LOST WORLDS
FLIGHT JACKET COLLECTION
G-1
FLIGHT JACKET
VA-702/VAN-5, Korean War
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VA-702,
out of Texas (hence "Rustlers") owns the distinction of being the
first USNR unit called up in the Korean War. The dedication, ambiguity and
bitterness of Navy Reserves are documented in the classic THE BRIDGES OF TOKO-RI (1954). Flying Skyraiders
and Panthers, VA-702 was battle seasoned over Korea. Additionally, this pilot,
LCDR Everitt, flew in VC-8, a composite squadron for night attack and
reconnaissance. The unique Japanese-made "Modern Minute Men" patch indicates the
"wake up call" nature of VAN-5/CGG101
(2 Mar 51 TO
24 Oct 51), a night attack squadron of
the TF77 VC-35 deployments. On the left sleeve is an as yet
unidentified patch of a devil in cowboy chaps astride a lightning bolt (perhaps
another "Rustlers" reference? -- any info. will be appreciated). This
G-1 was made by Werber Sportswear, an early and continuing AAF and USN
contractor whose military connections go back at least to the 1930s. This postwar jacket retains the shaped pocket flap of WWII examples
and is identical to late WWII 55J14 examples.
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