I've been fortunate to find some great painted pieces in my time, and this one definitely sits amongst the best. A wonderful M41 field jacket, issued to a navigator with the 97th Bomb Group, and adorned with Italian made leather patches, and a beautiful Italian style painting of a B-17 on the reverse.
Painted M41s aren't as common as their leather counterparts, but certainly in later parts of the war, and in warmer climates like Italy, they were more likely to be issued. This belonged to Howard A Thornhill, born in New York state, Thornhill joined the USAAF in 1942 aged 18 years old, and flew with the 97th Bomb Group out of Southern Italy. Whilst he was stationed in Italy in 1944-45 he very likely acquired the locally made patches, and had a local artist paint the jacket. Thornhill would serve 35 years in the Air Force retiring as a Colonel. There is some information about his time with the 97th available here!
Condition
Amazing, and I mean that. Some light staining from the leather but thats about it... The oil painted artwork is in amazing condition! Original zippers are perfect, size tag in place, no damage at all, but one moth nip on the inside. Very very very hard to better this one.
Size
- Tagged a 36
- Pit to pit 23"
- Shoulder to shoulder 18"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 25"