WW2 Painted/Named A-2 Flight Jacket – “War Eagle” (Webster)

Glorious and Striking “War Eagle” WW2 Painted/Named A-2 Flight Jacket (Herbert Lee Webster).

Jacket presents in high condition – with minimal wear expected from age and light usage. Leather remains supple throughout the jacket – showing slight abrading in typical movement points (including shoulders). Retains original zipper (the track of which is in functioning condition) and knit cuffs/waistband. Jacket prominently features an absolutely stunning painted rendition of a B-17 bomber (named War Eagle) on the jacket back – with the words “WAR – EAGLE” boldly painted above. Jacket also has the distinction of having the wearer’s mission/war record painted below the B-17 – toward the middle back. Original painted leather 457th Bombardment Group patch has been preserved on the jacket front, but patch does show paint loss (as seen in photo). Names “Herb” and “Dot” are fancifully painted above leather patch on front left breast. Interestingly, jacket also features the “tail flash” of the 1st Bomb Wing, 457th Bombardment Group painted on the upper portion of the right sleeve. Manufacturer’s tag is present. Name “Sgt. Webster” is handwritten inside jacket neck. Additional writing “H.W. 9022” is present inside left breast section of jacket.

According to our research, Sergeant Herbert Lee Webster (ASN: 32839022), a native of Chemung County, New York, served as a B-17 ball turret gunner with the 748th Bombardment Squadron, 457th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force during WW2. Through the course of the war, Webster would fly over 30 missions with the 457th Bombardment Group (including the Arromanches Beach mission on D-Day – June 6, 1944) and would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and service.

An undeniably original and beautiful WW2 painted A-2 flight jacket with the added bonus of an incredible named lineage and history attached. Calling this jacket “top-shelf” is quite possibly an understatement.