United States. An Army Air Forces Tunic With Wings, C.1945

This tunic is fabricated from a fine army green wool, with button down epaulette straps on both shoulders, the right one secured in place by a small gilt-finished brass button bearing the United States coat-of-arms, the left one with a replacement brass button bearing the same insignia, with a First Lieutenant rank insignia pinned in place on both straps. There is a United States Army Air Forces patch in red, white and dark yellow embroidery on a blue wool base sewn in place on the left shoulder, the right shoulder patch-less. The front has four pockets, one on each breast which have decorative straps giving them a pleated-look, the other two at the waist are without pleats and are larger and deeper than the breast pockets, the breast and waist pockets separated by a 55 mm wide decorative waistband. All four pockets have fold over button down flaps with reinforced button holes and small gilt-finished brass buttons bearing the United States coat-of-arms, the two larger waist pockets with an additional cloth tab and small brown button, in addition to being cotton lined. Pinned above the left breast pocket is a United States Army Air Forces Pilot Badge in sterling silver (maker marked "N.S. MEYER, INC. NEW YORK", marked with the N.S. Meyer shield and marked "STERLING" on the reverse), while inside the same pocket is a 16.5 mm in diameter Saint of Expectant Mothers (Sancte Gerarde Maiella Ora Pro Nobis) pendant in aluminum. Each of the collars are adorned with a U.S. Collar Badge and Army Air Corps Collar Badge, each of which is secured in place by dual push pins. The front is completed by a vertical row of four large gilt-finished brass buttons bearing the United States coat-of-arms on the right side, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the left side. The large buttons are maker marked "WATERBURY BUTTON CO. CONN." on their reverses, as are three of the four previously mentioned smaller buttons. The cuff on each sleeve has a 12 mm wide olive green embroidered braid, the tunic single-vented at the rear. The interior is lined in moss green nylon in selected locations, including the sleeves, the panels beside the opening on both sides, along with a strip on one side of the vent at the rear. There is a top entry pocket placed in the right breast behind the exterior pocket, along with a strap sewn in place in the collar to allow for hanging upon a hook. The jacket measures 490 mm across the shoulders x 740 mm in length, exhibiting scattered mothing, displaying a wonderful texture in the wool, along with quality workmanship. Near extremely fine.

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