flight jacket. The significant design changes of the jacket included replacing the button down front with a zipper and the knit collar with a leather drop fall collar. The new jacket was designated -- Type A-2. This jacket became associated with American pilots serving on every front during World War II and is still issued by the U.S. Air Force today. Many pilots and aircrews modified their jackets with custom artwork that depicted the name of their aircraft. These jackets are nick named "Painted Ladies" for the common practice of using the pinup girls for the aircraft's name and nose art.

This jacket was worn by Tech. Sgt. Bernard Mechanic. He served as a gunner/radio operator with the 376th Bomb Group 9th Air Force that flew Consolodate B-24s. He was a very early member of this group that operated out of North Africa in 1943. Sgt. Mechanic wore this jacket during Operation Tidal Wave on August 1, 1943. This raid on the Ploesti oil refineries is one of the most famous and daring individual bombing raids conducted by heavy bombers during the war. The plan called 177 B-24s flying at dangerously low altitudes of 300 to 500 feet to evade German radar. Normal bombing operations averaged 20,000 to 25,000 feet. Due to navigation and pilot error as well as alert German aerial defenses, the plan quickly fell apart. The raid suffered devastating loses 53 aircraft were shot down, 440 crewmembers were killed and 220 take as prisoners of war. Sgt. Mechanic was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during this mission.