American Sportswear AN-6552 Flying Jacket, Sz. 46

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American Sportswear AN-6552 Flying Jacket, Sz. 46Up for auction is an original WWII American Sportswear AN-6552 flying jacket in an extra large labeled size 46. The AN-6552 was designed as a joint service flying jacket, hence the "AN" (army-navy) designation. Its size and short production time (manufactured for only 6 months in 1943) make this a relatively rare jacket. My guess is that this jacket was refurbished for use during the Korean War era as it has correct replacement knits and a purpleish replacement liner common to the G-1 jackets of that era. Dial-up alert!: I've included over 30 pictures, but please let me know if you have any questions. are some additional details: Leather Grainy seal brown goatskin. The close-up pics show the color most accurately. Leather is very pliable and somewhat thick. T is some scuffing of the leather at the bottom of the left arm (see pic) and along the cuff of the right arm but no holes. Overall, the leather is still in very good shape. All of the underarm grommets are present and are a dark reddish color, which is a distinctive trademark of this maker. Also, I don't smoke so t's no fear of smoky-smelling leather (or any other odors for that matter!). Lining Although the lining is a replacement, it is in very good shape with no holes, separations, or stains that I can see. It is still quite strong. I believe the lining to be an old replacement. One clue to its age is that the color matches the lining color of a couple of Korean War era G-1s that I have. Another clue is that the nametag and patch are sewn through the lining. The original lining would've been salmon colored. Inside pocket The snap is present, and the pocket stitching is intact all around. Stitching Stitching is tight all around except for one seam separation on the lower right hand side of the jacket, w the leather meets the bottom knit (see pic). Windflap Windflap is present. T is no "USN" stamped in the flap. AN-6552 jackets instead had "US" stencilled on the back of the collar. Wool Knits The knit elements appear to be period replacements. T were original stitch holes missed when the replacements were done. The right cuff has 1 small nip. The left cuff has about 3 or 4 nips. The cuffs do not need to be replaced as all the nips can be easily darned. The waistband has 1 small nip in the back and 2 thread pulls on the front, one on either side of the zipper. Again, these are easily darned. Mouton collar The mouton collar is a replacement and shows very slight balding on the underside of the right collar edge. Otherwise, it's in excellent shape. T were original stitch holes missed on the back of the collar. The original "US" stencil has completely disappeared. Zipper The zip is the original blackened Conmar. It works easily, and t are no missing teeth. Nametag and Patch The jacket is named to an "A.L. Cooke" a sergeant in the USMC. The patch is from Marine Attack Squadron 332, which was originally commissioned in June 1943. When the squadron was re-commissioned in 1952, "as part of 3d Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Opa Locka, Florida [they flew] the F6F Hell Cat and later F4U Corsairs. During the Korean conflict, Marine Attack Squadron 332 was assigned a combat role operating from the USS Bairoko, distinguishing themselves as one of the few Marine squadrons for an aircraft carrier. It was at this time the famous polkadots, hat, and cane originated. Replacing the VMF-312 "Checkerboards", who had a red and white checkerboard painted around the engine cowlings, VMA-332, somewhat mockingly, adopted the red polkadots on white background. The design was reminiscent of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's hat in the Ring Squadron of World War I. The addition of the hat and cane was derived from the squadron tail letters of "MR". Being the abbreviation of mister, and feeling they were gentlemen in every regard, the hat and cane was adopted as accouterments every gentleman has. It was then that the squadron picked up the ni... read more

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