Description

Jacket: World War II Naval Air Force Officer's Service Coat (aviation working uniform coat). The jacket is forestry green wool. It has a notched collar. There are epaulets with a bronze metal Navy button emblem. The buttons have a navy emblem button of an eagle standing on a horizontal anchor with cannonballs under the anchor and thirteen stars around the edge of the button. Imprinted on the back of the buttons is "Superior Quality". There are three bronze metal Navy button embelm closure buttons. The jacket opening by the top button slightly slants out and down. There is a 1 3/8" wide inset belt. There is a breast pocket and lower pocket on each side. The flaps are scalloped and have a small bronze metal Navy emblem button and a snap on each side. The lower pockets are detached around the edges. Above the left breast pocket is a gold pin of wings with a shield in the center and an anchor behind the shield (Navy Aviator). Below the pin are three rows of three ribbon bars. In the first row, the first ribbon bar is the Distinquished Flying Cross for sinking a submarine in the North Atlantic, the second one is the Air Medal with two gold stars (one for each campaign - the Philippines and Okinawa), the third one is the Order of Glory 3rd Class received for escorting convoys to aid the Russians across the North Atlantic. In the second row, the first ribbon bar is the Navy Unit Commendation for Victory in World War II with one bronze star (denotes succeeding award), the second one is the American Defense Medal for waters around the United States, and the third one is the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign with two bronze stars (denotes succeeding award). In the third row, the first ribbon bar is the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars (denotes succeeding award, one for the Philippines and one for Okinawa), the second one is the American Campaign Medal, and the third one is the Philippine Liberation Medal. The cuffs have two 1/2" wide black braids around the cuffs (Lieutenant of the Line). Above the braids is a round olive green wool patch with a black embroidered 5 poing star (Line Officer). On the back of the jacket on each side from the shoulder to waist is a deep pleat where the fabric overlays (bi-swing back). There is a back vent. The inside is lined with forestry green rayon. There is a hanging loop on the inside collar. There are wool shields under each arm. On the inside right is a breast horizontal slit pocket. There is a white label inside the pocket with black "MADE EXPRESSLY FOR/Mr. ROBT W HAYMAN (typed)/Date 4-9-42 (typed)". In the left arm is a white label with black "11-5H".
Worn by Robert W. Hayman. He was born and grew up in Red Wing. He was a lieutenant in the Naval Air Force (United States Navy Aircorps). He served from August 1941 - September 1946 in the Atlantic and Pacific. His obituary states "He started military service in the Navy as an aviation cadet, ending active service and reserve services as a lieutenant and flight instructor. During World War II from 1941-46, he served as a carrier pilot in Guam, Hawaii, Leyte Gulf, Guadalcanal, Tripoli and Kassan Bay. He received honors for sinking a Nazi sub off the Azores."