WW2 USAAF ETO Jacket To Decorated Air Crew Member Rare Second Model 1943/44

A rare USAAF ETO jacket to a decorated Air Crew member this being the second model with patch breast pockets & shirt style cuffs .
Badged to an Aircrew sergeant Engineering Specialist of the 8th United States Army Air Force he has Aircrew wings to left breast with three overseas service bars indicating 18 months service & a service stripe indicating a 3 year period of service to lower left sleeve. USAAF collar disc present. Medal ribbons indicate the Air medal with oak leaf for two awards, the Purple Heart & the European campaign medal with three bronze stars indicating involvement in three campaigns.
The first version of the ETO jacket with the slash pockets was discontinued in favour of this version around September 1943. In November 1943 it was ordered that all remaining stocks of the ETO jacket be issued to the 8th & 9th Air Forces for use during combat missions with General Eisenhower ordering issue of this 'new' version in March 1944 . After 300,000 were ordered from British firms it eventually was soon replaced by the M-1944 'Ike' jacket .
Rare jacket & to an interesting American Air Force crew member heavily involved in the NW Europe campaign.

Code: 13554