Leather Flight Jacket

Object NameJacket, Flight

Historic Owner George M. Wise

Association USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)

Dateca. 1963

PeriodCold War

Mediumcotton, leather, metal

ClassificationsPersonal Artifacts

Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Marjorie and Walter H. Schmidt III. 2023.02

Object number2023.02

DescriptionJacket, Flight: Brown leather flight jacket with brown fur trimmed collar, brown fabric cuffs and waistband, and metal zipper closure. There are two button flap closure pockets on the front and one snap closure pocket on the interior proper left side. At the outer collar there is a single button and strap on the proper left side and two buttons on the proper right side. On the lower proper right interior zipper flap, small holes have been punctured in the leather to form the letters “USN.” Interior fabric is brown. At the interior collar there is a brown leather hook loop and a black label sewn to the fabric with white lettering that reads “Bureau of aeronautics USN // flight jacket, intermediate // spec (?) ca (?) 7 (?) 23 (?) // (?) W Foster Sportswear Co. NC // contract No. DA-38-243 (?) (C?) 234 // size 40”.
There are five colored patches sewn on the jacket.

Left shoulder: circular embroidered VS-24 Duty Cat patch. Patch has white fabric background bordered with red thread. In the center is a black cat with green eyes and tongue hanging out. There is a white "X" on the butt where the cat is being hit by a red lightning bolt.

Left chest: circular embroidered anti-submarine squadron VS-32 insignia patch bordered with yellow thread. The patch is segmented into three sections, the bottom half is separated by a straight yellow line and is colored royal blue to look like water. A gray periscope rises from the water. The top half is bisected with a curved yellow line. The left side is light blue like the daytime sky with a yellow sun, and the right sided is dark blue like the night sky with a crescent moon and three stars. In the center of the patch is an image of an eye with a blue iris. Yellow outstretched eagle wings extend from the top of the eye, and two yellow lightning bolts are depicted coming from the pupil.

Left pocket: embroidered insignia patch for Carrier Antisubmarine Air Group 56. The patch is in the shape of a shield and bordered with gold thread. In the center an image of an orange flight helmet is depicted with yellow outstretched eagle wings on either side. A yellow sword strikes through the center of the helmet. On the bottom near the hilt of the sword is a blue nuclear power symbol of two oval lines overlapping at a diagonal, with blue yellow and orange stars. A gray mushroom cloud is depicted extending from the top of the helmet. Block text across the top reads “CARANTISUBAIRGRU" in blue. The number 56 is below that text, on top of the mushroom cloud. Across the bottom is the Latin motto "DEMOLIRI // LOCARE // CIRCARE” in yellow, blue and orange thread respectively.

Right shoulder: circular embroidered insignia patch for anti-submarine squadron VS-24 bordered with orange thread. The center of the patch depicts an eagle with a white head and yellow body. The eagle is in flight with outstretched wings. Grasped in its talons is a black submarine broken in half. The eagle flies above green water. A yellow banner below the main patch has block text that reads “AIRANTISUBRON 24” in black fabric.

Right pocket: embroidered USS Valley Forge insignia patch with light blue background and outlined in dark blue thread in the shape of a shield. The center of the patch depicts a silhouette portrait of George Washington. On the top left two blue muskets crossed over each other are depicted with “1777” in red thread on either side of the cross. Possibly a blue bugle is depicted in the top center. On the top right side of the patch is an image of an airplane in blue with an image of possibly an aircraft carrier or mythical sea creature in blue below. Across the bottom are the words "USS VALLEY FORGE CVS-45."

On View

Not on view

Collections