Flying Tigers 23rd Fighter Group Jacket

Regular price $880.00

Prior to December 1941 as a volunteer fighter squadron fighting the Japanese in China, the American Volunteer Group was nicknamed the Flying Tigers. Absorbed into the Army Air Force on July 4th 1942, the 23rd Fighter Group was the official new name for the AVG,
but kept their nom de guerre “The Flying Tigers”. This particular A-2 jacket is studded with history.

• 100% horsehide leather
• Cotton poplin lining in russet
• Left chest Flying Tigers patch
• Left sleeve bullion China Burma patch
• Right sleeve 14th Air Force bullion badge
• Leather appliqué blood chit on the back
• Two front flap snap pockets
• Side entry pockets
• Two interior pockets
• Knit cuffs and waistband
• This is a regular fit jacket
• Available in brown
• Proudly made in the USA.

Compare your measurements with this chart.

SIZE

JACKET BACK LENGTH YOUR CHEST JACKET SLEEVE LENGTH JACKET CHEST MEASUREMENT
36 24.5 35 - 37 35 42
38 24.75 37 - 39 35.5 44
40 25 39 - 41 36 46
42 25.25 41 - 43 36.5 48
44 25.5 43 - 45 37 50
46 25.75 45 - 47 37.5 52
48 26 47 - 49 38 54
50 26.25 49 - 51 38.5 56
52 26.5 51 - 53 39 58
54 26.75 53 - 55 39.5 60
56 27 55 - 57 40 62
58 27.25 57 - 59 40.5 64
60 27.5 59 - 61 41 66

The 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–1942, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was composed of pilots from the United States Army (USAAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC), recruited under Presidential authority and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. 

The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, twelve days after Pearl Harbor. It demonstrated innovative tactical victories when the news in the U.S. was filled with little more than stories of defeat at the hands of the Japanese forces, and achieved such notable success during the lowest period of the war for both the U.S. and the Allied Forces as to give hope to America that it might eventually defeat the Japanese. AVG pilots earned official credit, and received combat bonuses, for destroying 296 enemy aircraft, while losing only fourteen pilots in combat.