 |
|
Captain William Shek (of the 380th Bomb Group) and his A-2 Flight
Jacket
|
 In
the course of our business we get to "meet" many
fellow collectors and enthusiasts from around the world. We
are sometimes privileged to view special items from their
collections, which become all the more interesting when they
have a story attached. The following account is a classic
example, relating to an original A-2 Flight Jacket issued
to 1st Lieutenant William Shek. He joined the USAAF in 1941,
having graduated from Syracuse University, New York - he immediately
volunteered for flight training. In due course he was awarded
his pilot’s wings and was assigned to 528th Bomb Squadron
of the newly formed 380th Bomb Group. He continued his training
on B-24 Liberators at Biggs Field, Texas, then at Lowry Field,
Denver, Colorado, before being deployed overseas.
 1st
Lieutenant Shek’s first overseas posting with the USAAF came
in 1943 when he was deployed with the 380th Bomb Group to
Northern Australia to deliver B-24 aircraft and to set up
bases. He was stationed at Fenton Field, and during this time
he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He piloted a B-24
Liberator which he had named "Dauntless Dottie"
after his wife. During this time he flew in combat, taking
part in bombing, strafing and reconnaissance missions against
the Japanese forces throughout the South West Pacific. While
based at Fenton, he was appointed Operations Officer; he had
access to many reconnaissance and strike photographs along
with photos of B-24 aircraft, crews, and general life on the
base. He survived his tour of duty, having worn his A-2 on
every operation; on completion he was rotated back to the
US. Once back on home soil, Shek was assigned as an instructor
on B-24’s, later he moved onto the larger B-29. He then had
the privilege of piloting the very first B-29 to be delivered
to Great Britain, very shortly after the war ended.
What of his A-2 you ask? Like so many other USAAF aircrew
of the period, Shek was issued with his flight jacket during
training, it stayed with him, adorned with squadron patches
and name tag, throughout his wartime career. Airmen had their
superstitions and, while some carried a lucky rabbit’s foot,
others a medallion or charm, for Shek it was his trusty A-2
Flight Jacket. He wore it throughout his training and during
every combat mission, far from home, in South East Asia; it
continued to give sterling service on missions over the Japanese
occupied islands of Java, Borneo, New Guinea and others. It
accompanied him back to the States, where he became a career
officer in the US Air Force. Shek finally retired as a Lieutenant
Colonel to Florida, his A-2 still with him as a reminder of
the good times, and the bad.
 The
Sheks subsequently moved again and settled in California where
their son, Bill, noted the deteriorating condition of the
jacket – the elements and the passage of time were finally
taking their toll where the Japanese had failed. The fabric
waistband, sleeve cuffs and rayon lining were literally rotting
away. The leather itself was dry, faded and cracking, the
seam stitching was parting in several places. Some time around
1999 William Shek read an advertisement, placed by an individual
in Southern California, in a retired officers’ magazine. He
wanted to purchase vintage WWII flight apparel and equipment,
regardless of condition. In view of the deteriorating state
of his A-2, Shek decided to try and sell the jacket, so he
answered the ad. A deal was reached and, no doubt with a sad
heart, the jacket, which had guided him safely through so
much, was packed up and mailed off - that was that! The jacket
was gone for ever – or was it?
It is time for William's son, Bill Shek, to continue the
story in his words: -
|
 In
early 2003, both of my parents unexpectedly passed away. I
found that I wanted to know more about their wartime experiences.
I suppose as happens with many children and their parents,
I never asked them many questions about their past and experiences
when I had the chance. I was stupid then and now it was too
late.
However, the photo collection was still there, so I decided
to do some Internet research into Dad's wartime unit and B-24
Liberator, "Dauntless Dottie", which he had named
after my mother. I found a website dedicated to information
about the units, crews, and missions of the 380th Bomb Group,
and a couple of other websites with information and message
boards about WW2 B-24 aircraft and crews. On one of these
sites I posted several photos of "Dauntless Dottie",
with Dad's name & unit, and my name and e-mail as contributor.
 I
had often wondered what became of the A-2. Suddenly, out of
the blue, in January, 2004, I received an e-mail from a collector
in Dallas, Texas. The following is a portion of his e-mail:
"Wow,
what a small world! You don't know me but I have taken the
liberty to drop you a line and just say hello. I collect WWII
militaria and about 2 years ago I purchased a WW II US A-2
flight jacket that once belonged to your father! ....a wonderful
example of a wartime A-2 with his leather name tag, a 5th
AF patch, a blood chit on back and a large colorful chenille
528th patch of "Herky"*. I was fascinated with finding
out about the original owner. I eventually found a great book
on the 380th and read about his squadron's brave exploits
on missions such as the Balikpapan raid. I was researching
various military things today on the Internet and just came
across the photo of Dauntless Dottie you posted on the B-24
site. I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw your name at
the bottom!"
