Lot 133

WWII USAAF Gunner Sylvester Nemcek Identified A-2 Jacket

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WWII USAAF Gunner Sylvester Nemcek Identified A-2 Jacket

Estimate: $4,500 - $7,500

Starting Bid: $3,250

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Well-Documented Historically Significant World War II USAAF Gunner Sylvester P. Nemcek Identified A-2 Flight Jacket Painted for the B-24 Liberator "I'll Be Seeing You" of the 380th Bombardment Group This historically significant World War II A-2 flight jacket was worn by U.S. Army Air Force gunner Sylvester P. Nemcek and bears his name on the left of the chest along with a 531st Bomb Squadron patch of a fierce Donald Duck holding a bomb, and the rear has a detailed painting of the B-24 Liberator "I'll be Seeing You". The 531st Bombardment Squadron was assigned to 380th Bombardment Group known as "The Flying Circus" and as the "King of the Heavies". The 380th was based out of Australia during World War II and was part of the 5th Air Force. They flew B-24 Liberator heavy bombers primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater and also operated as a training unit for Royal Australian Air Force crews. Approximately 18,500 B-24 Liberators were manufactured in support of the war effort, with the majority by Consolidated Aircraft and over 8,500 of those by Ford Motor Company, and only about a dozen survive today. The B-24 Liberators as a whole saw extensive use in a variety of roles with every branch of the American armed forces in all the theaters throughout World War II and carried out numerous effective operations in the strategic bombing campaigns. The B-24 was an innovative design with the ability to carry a heavy bomb load over long range and featured a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing that gave the Liberator a high cruise speed. Sylvester P. Nemcek (1925-2005) of Dolton, Illinois, enlisted on March 11, 1944, and discharged on January 20, 1946. He is listed as active with the 529th Bombardment Group as a gunner with "Kroes' Crew" between February 9, 1945, and October 1945. His assigned aircraft was the B-24 Liberator "First Nighter" which was only active in the air until May 1945. This jacket is wearing a 531st Bombardment Group patch and painting of the B-24 Liberator "I'll be Seeing You" indicating Sylvester transferred, a common occurrence with bomber crews. Both the 529th and 531st were assigned under the 380th Bombardment Group and were stationed in Australia at the same time and shared aircraft. Sylvester P. Nemcek is seen in a period World War II photograph with Leonard Kroes' crew and is also photographed attending 1994 and 2001 reunions for the 380th Bombardment Group with men of Kroes' crew. The B-24 Liberator heavy bomber named "I'll be Seeing You" serial number 44-40923 has a completed manufacture date of May 20, 1944, by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. Its name "I'll be Seeing You" came from a song made famous in the World War II era by the likes of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Billie Holiday, evoking the heartache of separation and loss and sang by many soldiers during the war. It was accepted by the USAAF on June 3, 1944, and arrived overseas in Australia on June 30, 1944. Its first combat mission was to Amahai in the Southwest Pacific on August 12, 1944. "I'll be Seeing You" carried out 71 missions until it was taken out of active service in October 1945. The other B-24 Liberator heavy bomber Sylvester P. Nemcek is listed as having been active in named "First Nighter" serial number 42-73340 has a completed manufacture date of October 8, 1943, by Consolidated Aircraft. It was accepted by the USAAF on October 15, 1943, and arrived overseas in Australia on April 26, 1944. Its first combat mission was to Manokwari in the Southwest Pacific on August 12, 1944. "First Nighter" carried out an impressive 71 missions under the command of a number of different crews in which it strategically targeted numerous occupied Japanese air bases to disrupt regional air superiority. Its mission record shows that Kroes' crew, the crew Sylvester Nemcek was part of while with the 529th, carried out bombing missions to Okayama on March 16, 1945, then Saigon oil and shipyards on May 4, 1945, and White Cloud on May 9, 1945. "First Nighter" was active in the air until very shortly after May 18, 1945, when it is listed as having an aborted mission under the command of McDonald's crew due to a hydraulic line out and was salvaged showing flak damage. This exact jacket is featured on page 106 of the book "American Flight Jackets, Airmen & Aircraft" by Maguire and Conway, in which the authors note Nemcek having transferred squadrons during his service.

Manufacturer: None

Model: None

Class: Other

  • Condition: Very fine overall with virtually all of the original painted B-24 Liberator on the rear, a complete Donald Duck Patch, typical tattering on the cuffs, partially detached left outer pocket, absent internal tag, and general light age related wear. A very desirable identified B-24 gunner’s A-2 jacket that will make a great addition to any American aviation collection!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$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 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000