Lot 504A

WORLD WAR II USAAF LEATHER PILOT'S A-2 JACKET

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WORLD WAR II USAAF LEATHER PILOT'S A-2 JACKET

Estimate: $1,800 - $2,400

Current Bid: $1,200

(6 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 30, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

WORLD WAR II USAAF LEATHER PILOT'S A-2 JACKET
World War II U.S. Army Air Corps A-2 style aviator's brown leather flight jacket. This Army Air Corp. contract jacket constructed of horsehide, was produced by Bronco Manufacturing Corporation in 1942, and although highly favored by pilots of all callings, the A-2 was discontinued in 1943. This particular jacket, once belonging to a member of a crew that flew on more than one plane, and had several crew member gunners who became known as 'Luke's Lulus'. The jacket bears a large mascot emblem hand-painted on the back featuring a red fox standing on it's hind legs, wearing a six-shooter in a holstered belt and firing a mounted machine gun. Although there are several conflicting reports available, most sources place 'Luke's Lulus' in the 15th Air Force, 461st Bomb Group flying out of Italy during WWII, which participated in the raids on the Polesti airfields in Romania. The name relates directly to Technical Sergeant Jesse J. Luke Jr., an Engineer-Waist Gunner who served in the 764th Bombardment Squadron A, unit records note that Luke and his crew often flew on a B-24H Liberator (serial no. 41-28732) nicknamed 'Swee' Pea'. This plane was eventually lost to enemy action on July 25 1944 while conducting a raid on railyards at Schwertberg, Austria with most of the crew surviving as POW's, although records show the plane was operating with a different crew on that mission. Unfortunately this jacket is not named. The jacket shows two sewn-in epaulette straps, a single grommeted vent hole under each armpit, and a set of steel hook-and-eye neck closure devices riveted in place with two brass rivets each. There is a manufactures' specification label is present a back of neck opening, a black rectangular woven patch with the gold thread woven nomenclature: 'TYPE A-2, DR****G No. 30-1415, A.C. No. W535ac29191, PROPERTY, AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY / BRONCO MFG. CORP., NEW YORK, N.Y.' with an additional size tag attached in size: '40', faint traces of a round acceptance stamp barely visible to right of specification label, and the leather hanging strap is still intact and held in place by bar stitching. Although it appears that the jacket did not ever have a name tag sewn to it, there is evidence of a USAAF patch being sewn to the left shoulder at one time. Original inner lining present in russet brown, although worn with small holes and tears around neck opening, it is still in otherwise near perfect condition. Outside leather is subtle with the hand-painted emblem being worn, but still well visible. This flight jacket is excellent overall, with a fully working period correct 'TALON' front closure zipper, with brass snaps under each collar tip and inside each of the front patch pockets made by 'UNITED BAR'. As the ribbed worsted wool sleeve cuffs and waistband are absolutely perfect, we expect that they have been replaced at some point. The zipper is correct for the period, and is produced by the right company for this production jacket, but evidence suggests that this is either a replacement or has been reinforced at a later date. No other restoration traits are evident. Excellent condition overall.

Jacket is not named, but a photo of Waist Gunner Sergeant Jesse J. Luke Jr. can be found here: https://www.15thaf.org/49th_BW/461st_BG/Liberaider/PDFs/June%201991.pdf#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHay%2C%20who%20are%20these%20guys%3F%E2%80%9D,%E2%80%9CSwee'%20Pea%E2%80%9D

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000