Irvin flying jacket : Flight Sergeant R Mansfield, 460 Squadron, RAAF

Brown leather Irvin flying jacket lined with sheepskin. The jacket has a high collar and long sleeves with zippers running from the cuff to the elbow along the inner arm. A triangular leather patch with eight metal ventilation eyelets is located under each arm. The jacket fastens by a brass zip up the centre, and a leather belt with metal buckle at the waist. When turned up, the collar can be secured across the throat by a leather strap and metal buckle. A maker's label on the inside of the jacket, below the collar reads 'SIZE 4. (crown) A.M. JACKET Height...5'8/5'9' Breast...36/38' Waist...32/34' H. 539777.' and is marked with the name 'R MANSFIELD'. Above the label is a metal chain hanging loop. There is a hole on the right shoulder, evidence of an injury sustained by the wearer during air operations.

Irvin flying jacket worn by 420225 Flight Sergeant Ronald Mansfield. Mansfield was born on 27 January 1922 in Hamilton, NSW. He was 19 years old and working as a labourer when he enlisted in the RAAF as an aircraftman on 11 October 1941. After qualifying as a wireless operator/air gunner in October 1942, he was promoted to sergeant and attached to the Royal Air Force, arriving in the United Kingdom in March 1943. Mansfield was promoted to flight sergeant on 15 April and after a period of training joined 460 Squadron, RAAF, on 12 December. The squadron was part of Bomber Command and flew Avro Lancasters from their base in Binbrook, England. Mansfield was aboard Lancaster ND 366 on 22 January 1944 when the aircraft crashed at Whitegate Hill near Caistor, Lincolnshire. He was slightly wounded and his flying jacket was torn on the right shoulder. On the night of 9 April Mansfield was the wireless operator aboard Lancaster ME 727 which was scheduled on a bombing mission to Villeneuve St Georges in France. After taking off, the aircraft tipped to the port side and turned six complete circles in the air, gradually losing height and moving away from the aerodrome. The aircraft finally crashed at Swallow's Wood, approximately one and a half miles from the aerodrome and only six minutes after taking off. Mansfield and all of the crew were killed. It was later established that the aircraft had taken off with the trim incorrectly set. Mansfield's flying jacket was found at the Binbrook RAF base after his death.