Captain & Rear Admiral John J. Ballentine’s Navy Leather Coat, Blue Cover, Signed Photo, etc.

Rear Admiral John J. Ballentine’s Navy Leather Coat, Blue Cover, Signed Photo, etc.  I have looked “out there” for other coats of this make, and fine that they are hard to come by, particularly in super condition.  The size 40 is above average for those on the market currently.  The label reads, ” Coats, Aircraft Transport / BuAero – U.S. Navy / Specification M-69 F.” It has the brown faux color, waist belt, and the addition of Admiral Ballentine’s printed leather name tag. Beneath this tag are holes from a previously sewn tag, likely Ballentine’s captain’s rank.  This definitely  places the first use of this coat during Ballentine’s initial command of the U.S.S. Bunker Hill, CV-17, an Essex class carrier also nicknamed “The Holliday Inn.” She was launched one year to the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1942, and Ballentine was her first Skipper.

Included in the lot his his blue cover admiral’s cap, a photo of him wearing this coat (or another- we had both), and signed at the bottom, “To Suz with all my love, Bally  6/30/42.”  Then captain, he had command of the first Navy flat top carrier, U.S.S. Long Island from December of ’41 to April of ’42. (Long Island was the carrier that delivered all the initial aircraft to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Ballentine had transferred to the U.S.S. Ranger which took part in the Allied invasion of French North Africa).

The last item is a certificate Neptunus Rex for Ballentine’s first crossing of the Equator while aboard Ranger.

The coat is in super condition, the cap shows some wear, toning to the bullion, other wise very good -fine, and their is no name inside (these admirals don’t realize how important it is to collectors to see this! Beside the condition, and scarcity of this material, the history is fabulous.

I’m asking under the money for unidentified items, and not including in the price this historic value.

I will do better on price if it goes with Admiral Ballentine’s lot relating to his service on U.S.S. Bunker Hill, listed currently on site.