Original Group. One-of-a-Kind. This is the extraordinary A2 Flight Jacket & uniform grouping of “The Mad Pollack” Lieutenant Albert Michael Petska of the B-17 42-102506 / Contrary Mary, 602nd Bombardment Squadron, 398th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. The group includes Petska’s A2 Flight jacket with a gorgeous patch for the 602nd featuring famous Disney character Goofy, and a hand-painted set of Pilot’s wings with a skull under the shield. The back of the jacket is heavily faded but once read So Long, Asshole!. On top of this, Petska’s crew list is written on the liner of the jacket! While overseas, Petska completed 35 Combat Missions. This is one of the nicest A2 Jacket sets we have offered.

From a diary entry by Flight Officer Ernest H. Walthall, we know Petska was known to the men of the 602nd as “The Mad Pollack”:

Since this was my first mission I would be flying co-pilot with an experienced crew, I had been lucky. I would be flying with “The Mad Pollock” [Al Petska] one of the most respected pilots in the [602nd] squadron. Some believed he had ranger training before going to pilot school. He and his crew already had fifteen missions. His regular assigned co-pilot [Thomas Van Matre] was to fly with the new crew [the Jack Wintersteen's Crew]. ~ The Pollock [Al Petska] and crew completed thirty-five missions and returned to the States in early April 1945.

The highlight of this group is of course the fantastic A2 Jacket, which is in fair but worn shape overall. The front features a phenomenal squadron patch for the 602nd Bombardment Squadron, which depicts “GOOFY dog, proper, wearing a white shirt, green jacket, tie, trousers, and hat, yellow orange shoes, yellow gloves, standing with feet spread apart, hands on hips, and supporting a small black and red aerial bomb on the right shoulder, holding a white clay pipe between the teeth, all behind a shamrock formed by a light green outline; shamrock charged in sinister leaf with stylized white aerial bomb outlined green, ( Approved 6 Mar 1944.)” This patch was designed by Walt Disney Productions. The patch measures roughly 5 x 6”. Above the patch is a beautifully-painted set of Pilot’s wings with a Skull sitting below the shield. Below the skull is a ribbon reading ZIGGY. In the front left pocket, there is a button for the 398th Bomb Group (H) which was likely worn at a reunion by Petska. The zipper of the jacket is not functional, as the zipper slider itself is absent.

The interior of the jacket is in great shape, and the liner is original, not replaced. The jacket is named near the top to Radio Lieutenant Robert Max Blacker, although we are unsure if he just signed it or if he also wore the jacket. The tag for the jacket is still fully intact and has not been resewn, and reads:

TYPE A-2
DRAWING NO. 30-1415
ORDER NO. 42-8777-P
PROPERTY
AIR FORCE U.S. ARMY
UNITED SHEEPLINED
CLOTHING CO.
LONG BRANCH, N.J.
44 (size)

Below the tag, Petska opted to write out his crew, with their names and positions, reading:

LT. ALBERT M. PETSKA
602 SQDN. 398 BOMB GRP.
A.P.O. 557- 8 A.F.
506 - LOVE - MIASISA - DRAGON
Lt. VAN MATRE - CP (Co-Pilot)
LT. LOVINGFOSS - N (Navigator) (KIA Nov 10 1944)
S/SGT MCGEE - B (Bombadier)
T/SGT FORSYTH - E (Engineer)
T/SGT SPENCER - R (Radio Operator)
S/SGT NEWMAN B.G. (Ball Turret Gunner)
S/SGT SHAW - R.W. (Rear Waist Gunner)
S/SGT FROELICH - T.G. (Tail Gunner)

The back of the jacket once had some sort of painting or decal that is now only shadows, but the accompanying text’s shadow is still visible near the bottom, reading:

SO LONG
ASSHOLE! *

Next to the word “Asshole”, Petska drew a very small… starfish. The advanced humor of these brave men never cease to amaze us here at IMA! The cuffs and wait felt is all original to the jacket, and nothing has been added.

The rest of this spectacular grouping consists of the following:
Petska’s flight helmet with headset cord still attached, rough shape overall and tag is almost completely worn down. Definitely shows heavy service use.
Petska’s WWII Uniform jacket, with Sterling Marked Pinback Pilot’s wings, 2nd Lieutenant Bars, and an 8th Air Force patch. US & Aviation collar insignia.
Petska’s WWII Ike Jacket, with Sterling Marked Pinback Pilot’s wings, 2nd Lieutenant Bars, an Army Air Forces patch on one shoulder, and a gorgeous bullion 8th Air Force patch on the other.
Petska’s AAF Officer’s Crusher Cap, made by Bancroft. Great shape.
Petska’s AAF Officer’s Crusher Cap, made by Feather Weight. Sweatband is disconnecting but in good shape overall.
Several printed pages of research on Petska’s crew with their printed flight reports.

Albert Michael Petska was born on November 5th, 1922 in Marceline, Missouri. He first enlisted in 1940. He served as a turret guner in the Army Air Corps in England and North Africa before returning to the U.S. to train as a pilot. In 1944, he was sent back to England, where he completed 35 combat missions as a B-17 pilot with the 602nd Bombardment Squadron. After the war he worked as an engineering geologist for Bethlehem Steel and several other companies. He passed away on January 9th, 1993.

Due to Blacker’s name also being written in the jacket, we are providing his biography as well: Robert Max Blacker was the second child born to John Doyle and Marian Louise Blacker on November 13, 1924 in Waveland, Indiana. He graduated from Eden High School in 1942 and as soon as he turned 18, he signed up for the Aviation Cadet program. On February 8, 1944, he graduated from the program as a Second Lieutenant and received his pilot wings. On March 27, 1944, he flew his first flight with his new B-17 Bomber crew. On June 22, they arrived at Nuthampstead, England and joined the 398th Bomb Group H. They were assigned to the 602nd Squadron. They flew their first mission on June 27, 1944. Over the next few months, they flew a total of 35 missions, mostly to Germany and France. Remarkably, he flew 34 of these missions before his 20th birthday. Bob earned an Air Medal, three oak-leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in WWII. After the war, Bob went to instructor’s school and learned to fly the T-28 and the T-33.

This is a fantastic grouping of a historic Painted A-2 Flight Jacket with unquestionable provenance and documented history! Groupings like this do not turn up often! Ready for further research and display!

Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 20”
Waist width: 17"
Hip width: 21”
Front length: 33"

Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 20”
Waist width: 16.5"
Hip width: 16.5”
Front length: 22"