8th Air Force B-14 Jacket

[MAP]

Here is a WW2 USAAF B-14 jacket . Not mint. Has a few moth nips but overall still in nice condition.

Belonged to a technical Sgt with the 8th Air Force. Nice bullion 8th Air Force and Wings insignia.

Includes Ruptured Duck as well as 2 gold metal service stripes (6 years?). There is also an engineer specialist patch on the right sleeve.

Unknown however is the patch on the right shoulder? Anyone care to guess?

The pockets are lined in corduroy, so nice an warm and there are two identical stamps inside the right breast pocket. At first I thought they were anchors but I was looking at them upside down. Instead it looks like a stylized "AN" with the numbers/letters Y72 below.

There is a laundry tag # C1095.

A big thanks to Phil. He's helping me research this and has already provided a wealth of information. The blue background on the bullion wings and the engineer specialist patch indicates that he was a top turret gunner on a B17. The laundry number can narrow this down to "only" 69 possibilities (come on Phil...you can do it!). He's now reaching out to others on the right shoulder patch to id it.

So here it is.....

[AZPhil]

Yes still looking!! Great looking Ike. Love the bullion gunner and 8th patch.
The one on the right is called the European Theater of Operation patch 3rd pattern.
Being wore on the right means that was his former command. I'm Still trying for the who and why's of that patch.
I know there is the ETO medal but still looking into that patch deeper.

Maybe our esteemed member Smitty can chime in and explain that one.

This is the first time seeing this one and I searched and searched both USAAC,USAAF, US Army and National Guard patches and only came up with it pictured in a group of assorted patch's with no explanation.
. So I'm here to learn something today on that one.

Semper Fi
Phil

[MAP]

Above and beyond Phil. Really appreciate all the help. (I was texting and sending photos as I was driving home - At stop lights of course).

This is all great info. I will follow the other thread as well on USMF.

Curious about the medal....

The patches put this one above and beyond.

[asterperious]

the right shoulder patch is this:

WWII U.S. HQ European Theatre of Operations Patch

When the war ended in Europe on 8 May 1945, the ETOUSA headquarters was located in Versailles, France, just outside Paris. As Eisenhower and his staff began to prepare for the occupation of Germany, the ETOUSA headquarters staff moved to Frankfurt, Germany, and co-located with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces and the Office of Military Government, United States. ETOUSA was redesignated Headquarters, United States Forces European Theater (HQ USFET) on 1 July 1945, with its headquarters remaining at Frankfurt.

[MAP]

the right shoulder patch is this:

WWII U.S. HQ European Theatre of Operations Patch

When the war ended in Europe on 8 May 1945, the ETOUSA headquarters was located in Versailles, France, just outside Paris. As Eisenhower and his staff began to prepare for the occupation of Germany, the ETOUSA headquarters staff moved to Frankfurt, Germany, and co-located with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces and the Office of Military Government, United States. ETOUSA was redesignated Headquarters, United States Forces European Theater (HQ USFET) on 1 July 1945, with its headquarters remaining at Frankfurt.

Thanks!!

[Rakkasan187]

MAP,

A great looking uniform and I can't add anymore that hasn't been said.. The HQ ETO patch is rather odd but I have seen stranger combat patches.. I will have to do some digging to see the possible criteria..

I am thinking ( and this is just pure speculation)... that since this senior NCO most likely completed 25 missions, was a member of a lead plane combat air crew (as indicated by the blue backed wings) then this person may have been assigned to HQ ETO at the end of the war and instead of placing the 8th Air force patch on the right sleeve, chose to put the HQ ETO on the right instead, rather than removing the 8th and then having to have both resewn to the uniform on the opposite sleeves..

Not sure.. just a hunch for now...

Smitty

[MAP]

Thanks Smitty. I was thinking something similar (i.e. why the right shoulder) but since I'm a noob in this area...I kept my mouth shut! LoL.

Now, see if you can "confirm" that hunch!

[reneblacky]

Very Nice and not a common jacket type! Cheers for showing Michael, I have one and Rich A has one & yours is the only other I've seen here!

[Rakkasan187]

MAP,

I just thought of something else... This NCO may have been part of a flight crew post WW2 in Europe flying the Generals and VIPs around... and once again,, chose to have the HQ ETO patch on the right sleeve rather than reverse them..

I am now leaning towards some type of crew chief for the Generals and Eisenhower's Command Staff....

Smitty

[MAP]

Very Nice and not a common jacket type! Cheers for showing Michael, I have one and Rich A has one & yours is the only other I've seen here!

Thanks Rene. It was on a rack and my dealer friend showed it to me. He hooked me well....

BTW...no swiss packs.....but I know where to find them now.

- - ------- - -

MAP,

I just thought of something else... This NCO may have been part of a flight crew post WW2 in Europe flying the Generals and VIPs around... and once again,, chose to have the HQ ETO patch on the right sleeve rather than reverse them..

I am now leaning towards some type of crew chief for the Generals and Eisenhower's Command Staff....

Smitty

That is REAL cool....does the laundry number help?