The stories of those who wore the highly decorated "bomber jackets" in the US Army Air Corps during WWII continues to fascinate, educate, and entertain to this day. Worn as unique identifiers and to create an atmosphere of "esprit de corps" amongst the crew, these jackets offer a visual diary that reflected the hedonistic mindset of these extremely young airmen, pride in their part in fighting the enemy, and the social mores of the time. The high resolution photographs, featuring jackets from all WWII theaters and from museums and private collections across the USA, offer a glimpse into this seldom seem genre of military folk art. Supplemented with contemporary portraits, research, and never-heard-before wartime accounts, additional chapters examine their influence on fashion design worldwide, how to care for them as artifacts, and a section on collecting and appraisals. The book is rounded out with an index, for those who wish to dive further into WWII military clothing and history.The coffee table 300+ page book is arguably the definitive source ever produced on this subject.

This new comprehensive look at the evolution of the American flight jacket from World War I to Desert Storm addresses not only the types worn, but focuses primarily on the art and adornment applied to the jackets. The most colorful and creative period for flight jacket art was World War II, and it is this era that comprises a major portion of this book. Additionally, many of the pieces are attributed to the original owner with biographical information, contemporary photographs of the individual, and the aircraft on which he served. Personal combat accounts are also included. Also covered are other military jackets used by flyers. American Flight Jackets, Airmen & Aircraft was compiled over a number of years by Jon Maguire and John Conway. The authors became friends through a mutual passion for aviation history and collecting. This book provides a valuable reference for the historians and collectors alike, and includes over 1000 photographs.

'Thea's are the only clothes I never throw away.' Joan Collins

*Don t get the wrong edition: Get the corrected edition This 2014 edition includes corrected material based on Edward Jablonski s handwritten notes in his file copy of the original publication (ISBN: Paperback 978-1-62654-904-3 and Hardback 978-1-62654-867-1). Renowned throughout the world for its strength and destructiveness, the Flying Fortress was one of the greatest fighting airplanes of all time. In this comprehensively documented biography, Edward Jablonski tells the story of the Flying Fortress Boeing B-17, America s legendary long-range bomber. From the B-17's near death in infancy to the emergence of its successor, the Superfortress, "Flying Fortress" captures the exhilarating career of the B-17 with thrilling accounts of the exploits of these planes and their pilots. In this unforgettable history, Jablonski details the Fortress s role in the strategic and tactical issues of air war, and chronicles the B-17 s roles in famous raids including Regensburg, Marienburg, Munster, Schweinfurt, Dresden, and Berlin, along with its part in great battles, such as D-Day. Masterfully written, "Flying Fortress" is a classic in aviation literature with over 400 illustrations (many unpublished action photos) in addition to a section on the design of the Flying Fortress, which includes a number of detailed cutaway drawings. Approximately 60 pages from the Flying Fortress s Piloting Manual are also featured herein. Find out why the Flying Fortress ultimately redefined the concept of war. Edward Jablonski, life-long aviation enthusiast, served in the field of artillery during WWII and was a member of the Society of WWI Aero Historians and the American Aviation Society. Historian, biographer, and critic, Jablonski has written a number of books on aviation history and American cultural personalities."

Part of a series of books on artifacts held by the U.S. Army Museums System. This particular book is on General Patton's B-3 Bomber Jacket. It contains detailed photographs taken during inspection and conservation of the Jacket for a new exhibit at the Patton museum of Cavalry and Armor, Fort Knox KY in 2004.