Patched H&L Block M-422a

[Stony]

Just acquired this patched H&L Block M-422a. Belonged to a WWII combat vet who wore it at least through the late 50s from what I can tell. He flew with VB-80 in combat and looks to have been stateside with VB-3. Nice Carrier Air Group 12 patch on left sleeve and VA-126 patch on right breast. Everything looks to be all original and the leather is in good shape.

 

[Geeboo]

incredible stunner !!!

 

[B-Man2]

What a keepsake ! That’s a beauty.

 

[Whatsit]

Wow, what a great find

 

[johnwayne]

Fantastic, love it and prove if needed that you can't beat the real thing, enjoy!

 

[Cocker]

Whoah, from SB2C to F7U Cutlass, that's pretty amazing! What's the patch on his left breast? It looks like the panther from VF-781/VF-121, but without the star background.

 

[Stony]

Whoah, from SB2C to F7U Cutlass, that's pretty amazing! What's the patch on his left breast? It looks like the panther from VF-781/VF-121, but without the star background.

VB-3. They attacked the Japanese carriers at Midway led by Cdr. Leslie. Unfortunately, he wasn't with them then. It is a shipboard made patch out of canvas with the panther cut out. The uncut patch would have been about six inches.

 

[Boyo]

Wow! That's a beautiful jacket.. Does it fit?

 

[Stony]

Size 44, so a bit too big.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Awesome jacket - would be exactly my size ...

What’s the lower patch on the right chest with the yellow background?

 

[Cocker]

It's the VB-80 patch, Tom ;-)

 

[Flightengineer]

Incredible jacket with awesome patches.
F7U pilot ....just wow!

 

[silvio76]

beautiful jacket.

 

[Carl]

I this the contract for the M422 ??

 

[Maverickson]

Stony,

Great jacket!

Looks like VA-126 flew the Cutlass in 1955. At that time they did a deployment aboard USS HANCOCK (CVA-19). Using that cruise book you may be able to ID your jacket's original owner.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Stony]

Looks like VA-126 flew the Cutlass in 1955. At that time they did a deployment aboard USS HANCOCK (CVA-19). Using that cruise book you may be able to ID your jacket's original owner.

His name is on the jacket, so I assume he is the original owner.

 

[zoomer]

Looks like VA-126 flew the Cutlass in 1955. At that time they did a deployment aboard USS HANCOCK (CVA-19). Using that cruise book you may be able to ID your jacket's original owner.

It was a dangerous plane to fly - underpowered with bad handling problems. Sometimes called Gutless Cutlass or Ensign Eliminator, it served for just 5 years, with many fleet squadrons giving them up to land-based units.