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Original, WW2, US Army Air Forces 'Sweetheart' Decorative Pilot's Seat Cushion Cover (69th Infantry Reg't). Sn 6303. - 6303 In the cramped confines of their combat conditions, WW2 USAAF Fighter and Bomber Pilot's together with Air Crew often found comfort in having mementos of their loved ones and comrades onboard their Aircraft. It became popular for Pilot's and Aircrew to have custom made, colourful decorative loose cushion covers with images, slogans and sometimes poems dedicated to Wives, Family, friends and Comrades fitted to their seat pads/cushions (some types of seat cushion were also attached to their parachute which would be housed in a recess beneath their seat). A broad variety of designs became available during the War Years and became so popular with Servicemen from all Services that Army PX's sold these cushion covers alongside other supplies for practical use or mementos to send home. ( PX's (Post Exchanges) were retail stores similar to British Forces NAAFI's which are in effect shops for Servicemen at Army, Navy and Air Force bases). This silk cover measures 17 inches x 17 inches. The front is silver colour with blue and red printed images and lettering. The images consists of the Red and Blue Insignia of the New York, 69th Infantry Regiment, surmounted by the words 'FIGHTING 69th'. To the side of the insignia stand 2 figures. On the left is the blue printed image of a War of Independance/ Civil War Militia man and to the right a World Wars Infantryman. A Poem entitled 'To My Wife' in red lettering (illustrated), features in the centre of the cover below which 'CAMP SHELBY. MISS' is printed in blue. The cover is edged in gold and red coloured stitching with small gold and red silk tassles. The back of the cover is plain sky blue silk. The cover is in good, totally undamaged condition with all stitching intact. "The Fighting 69th" became the 69th Infantry Division motto after the troops passed their first test of battle with flying colours—going into the front lines on February 11, 1945, and quickly smashing through the vaunted Westwall, dubbed the "Siegfried Line" by American and British troops. Price for this attractive rare item to a famous U.S. Infantry Division includes UK delivery. (An original WW2, USAAF, Pilot's seat cushion/ Parachute pad is available separatley on this web site.) Sn 6303. £125.00
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