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You are now admiring a jacket that I have been the custodian of for a number of years and now offering up this 55J14 model jacket. The jacket received from the original owner's family member.
This size 42/44 L. W. Foster. It is all original.There is no size label present but judging by its dimensions it qualifies as either a size 42 or 44. I'm not certain as to the exact manufacture date for this jacket However the 55J14 jacket series ended in 1950.
Overall this jacket's leather shell is fairly well preserved. The hide is a medium weight and very sound. It was factory stitched using nylon and the jacket remains completely wearable.
There are a few moth nips to the knits but no excessive wear. There is slight wear and some discoloration in places to the lining. Also what appears to be some small holes along the lining's collar yoke. I attribute that to factory damage (lining was caught up on the swing machine's foot) caused during the initial stitching process. There is also some slight wear to the top coat in places. No doubt in part due to cockpit time. The mouton collar is sound and exhibits little or no wear. The aluminum toothed Conmar zip operates flawlessly and is not missing any teeth. The jacket appears to have always been well stored, smoke free, does not appear to have ever been abused and remains well kept.
The original owner was a WW-2 veteran who came into the USN under the V-5 program. This jacket would have been his second issued jacket. Initially he flew the Hellcat. His beyond rare late WW-2 VF-153 (lineage to VFA-193 Golden Dragons) squadron patch is seen on the jacket's upper left sleeve. Obviously transfered from his WW-2 issued jacket
His leather winged ID and post Korean War VA-145 squadron (flew the Skyraider) patch along with his associated Boxer cruise patch are also seen attached.
I know a little more regarding the history of this jacket. I'll be happy to convey those details to the new owner.
The original owner is seen in the final vintage photo. That photo was taken during his 1955/56 Boxer deployment. He is highlighted in blue.
The jacket's dimensions are as follows:
Shoulders - 20 1/2"
Pits - 22 1/2" or 45 1/2" in circumference
Back Length - 25 1/2"/25 3/4"
Front Length - 23 1/2"
Sleeve Length - 26"/26 1/2"
As seen within the descriptive images, I've included a CD of this jacket's original owner's 1955/1956 USS Boxer deployment. Derived from a Super 8 film by a squadron member. The CD features the squadron members, to include wearing their flight jackets and air operations in general while flying their VA-145 Skyraiders.
If interested please feel free to contact me David Sheeley.with any questions.
