U.S. MARINE CORPS PAINTED G-1 FLYING JACKET.

U.S. MARINE CORPS PAINTED G-1 FLYING JACKET.
New York, 1942, in goatskin with mouton collar, brown satin lining, elasticized wool hem and cuffs, by Willis & Geiger Inc. Painted "devil dog" logo of Marine Corps squadron VMF-111 on front left breast, crudely hand-painted image of a Grumman F4F Wildcat above two crashed Japanese planes on back panel, titled "Screamin Debby." Size 36. Wear to leather, fraying to fabric hem and cuffs.

A rare USMC Flying Jacket. The VMF-111 was a Marine Corps Reserve flying squadron, established in 1925. At the outbreak of the war in the Pacific of the two Fighting Squadrons available, only the VMF-111 was ready to go, and they were shipped out from San Diego on march 10th 1942, for Samoa. their 15 Grumman F4F-3 wildcats arrived a week later, and they served as the only aerial defense of Samoa. They fighter force moved from island to island during the various island hopping campaigns, 1942-45, performing proudly. The force came back to Texas, and was deactivated in November 1945.