MARTIN LANE Size 46 patched

[Thomas Koehle]

Gents,

i just purchased a nice addition to the collection ...

i had to let go one ORCHARD from 86 and one COOPER from 92 before i got permission of the F&C dept to buy another one - because of space issues and for funding

I see on the photos the triangular patch has been previously sitting below the nametag but was reloed a bit higher maybe to accomodate the "200 Mission" patch

According to the previous owner all patches are original - well based on the fraying on the edges that sound plausible to me - no more details known

The jacket looks legit to me - at least i hope it is

Let me know your toughts

 

[Erwin]

Super cool "bomber jacket" Thomas, congrats!!! Any chance to see a close-up of the patch from the right sleeve?

 

[B-Man2]

Thomas the triangular patch says “ Fortune Favers The Bold “ in Latin.
Can’t get a good look at the right shoulder patch .

 

[scwells]

The right shoulder patch looks like Fighting 143 "Sans Reproache"....Beyond Reproach.

 

[Erwin]

VFA-143?​

 

[Thomas Koehle]

So far I just got the photos but the jacket is on it’s way and should arrive by the weekend - will share some details and fitpics then

 

[Thomas Koehle]

VFA-143?​

Would at least match the constellation patch then …

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Thomas the triangular patch says “ Fortune Favers The Bold “ in Latin.
Can’t get a good look at the right shoulder patch .

CVW14 = Carrier Air Wing 14

 

[Erwin]

Looks like you got a great grouping of patches related to VFA-143, especially in this color variant Thomas, congrats!!!

 

[Boyo]

Far from an expert, but the label is awfully mint for 55 year old jacket…and any thoughts on the rectangle stitching around the hanger?
all that said the fading on the mouton looks authentic..

I hope it all works out for you Thomas..

 

[B-Man2]

Thomas
Are you getting any kind of provenance with the jacket?
Any photos ?
Documents ?
Name of original owner so you can check the rolls of VFA-143?

 

[Nickb123]

Nice! This one was from Japanese auction no?

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Nice! This one was from Japanese auction no?

EBAY UK - pricewise it was about the same level as a MARTIN which I got from one of our forum members

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Far from an expert, but the label is awfully mint for 55 year old jacket…and any thoughts on the rectangle stitching around the hanger?
all that said the fading on the mouton looks authentic..

I hope it all works out for you Thomas..

For me it looks like the triangel has previously been located with a namepatch still present - then the “200 mission patch” was applied so the “CVW” patch needed to move

The stitching would match the dimensions …

 

[scwells]

“Back then” it would have been VF-143 Fighting 143

 

[Flightengineer]

Nice jacket, Thomas.
The patches looks original in my opinion. Although I have never seen a name tag cut off and a patch sewn on top, it may have been done later after the pilot retired or by next owner.
In any case, here definitely need input from an expert and a person who flew from the deck, hope John @Phrog Driver can help.

 

[Flightengineer]

Far from an expert, but the label is awfully mint for 55 year old jacket…and any thoughts on the rectangle stitching around the hanger?
all that said the fading on the mouton looks authentic..

I hope it all works out for you Thomas..

My G-1 from the same year also has a mint label and stitching around the hanger, and a faded mouton. There is no doubt for me about the legitimacy of the jacket itself.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Nice jacket, Thomas.
The patches looks original in my opinion. Although I have never seen a name tag cut off and a patch sewn on top, it may have been done later after the pilot retired or by next owner.
In any case, here definitely need input from an expert and a person who flew from the deck, hope John @Phrog Driver can help.

Good idea!

I just reached out to him ...

 

[Flightengineer]

Good idea!

I just reached out to him ...

looks like you sent this to me

 

[Phrog Driver]

Nice jacket, Thomas.
The patches looks original in my opinion. Although I have never seen a name tag cut off and a patch sewn on top, it may have been done later after the pilot retired or by next owner.
In any case, here definitely need input from an expert and a person who flew from the deck, hope John @Phrog Driver can help.

Very legit authentic jacket FE, thanks for asking. Squadron, air wing, ship and mission patches all make sense and align with a D series G1 time-wise (Vietnam era). Lots of folks didn't do a nametag, or any patches at all for whatever reason. Navy, unlike the USAF, did not have any rules for patching jackets. It was up to the individual airman. I think its a beautiful authentic piece of kit and you should treasure it.