Item Description
Painted WWII American A-2 Flight Jackets have realized unprecedented prices in the past year. For example, jackets at Rock Island Auctions sold in 2022 for $32,000+ and $23,000+ respectively. They can be found at this link and this link. When comparing the Rock Island Auction jackets with the one offered here, one can easily see that our offering is an exceptional value!
Original Grouping. One-of-a-Kind. This is a phenomenal A2 Flight Jacket, Engraved Medals, Uniform, and Photo Album grouping of Navigator 1st Lieutenant Stanton Harrison Small of the B-17Gs 43-38041 / Easy Movement and 42-98007 / Sleepy Time Gal, 833rd Bombardment Squadron, 486th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. Small also served aboard several B-24H Bombers upon arriving overseas before transferring to the B-17s. The grouping includes Small’s A2 Flight jacket which is painted on the front with his Squadron’s insignia, and on the back with depictions of a B17 and B24 with his 30 combat missions. Also included are Small’s Engraved Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, his Officers uniforms in green and tan with his Navigator’s wings and insignia, his Crusher Cap, and four photo albums detailing his life in training and overseas, including two WARTIME photographs of Small wearing this exact jacket!
The highlight of this group is of course the fantastic A2 Jacket, which is in fantastic but worn shape overall. The front of the jacket bears a gorgeous painted insignia of the 833rd Bombardment Squadron, depicting a Dragon holding a bomb and a .50 Cal Browning Machine Gun over a yellow shield. The insignia is painted directly onto the jacket, and is not a sewn-on patch. Above this is Small’s name tag reading S.H. SMALL, which is unfortunately partially torn away from its stitching. The back of the jacket is painted with depictions of both a B-17 Bomber and B-24 Bomber, insinuating that Small flew in both aircraft overseas. Under the bombers are 30 bombs painted to denote the 30 combat missions Small flew on, with the insignia of the 8th Air Force painted between them. The interior of the jacket retains its original liner, with the tag below the collar reading:
TYPE A-2
DRAWING NO. 30-1415
ORDER NO. W535 A.C. 27798
J.A. DUBOW MFG. CO.
CHICAGO, ILL.
PROPERTY
AIR FORCE, U.S. ARMY
46
To the left of this is Small’s Laundry number, S2427. There is some wear to the liner as shown, and the knit cuffs have become a bit torn up, although the knit waist is in much better shape. The original collar clip is still retained. The zipper still functions well, as do the snaps of the pockets, although there is a bit of verdigris.
Through our brief research we have been unable to track down Small’s DFC Citation, making this a great research project for someone!
The rest of this spectacular grouping consists of the following:
- Small’s Engraved Distinguished Flying Cross Medal in its original presentation case. The medal is engraved STANTON H. SMALL / 1ST. LT. A.C.. It is not numbered, and is in fantastic condition without any issues.
- Small’s Engraved Air Medal, ribbon, and pin in its original presentation case. The medal is engraved LT. S.H.SMALL / AUG. 20. 1944, and the engraving is very gorgeously done. The medal is in great shape overall, but the case is missing the small piece for the medal to hang off of.
- Small’s green officer’s “Ike” Jacket with an 8th Air Force patch on the left shoulder, small Norway patch on the right shoulder, one 1st Lieutenant bar on the left shoulder, and a 3-place ribbon bar above the left breast pocket with a Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two Bronze OLCs and one Silver OLC, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one star. Above this is Small’s Sterling Navigator wings. Above the right breast pocket is a Presidential Unit Citation. The uniform has a tag naming the jacket to LT. S.H.SMALL, appearing to be dated 6.7.45.
- Small’s Tan officer’s jacket with an Army Air Forces patch on the left shoulder, and an 8th Air Force patch & small Norway flag patch on the right shoulder. There are U.S. and Air Corps collar insignia as well as 1st Lieutenant bars on the shoulders. There are three overseas stripes on the left cuff, and a 4-place ribbon bar above the left breast pocket with a US WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two Bronze OLCs and one Silver OLC, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one star. The WWII Victory Medal was likely added later which is why it is incorrectly placed before the other 3 ribbons. Above this is Small’s Sterling Navigator wings. Above the right breast pocket is a Presidential Unit Citation. This jacket is accompanied by the matching set of trousers.
- Small’s Army Air Force Officer Crusher Cap With an intact Rear Chin Strap, showing heavy service use and verdigris on the metal fittings. A great example, not named that we could find.
- Small’s ANB-H-1 Receiver headset in good shape with the PL-354 cord still attached. These show honest service use and were certainly worn by Small on many of his combat missions.
- Four photo albums which detail different parts of his service. The first album details much of his time in training as well as his arrival overseas, with many photos of B-24 Bombers, a confidential map of Flak defenses of Germany, photos of Small wearing flak armor and a flak helmet, some photos of his crew in front of their bomber, and a photo of their B-24 Bomber bearing their squadron insignia. The second album contains photos taken overseas, many of which are taken in Sudbury, England, where Small and his crew were stationed when they arrived in Europe. There are also many photos of bombers dropping bombs, he and his crewmates messing around, and many of the sights he saw overseas. The third album details Small’s time in Sweden and Norway, with this album also containing a period photograph of the artwork on the back of Small’s jacket, as well as a photo of him wearing it to the front, depicting the squadron insignia! There are many photos of aircraft, he and his crewmates relaxing, parades in Norway, and Small standing next to a myriad of different German aircraft. The final album details Small’s time in Norway, V.E. Dat, Stockholm, Reyksavik, and the trip home. There are many large scale photos of parades, victory dinners, and tourist photos of cities in Norway, and several tourist-bought postcards of the places he visited.
Stanton Harrison Small was born on August 8th, 1922 in San Francisco, California. He moved several times in his childhood but ultimately grew up living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was due to his father, Cecil Stanton Small, having been born in England & serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War I, eventually settling in Vancouver. At the time of the Draft in April 1942, Small was living in Seattle, Washington. Small was a very tall young man, standing at 6 feet, three inches, high above the average height of the time. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 12th, 1942, eventually joining the U.S. Army Air Force Training Command, and completed his intensive training as an aerial navigator on March 9th, 1944, being awarded his silver wings and a 2nd Lieutenant commission. In 1943, he became engaged to Merelyn Louise Read of Los Angeles, California, the wedding ultimately being called off later, as Small would marry Evaline Morton of Vancouver, Canada in August 1945. Small traveled overseas in mid-1944, being assigned to the crew of Lt. Bob Yochem of the 833rd Bombardment Squadron, 486th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. Small was awarded the Air Medal on August 20th, 1944. He was awarded his first OLC in January 1945 for “courage, coolness, and skill” during 8th Air Force attacks on German military and industrial targets, according to newspaper articles. Small was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courageous work as Navigator in 30 bombing missions in the European Theater with the 833rd Bomb Squadron. While overseas, he also participated in the liberation from German control of Sweden and Norway. It is for this reason that he is allowed to wear the patch of the flag of Norway on his uniform. He returned to the United States and was discharged, marrying Evaline on August 16th, 1945 in Vancouver. Small would raise his family in Schenectady, New York, Richland, Washington and Brookfield, Wisconsin before retirement. He passed away on August 24th, 1986, at the age of 64.
This is a fantastic grouping of a historic Painted A-2 Flight Jacket with unquestionable provenance and documented history! Groupings like this do not turn up often! Ready for further research and display!
Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 27”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 22”
Waist: 18"
Front length: 25"
Pants:-
Waist: 13"
Inseam: 33.5"
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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