Kennedy, John F. Iconic personal Presidential leather G-1 bomber jacket worn aboard the Presidential yacht Honey Fitz....

Description

Kennedy, John F. Iconic personal Presidential leather G-1 bomber jacket worn aboard the Presidential yacht Honey Fitz. (1962) The dark brown leather G-1 Bomber Jacket with interior label "Bureau of Aeronautics USN / Flight Jacket, Intermediate G-1 / Specification No. Mil-J-7823 (AER) / L.W. Foster Sportswear Co., Inc. / Contract No. OA-36-243-QM (CTM 2134 Size 44". This jacket was purchased by President Kennedy on 5 December 1962 and is included with the original official U.S. Navy invoice for the purchase of "3 Flight jackets sold to Pres US". This jacket was present aboard the Presidential yacht Honey Fitz and recovered on 27 November 1963, just five days after JFK was assassinated. The jacket was sent to White House Staff member Lieutenant Henry E. Hirschy, Jr., who served during the Kennedy Administration working as a Supply and Logistics Officer for the Naval Aide to the President and served as the Director of the Executive Dining Facility in the White House. In addition, Hirschy was responsible for supply and logistic support for the President at Camp David and aboard the presidential yachts. Accompanying the jacket is an original handwritten note, "From Honey Fitz 11/27/63" listing two flight jackets among the President's personal clothing (one jacket listed as having "John F. Kennedy label and HMX-1 seal" [Marine One Helicopter]; the other is the present jacket listed "w/ Presidential Seal", which Hirschy and his family were allowed to keep). The note states at closing that all the personal items were to be sent to Lt. Hirschy in Washington, D.C. In addition to the referenced original U.S. Navy invoice and handwritten note from the Honey Fitz, the jacket is accompanied with the additional support material: 1) Lt. H. Hirschy's White House Staff badge, 2) U.S. Naval Base, Newport, R.I. 1963 Temporary Pass listing Hirschy as "White House Staff", 3) Hirschy's U.S. Department of the Interior Official Parking Permit (dated 12/1/62) listing his official address as "The White House" and 4) a signed Letter of Provenance from Priscilla Hirschy attesting that John F. Kennedy's leather G-1 bomber jacket comes directly from the family of Lieutenant Henry E. Hirschy, Jr. SC United States Navy. Leather exhibits wear with minor scuffing in areas. This jacket is nearly identical to another JFK leather bomber jacket that sold in 2013 for an astounding $629,000. An extraordinary and highly visible personal artifact from JFK with impeccable provenance.

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