American Historical Ephemera and Photography Featuring the Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

Dark brown leather G-1 bomber jacket. Interior label below coat hook reads: "Bureau of Aeronautics USN / Flight Jacket, Intermediate, G-1 / Specification No. Mil-J-7823 (AER) / L.W.Foster Sportswear Co., Inc. / Contract No. DA-36-243-QM (CTM) 2312 / Size 40." To the right chest is sewn a 5 3/8 x 5 7/8 in. embroidered patch of the "Headquarters Squadron Air FMFPAC" with four quadrants. At left breast sewn leather patch identifies coat to owner "Carson A Roberts / Lt. Gen. USMC."

Coat leather still soft and malleable with a few small abrasions and one small loss at back top below collar.  Retains all buttons including at stand-and-fall collar. Patch with some loose threads. Interior lining intact with some small holes near collar and shoulders, but jacket  generally in very good condition.

[With:] A group of 16 black-and-white and color photographs ranging in size from approx. 8 x 10 in. to 5 x 7 in., featuring images of Roberts in uniform, flight suit, and participating in a USMC ceremony.

[Also with:] One binder housing biographical material related to Roberts including a 122pp oral history typescript from a 1971 interview with the general. A second binder houses original letters with citations conferred upon Roberts and signed by multiple military officers including Secretaries of the Navy John L. Sullivan and Robert Anderson.

Lieutenant General Carson Abel Roberts (1905-1983) was commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1929 upon his graduation from the University of Wisconsin. After completing flight training and becoming a Marine Aviator in 1934 he embarked upon an impressive, decades-long military career. Roberts served with distinction in WWII participating in three Pacific campaigns and earning two Bronze Stars with Combat "V."  He was in charge of the "Future Plans Section of Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific" from March through August 1945 in which capacity he planned for employment of units to Okinawa and against the island of Japan. He served in four Korean campaigns for which he received the Legion of Merit with the Combat "V" and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in leading close air strikes. His citation reads: "By skillful airmanship with and with complete disregard for his personal safety, pressing his attack to dangerously low altitude, he accurately place his load of fragmentation bombs on entrenched enemy troops...his aggressive leadership, efficient action, and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." He served in multiple staff and command positions after the Korean War. On 1 July 1962, Roberts was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and assumed command of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC). FMFPAC, established in 1944, is the largest maritime landing force in the world. Roberts served the FMFPAC until his retirement on 1 March 1964. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.