 *("Herky"
was the nickname of the mascot of the 528th BS: a human clown-like
airman character riding a bomb, which was prominently displayed
on the 528th Squadron patch).
 Needless
to say, this e-mail completely floored me - I couldn’t believe
it! I responded to his e-mail and we began corresponding about
the jacket. I sent him photos from my father’s collection,
to give him some "history" of the A-2. He told me
that its condition was pretty rough when he bought it on eBay.
He had then debated for some time but had decided to have
the jacket conserved as much as possible, as he didn’t feel
it would survive without some help. He sent it to a company
in Scotland called Aero Leather Clothing. They replaced the
fabric waistband, cuffs, and lining with as close a match
as possible, reinforced the seam stitches (through the original
stitch holes), and treated the leather. This was all done
before he ever knew I existed. Aero Leather did a superb job.
Without this conservation the jacket would eventually have
literally fallen apart and into dust. He sent me photos of
the restoration process at Aero Leather and of the jacket
afterward in his collection. I totally agreed with his decision
and the results. He then generously offered to send the jacket
back to me. I told him I felt that the jacket had been meant
to come into his possession and that he should keep it in
his collection - I knew it would be valued and protected there.
We
didn’t correspond for some time after that, both being busy
with work. In August, ‘04, he contacted me again. He said that while
looking through his own father’s WW2 uniforms he had come
to a decision which had been growing in the back of his mind
for some time. He said he now believed very strongly that
the jacket should "go home" and wanted me to have
it back. We reached an agreement and he shipped it to me.
Now, incredibly, after a 5 year journey, my father’s 62-plus
year old flight jacket has returned home. When I actually
touched it again, I felt that a circle had closed and something
of my father’s spirit had returned. Emotions?? You bet!
 Something
had puzzled me from the first e-mail I received from the collector
in Texas. He had said that the jacket had a "blood chit"
on the back when he purchased it on Abbey. Growing up with
the jacket, I did not remember ever seeing anything on the
back. The "chit" patch was made of layered, colored,
sewn leather, with an American and Chinese flag and Chinese
language message. Many versions of "blood chits", usually
made of silk or fabric, but also of leather, were used by
flight crews in WW2, both in Europe and in the western Pacific
(China and Burma). Since the 380th BG did not fly missions
to, or over, China or Burma, I wondered why they would wear
a Chinese language patch. The populations of the island groups
they flew to and over did not speak Chinese. I contacted an
individual who had been stationed in Fenton with the 380th
BG around the time my father left. He confirmed my suspicions,
saying that the squadrons there had never used these (or any
other types of) blood chits and had never had any on their
crew jackets. The patch obviously had been added between the
time it left my father’s possession and reappeared on Ebay.
I have removed it (and found it had been fastened on in 3
places with adhesive, in order to hold it in place for sewing
- thus adding insult to injury). I have further treated the
jacket with a recommended Pecard antique leather conditioner
and it looks great - 100% and better than the last time I
saw it in person!
I am not superstitious, nor am I overly "spiritual",
but this incredible event, or, I should say, chain of events,
has utterly convinced me that some "higher" power
meant for my father’s A-2 to come back to me. I am eternally
thankful to the collector in Dallas for his care and devotion
to preserving this piece of history, to Aero Leather Clothing
for the conservation and to Geoff at Oldnautibits.com for
his generous advice on the removal of the afore mentioned
blood chit.
And, oh yes, just in case anyone is curious - my Father’s
A-2 is definitely NOT for sale!
Bill Shek
September 2004
|
Acknowledgements
With many thanks to Bill Shek for allowing us to share his story
with the world, and also providing a range of original photographic
images from his late Father’s collection that have enabled us to
bring this feature to life.
Thanks also to the 380th Bomb Group Association
for permitting us to use the "Flying Circus" image at
the top-right of this page - they use it on their website
and on the cover of their Quarterly Newsletter. The original version
was drawn by S/Sgt Francis R. (Johnny) Johnston as a picture plaque
for a wall hanging. S/Sgt Johnston was Armorer/Tail Gunner on the
Crew of Lt John Baptist, who flew with the 531st Squadron of the
380th Bomb Group .
The post-restoration pictures of William Shek’s A-2 confirm Aero
Leather Clothing’s skills - we commend their informative
web site www.aeroleatherclothing.com
to all those with any interest in vintage flight jackets.
Finally, Pecard Antique Leather Dressing is simply
the best treatment for the conservation and maintenance of vintage
leather flying jackets and ancillary equipment. Pecard
can be contacted in the US via their website www.pecard.com
. The European Distributor of Pecard Antique Leather Dressing,
can be found at www.antiqueleatherdressing.co.uk
Geoff Pringle
October 2004
|
|
 |
