Named WWII Southwest Pacific Fighter Pilot Group with an Australian Made A-2 Flight Jacket

The group is comprised of the A-2 flight jacket, Air Medal, insignia and unit history of William Michael Upton of Kansas City, Missouri,who flew a P-47 Thunderbolt with the 342nd Fighter Squadron. The A-2 flight jacket is a “V-505” model which was manufactured in Australia pursuant to a 1943 contract by “Simpsons Glove Proprietary Limited” in Australia. The manufacturer’s label is retained within the collar, with the interior lining bearing the broad arrow mark. On the upper left breast is Upton’s leather name tag with printed pilot wings, while below the name tag is the large Australian made patch of the 342nd Fighter Squadron. The jacket has typical scuffs and wear, primarily to the top edge of the collar, and the left side of the zipper is detached from the lining at the base, making the zipper’s function problematic, but likely capable of being made fully functional by re-stitching the zipper base. Overall the jacket is in very good condition. The group also includes the unit history of the 342nd Fighter Squadron, hard cover, published April 17, 1943. The book was apparently created while the squadron was assigned to Westover Field in Massachusetts. Upton’s name does not appear in the unit roster at the rear of the book, indicating that he joined the squadron after publication. The name of “Benz” is written inside of the front cover, with the unit roster containing the name of First Lieutenant Walter G. Benz as a member of the squadron. The unit history is approximately 7-1/2 inches by 10-3/4 inches, with the pages being unnumbered. Also with the group are Upton’s full size full size pin back pilot wing; a bracelet bearing the rather crudely etched name of “Wm. Upton” on one side and his service number on the opposite side. Also in the group is Upton’s membership card in the “Esteemed Order of Peashooters”; Upton’s dog tags; an Army Air Force photographic identification badge; a single Australian-made Second Lieutenant rank bar as well as a single Australian-made Army Air Force winged propeller insignia which is manufacturer marked by Angus & Coote of Sydney. The group further includes a framed photograph of Upton in uniform as an aviation cadet, approximately 4-1/2 inches by 6-1/2 inches. Also with the group is Upton’s cased Air Medal, unnamed as awarded in the theater of operations. The medal is on a full wrap brooch suspension. The interior of the case is lacking the suspension hook and the upper compartment for the enamel lapel badge. Also present in the group is Upton’s white silk aviator scarf, approximately 42 inches long, with age toning and a burn hole. Upton’s World War II aviator style sunglasses are also present in the group. Finally, the group includes Upton’s laminated obituary from 1957. Upton died of a sudden heart condition (“Acute coronary thrombosis”) at the age of 37. Overall the group is in very good condition.