President John F. Kennedy’s personal G-1 bomber jacket is going to be auctioned through Profiles in History on July 23, 2020 in Los Angeles. It is expected to sell for $250,000-$300,000.
Kennedy bought the jacket on December 5, 1962 and it will be sold with the original official U.S. Navy invoice for the purchase of “3 Flight jackets sold to Pres US.”
He wore the jacket on the Presidential yacht, Honey Fitz, where it was found on November 27, 1963 after he was assassinated. It was then sent to White House Staff member Lieutenant Henry E. Hirschy, Jr., who served during the Kennedy Administration.
The jacket will also be sold with a handwritten note that reads, “From Honey Fitz 11/27/63” listing two flight jackets among the President’s personal clothing. The note states that all the personal items were to be sent to Lt. Hirschy in Washington, D.C.
Along with the invoice and note, the jacket will be accompanied by Hirschy’s White House Staff badge, U.S. Naval Base, Newport, RI 1963 temporary pass listing Hirschy as “White House Staff,” Hirschy’s U.S. Department of the Interior official parking permit listing his official address as The White House, and a signed Letter of Provenance from Priscilla Hirschy attesting that Kennedy’s leather G-1 bomber jacket comes directly from the family of Lieutenant Henry E. Hirschy, Jr. SC United States Navy.
A video of JFK aboard the Honey Fitz wearing the bomber jacket is available on YouTube.