Original U.S. WWII Named AAF British-Made 93rd Bomb Group Uniform Ike Jacket with Bullion Stripes - Captain John J. Hinch, Designed Bombing Release for B-24 Liberator Bomber

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is the British-made Ike jacket of Army Air Forces Captain John J. Hinch, Armament Officer of the 93rd Bombardment Group, who served for 33 months overseas, being awarded the Bronze Star Medal and a staggering nine campaign stars on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal!

A period newspaper article reads:

“Capt. John J. Hinch has perfected a bombing release for the B-24 Liberator bombers which has been adopted by the Second bombardment squadron of the Eight air force in England where Captain Hinch is stationed. Captain Hinch, who is group armament officer of the 93rd bombardment group, has been overseas since August 1942, and has served with his group in Africa where it participated in the campaigns of Tunisia, Egypt-Libya, Italy Sicily and the historic low-level bombing of the oil fields at Ploesti, Romania, in August 1943. For this action all participants received the Presidential Unit Citation. He was recently awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement during the past two years and also wears the Distinguished Unit ribbon and the European theater ribbon with nine campaign participation stars.”

The uniform is British-made, with a lovely hand-stitched red fabric lining. The jacket has an 8th Air Force patch sewn to the left sleeve and five bullion overseas stripes on the left cuff. There are Captain’s bars on each shoulder, and US & AAF collar insignia. The interior pocket has a name tag reading:

F.A. STONE & SONS
NORWICH. GT. VARMOUTH
182 CORK ST. LONDON, W.I.
LT. J.J. HINDE. U.S.
22543

The name HINCH and CAPTAIN HINCH is written on the lining and in the sleeve, so it would appear the tailor in London just typed his last name incorrectly. 

A very good British-made uniform jacket for a well-seasoned AAF veteran of the European front. Ready for further research and display.

Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16.5"
Chest width: 19.5”
Waist: 15"
Hip: 15"
Front length: 23"