Is this an original a2?

[Serghei87]

Guys do you think this is an original?? And the back paint too? Was it used during ww2 or it is not an original design?

 

[Brettafett]

Looks original to me. Leather looks good, typical red undertones of Aeroleather. Typical Aero mustard lining. Label looks original. Knits possibly....
Artwork? Well that's a weird one. Looks original, however 'Top hatters' were a Navy outfit. But possibly 1st Pursuit/ Fighter Group (P-38s originally)...
Any other info? Provenance?

 

[Serghei87]

Only info i have is that a guy from Thailand found it in a container he auctioned in thailand coming from Japan.

 

[Serghei87]

Selling for 600$ with shipping included

 

[Serghei87]

How much this jacket would be worth really worth it though?

 

[Brettafett]

Try negotiate
But I'd go for it...

 

[Brettafett]

To me.... And I may be very wrong... But, to me it looks original. And if so, its well worth $600. In fact IF it is an original, and the painting is original, and it may very well be, then $600 is a bargain.
If you are into collecting originals, this could be a lucky find etc.

 

[Smithy]

Looks original, however 'Top hatters' were a Navy outfit. But possibly 1st Pursuit/ Fighter Group (P-38s originally)...

Brett, if the artwork is original it has to be from a bomber or possibly fight bomber unit due to the bomb marks. That thing that looks a bit like a train would seem to suggest a FB unit though if it is indeed a train marking. I actually think The Top Hatters reference could well be referring to the 310th FS (who were also known as the Top Hats or Top Hatters) and who flew P-47s in the FB role during WWII and F-84s in the FB role during Korea.

 

[Brettafett]

Excellent Tim, that would all make sense. I do not know much about the 310th, well worth a look-see!

 

[Serghei87]

The jacket is too large for me :/
I am happy to share the contact for you guys if someone is really interested.

Chest 24
Shoulder 18.5
Length26

He also has a beautiful a-1 in size 36 that looks to be original too

 

[ties70]

Referring to the A-2:

Has the zipper been messed with or replaced? The stitches on the wind flap look uneven, maybe there is even an old stitch line on the body' side?

Ties

 

[Serghei87]

Have no idea Ties

See more photos below

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

The jacket looks original to me.

 

[gav]

If I had $600 to spare, I’d go for that Aero!

 

[Serghei87]

If someone wants to get the contact of the guy, just send me a message. For an original, 600$ is really good price i think as it looks quite well preserved

 

[Flightengineer]

Good deal. Pity not my size.

 

[33-1729]

It’s not a blatantly obvious fake, nor obviously miss-identified like the jacket called an “A-1” in post #10, but is it possible to tell from photographs? It looks like it has a later version Talon M-41 nickel-plated zipper, but I don’t know if that matters (W 535 ac-21996 was noted using M-41 Crown No. 5 zippers).

I think the price is good for a cool jacket anyway. I wouldn’t call it real though until I ensured the patch on the front went with the painted art on the back, name on the label checked out with the right squadron, etc. Considering Smithy’s comment in post #8, A-2’s were available after WWII so if it was used in service post-WWII how would that impact the value?

 

[falcon_ib]

The jacket itself looks original, but I'm not too sure about the patches and artwork. The patch ghost on the shoulder does look like it had a CBI shield on it at one point, along with another circular patch.
The chest patch is for the 11th Bomb Squadron, which flew B-25's in the CBI for the duration of the war. From what I've seen online "Mr. Jiggs" crosses the opposite direction, from right to left, on original patches, but it could be a rare theater-made variation.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...quadron-10th-and-14th-air-force-catf-and-cbi/

View attachment 14thAAF_341stBG_waiting.jpg

I didn't find any "A.N. Johnson" in the 1942-1945 roster of the 11th Bomb Squadron or any of the 341st group history, only an "A.J. Johnson."

https://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com/341st_web/index.htm

The back art looks pretty old from the picture, but way more like ETO art, like 8th or 9th Air Force. Painting on the back of jackets in the CBI was incredibly rare, usually a blood chit if anything at all. We would need to see some close ups of the patch and artwork, plus the inside lining where the patch is sewn on, to determine how long ago it was added.
I'm far from an expert, and I'm not definitively saying this one is bad, just without provenance there are a few red flags and we should be careful.