Don’t remember this!

[Pa12]

What. O

An interesting item... of no particular reference to "issue," but still interesting:

Identified WWII First Special Service Force Painted A-2 Jacket

Extremely Rare, Identified World War II First Special Service Force Painted A-2 JacketKnown as the "Devil's Brigade", the First Special Service Force was a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana. The...

www.rockislandauction.com

What contract do you think that is?

 

[Chandler]

What. O

What contract do you think that is?

You'll have to ask someone more familiar with contracts than me.

But I find it interesting that a FSSF vet worried about a government tag and cut it out.

 

[Pa12]

You'll have to ask someone more familiar with contracts than me.

But I find it interesting that a FSSF vet worried about a government tag and cut it out.

Yes. I must have read something about this in the past as the arrow head insignia looks very familiar to me.

 

[B-Man2]

An interesting item... of no particular reference to "issue," but still interesting:

Identified WWII First Special Service Force Painted A-2 Jacket

Extremely Rare, Identified World War II First Special Service Force Painted A-2 JacketKnown as the "Devil's Brigade", the First Special Service Force was a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana. The...

www.rockislandauction.com

Check out the selling price $7500. I think that’s what “Price Realized” means.
Interesting conversation. At this price I can see a few con artists buying original A2s for $1800-$2000 and having them painted and aged to look like a FSSF jacket and selling them off for a big profit .

 

[B-Man2]

Yes. I must have read something about this in the past as the arrow head insignia looks very familiar to me.

maybe you watched the movie “Devils Brigade “ with William Holden . It was all about the exploits of that unit .

 

[Pa12]

maybe you watched the movie “Devils Brigade “ with William Holden . It was all about the exploits of that unit .

That must be it. Certainly out of my price range but if it’s real I’d sooner it was on display in a museum.

 

[Chandler]

maybe you watched the movie “Devils Brigade “ with William Holden . It was all about the exploits of that unit .

Or Anzio with Robert Mitchum and Peter Falk? Falk played a member of the FSSF in that rarely remembered film.

 

[jack31916]

One special for B-Man2. ( seen on Facebook today )

Jacket belonged to Major Gordon K. Smith of the 507 Parachute Infantry

 

[B-Man2]

One special for B-Man2. ( seen on Facebook today )

Jacket belonged to Major Gordon K. Smith of the 507 Parachute Infantry

View attachment 132789

Thanks for that Jack.
I think you sent me that photo on another occasion and I used that to put together a repro of it using a GW and a repro 507th patch . See below .

 

[Monsoon]

Okay. What does it tell us?

Exactly what you're looking for. Says that they were issued A-2s. Officers kept theirs but enlisted had to turn them in if they left the FSSF.

Book might be available at your local library. That's where I first read it before I bought a copy.

 

[Dumpster D]

I can see a few con artists buying original A2s for $1800-$2000 and having them painted and aged to look like a FSSF jacket and selling them off for a big profit .

...And did you see that Ebay MK IV Irvin listed about a week or two ago?!?!?!?? Looked like someone gave it the 'EL LOBO II' A-2 Paint Job (as featured in the WWII collectibles book) and was trying for $4500 plus about 140 shipping USD with the dumb nerve calling it 'original'. Then it suddenly vanished into the ethers overnight. The title and description was vague enough for the seller to have easily weaseled his way out of it and pleaded ignorance when the jig was up and before the paint was even dry.

Yeah, nice little game of fast ball, but no dice brother. Really hope some poor schmuck didn't fall for that old gag.

Easy money? Yeah not so much.

I spotted that abomination like it was the 'Monkey Christ' restored fresco.

 

[B-Man2]

Ok I have the answer about the A2’s .
When Col Robert Fredrick was given the order to put together the First Special Service Force by Gen Eisenhower he was also given full approval to requisition whatever supplies and equipment that he deemed necessary to do the job . So that’s why they had A2 jackets .
You can learn about the unit here .

 

[Chandler]

Exactly what you're looking for. Says that they were issued A-2s. Officers kept theirs but enlisted had to turn them in if they left the FSSF.

Book might be available at your local library. That's where I first read it before I bought a copy.

Big request, but can you transcribe the section? I'd like to see how it's worded -- how they explain why they were "issued" flight jackets. Maybe snap a pic?

The part about officers keeping them is contrary to what's been recorded about AAF crews having to turn them in (or not ).

Sorry, yeah -- I'm skeptical until I see harder evidence of "issued" flight jackets. I started re-reading one book* I own with an eye on equipment and kit requisition anecdotes.

And I looked through my library network (we can borrow books from a wide radius), no one has it -- and the price tag on that book isn't attractive.

*"A Perfect Hell" by John Nadler, FWIW.

 

[Chandler]

...he was also given full approval to requisition whatever supplies and equipment that he deemed necessary to do the job.

Necessary to do the job?

Or necessary to boost morale? I haven't seen any FSSF members wearing A-2s in the field -- hardly a ground force item of outerwear.

I can't watch the vids yet Burt, but do they address the jackets directly?

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Necessary to do the job?

Or necessary to boost morale? I haven't seen any FSSF members wearing A-2s in the field -- hardly a ground force item of outerwear.

I can't watch the vids yet Burt, but do they address the jackets directly?

Necessary for dry cold environments ( it was an arctic warfare unit), useless in wet cold environments.
For morale , their unique dagger is the most powerful boost.

 

[Chandler]

( it was an arctic warfare unit),

The A-2 is the last piece of outerwear I'd pick for arctic warfare.

How's that A-2 working out for you in Montana, Burt? @B-Man2

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

The A-2 is the last piece of outerwear I'd pick for arctic warfare.

How's that A-2 working out for you in Montana, Burt? @B-Man2

Under a parka as windproof shirt. you can’t wearing it as first layer, put other aside, webbing gear (metal hardware ) gonna ruin the jacket.

 

[Chandler]

Under a parka as windproof shirt.

Try it sometime. Not very flexible and not very optimal in a ground combat situation.

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Try it sometime. Not very flexible and not very optimal in a ground combat situation.

I tried it, work well when I am moving , didn’t feel over warm at all.
And agree with later part, the force was fought in Aleutian during May- Aug 1943, they certainly don’t need such setup.

 

[Chandler]

I tried it, work well when I am moving...

Crawling on the ground, digging a foxhole, running full-tilt across uneven terrain?