Suit, Flier's

Object number2008.125.5

Date1939-1945

MediumNylon; Velcro

Credit LineGift of Martha Johnston Wilkins

DescriptionDark olive/brown one-piece nylon flight suit. Long sleeves. Gold metal zipper down front chest. Multiple pockets with zippers throughout suit: proper left breast and arm, and legs. Brown leather accents. Circular patch on proper right breast. Rectangular soft black leather name badge fastened with Velcro to proper left breast: printed in silver is image of wings with shield and text. Dimensions60 in. (152.4 cm)
InscriptionsPatch: blue background, embroidered in grey, black, white, browns and red, "CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE / CLEVELAND WING / IF WE CAN DREAM IT WE CAN DO IT".

Rectangular soft black leather name badge on proper left breast has printed text "GHOST SQUADRON / CAF" / "WILLIAM A. JOHNSTON JR. / COLONEL C.A.F."
MarksBrown cloth tag sewn in collar has embroidered in yellow: "SUIT; FLYING VERY LIGHT / TYPEK-2 / SPECIFICATION NO. 3266-8 / SIZE MEDIUM-REGULAR / STOCK NO. S/N 8300-810250 / ORDER NO. 12198 / GREAT LAKES GMT. MFG. CO. / PROPERTY, U.S, GOVERNMENT".
Historical NotesConfederate Air Force flight suit worn by William A. Johnston. Johnston grew up in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Army Air Force at the age of 17 and served as a Second Lieutenant with the Tuskegee Airmen. Following his discharge, he served as an Air Traffic Controller in Pittsburgh for 27 years. Johnston died in Ohio at the age of 79. The Tuskegee Airmen were an African American fighter group trained primarily at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama as a segregated Air Force. Johnston was one of eight Airmen from Sewickley, Pennsylvania. William A. Johnston is the brother of donor Martha Wilkins

Related institution Tuskegee Airmen

Previous owner William A. Johnston Jr. (1926 - 2005)

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