This is the story of First Lieutenant James S. “Pete” Peterson. He served as a P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang fighter pilot during the war. The Air War was an important component to both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operation.

This is First Lieutenant James S. “Pete” Peterson’s flight jacket. While on bomber escort duty over Germany, Pete lost his Mustang during a landing at a damaged Soviet airfield in Poland. He and other American airmen at the base spent the next two months painstakingly salvaging parts from two damaged B-17 bombers to cobble together one working plane to take them back to England.

Here is Pete in a different flight jacket, resting his hand on the propeller of his P-51 "Mustang." Note his leather helmet, tinted goggles, and face mask - all essential equipment for high-altitude flight.

Here you see Pete sitting in his P-51 Mustang. More than 15,000 of these fighter planes were built by North American during World War II and the Korean War. They were equipped with six .50 caliber machine guns and could be outfitted with external fuel tanks for long-range flights. Note the "kill marker" on Pete's canopy: this shows that he destroyed an enemy plane.

After the war, Pete and his family settled near Denver. Notice the squadron emblem painted on the front of the jacket. Flyers were proud of their units and leather flight jackets continue to be iconic pieces of clothing today. Pete wore his at reunions decades after his service.

Leather flight jacket with brown fabric cuffs. Regiment insignia on front right panel. Insignia of a yellow horseshoe with an Ace of Spade with a red lightening bolt through the card. Orange name label above insignia.

Standards for Close-Up: The James S. Peterson Story