B-15 Flight Jacket with Vargas' "Sleepy Time Gal" on Back (Size 40)

This is a World War II United States Army Air Forces B-15 flyer jacket with Alberto Vargas' "Sleepy Time Gal" painted back art. The jacket originally belonged to 1st Lieutenant Earl Olive Chapman of California, a P-38 fighter pilot. The jacket is accompanied by several period newspaper clippings about Chapman, photographs and other memorabilia. At the time of the printing of the article from the July 10, 1944 edition of the Arcadia Tribune, Chapman had flown over fifty combat missions, downed an enemy plane and received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Circa World War II.

Size 40.

Cotton/nylon with painted back art and insignia, alpaca lining, mouton collar, elasticized cotton/nylon waistband and cuffs, brass zipper with leather pull; newspapers; photographs; framed photograph with glass, gold-plated brass frame with velvet-wrapped cardboard backing.

Zipper, snaps at pockets, buttons by collar; frame: brass hanger and standing arm.

TYPE B-15 SPECIFICATION 3220 SIZE 40 STOCK NO. 8300-470734 ORDER NO. (33-038) 44-6343-AF MODA COAT COMPANY PROPERTY AIR FORCES, U.S. ARMY on label and inked stamp on inside edge; CONMAR on zipper.

This is from a United States Army Air Forces collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MDJJX10 LABJJX4/11 SABJJX1/12

6 (Fine+): The jacket has some light to medium wear with some small holes (mostly in the waistband) and two areas on collar and on reverse flap where fur is dried out/missing; newspapers are yellowed.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.