Title
Leather Flight Jacket of Arnold McKechnie
Description
A brown leather flight jacket with a fur collar worn by Captain Arnold McKechnie on the USS Yorktown (CVA-10). Sewn onto the jacket are several service patches including an aviator's nametag patch on the left breast, the Mercury Head Liberty dime patch on the right chest front, Task Force 77 Korea patch on the left sleeve, and the US Naval Air Station San Diego on right sleeve.
Collection
Arnold W. McKechnie Collection
Context
Captain Arnold McKechnie served as the captain of the USS Yorktown (CVA-10) in 1953. Because aircraft carrier captains must be Naval airmen, all captains will have an issued leather flight jacket.
Arnold McKechnie began his career in the Navy after graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1927. A man of many interests, McKechnie entered Submarine School in 1930. After earning his dolphins, McKechnie entered flight training in 1934. Upon earning his pilot's wings, McKechnie served aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in Scouting Squadron Two.
A seasoned pilot by the time the United States entered World War II, McKechnie served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) before being made commander of the Transition Training Squadron Atlantic (TTSA). The TTSA was a training squadron created to aid newly graduated naval aviators in patrol plane operations.
After World War II, McKechnie would in turn become the commanding officer of the USS Bairoko, the USS Badoeng Straight, and the USS Yorktown (CVA-10). After leaving the Yorktown in 1954, Captain McKechnie became the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station (NAS), San Diego.
Arnold McKechnie retired as a Rear Admiral on November 1, 1961, from his role as Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training.
Arnold McKechnie began his career in the Navy after graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1927. A man of many interests, McKechnie entered Submarine School in 1930. After earning his dolphins, McKechnie entered flight training in 1934. Upon earning his pilot's wings, McKechnie served aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in Scouting Squadron Two.
A seasoned pilot by the time the United States entered World War II, McKechnie served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) before being made commander of the Transition Training Squadron Atlantic (TTSA). The TTSA was a training squadron created to aid newly graduated naval aviators in patrol plane operations.
After World War II, McKechnie would in turn become the commanding officer of the USS Bairoko, the USS Badoeng Straight, and the USS Yorktown (CVA-10). After leaving the Yorktown in 1954, Captain McKechnie became the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station (NAS), San Diego.
Arnold McKechnie retired as a Rear Admiral on November 1, 1961, from his role as Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training.
Accession #
2014.0039
Lexicon
Legacy Lexicon
Primary Object Name
LEATHER FLIGHT JACKET
