Finding an Aviation Legacy Through Captain Martin's Jacket

An old World War II-era leather pilot's jacket presents a thread that leads to unraveling details of his career.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, July 14, 2023 at 11:48 AM ET

Verified

Jack Martin, right, wearing the A-2 flight jacket in an undated photo. [Courtesy: Anne Palmer Martin]

Key Takeaways:

A WWII-era A-2 leather flight jacket, originally belonging to pilot Jack L. Martin, was entrusted to the narrator for preservation and historical research.
Initial research on the jacket and accompanying photos suggests Captain Martin served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, possibly as an instructor, before becoming an airline pilot for Flying Tiger Line.
Martin had a distinguished airline career, flying supplies for the DEW Line in the Arctic and famously commanding the "Rockwell Polar Flight" in 1965, which was the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe via both poles, earning him international awards.
The narrator is actively seeking further information from readers to deepen the historical understanding of Captain Martin's aviation career.

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“I want to give you a family treasure, but only if you want it,” the message from Anne Palmer Martin, a dear college friend began.

The treasure was a World War II-era A-2 leather jacket that belonged to Jack L. Martin, her father-in-law. She never knew him. He died when his son Bob—Anne’s husband—was 13. The jacket had been worn once or twice by Bob, who passed away a few months ago. For the most part, according to Anne, it has been in a closet for more than 20 years.