Eastman Leather Clothing Company Reproduction USN GI Jacket. "Pukin Dogs" Vietnam.

Showing only the slightest signs of ever having been worn, this is a superb reproduction Jacket by the Eastman Clothing Company of a Vietnam period US Navy Jacket, and is still a current line produced by them.

Marketed by Eastman Clothing as, JACKET - Type G-1, VF-143 ‘Pukin Dogs’ Lt JG Hickey - Vietnam MiG Killer, this example is made in goatskin with a nylon lining and labelled as a size 46 but more likely a perfect fit for a size 42" chest, and is free from damage or wear other than a darn to one cuff.

History of the Pukin Dogs. VF-143 ‘Pukin' Dogs’ was originally commissioned in 1949 as VF-871 and were known as the ‘Griffins’ (due to the fact that the creature depicted on their emblem was just that). However, upon a visitation by the unit commander’s wife one day, when asked what she thought of the design, she exclaimed “it looks like a pukin’ dog”. The pilots loved her candid observation and decided from then on that that would be the new nickname for their unit.

On 20 June,1962, the squadron was redesignated VF-143 and transitioned to the F4H-1 Phantom II jet fighters.

Operating as part of CVW-14 in 1963 the squadron became involved in the Gulf of Tonkin incident and flew in the Pierce Arrow attacks on North Vietnamese naval facilities on 5 August 1964. In total they recorded seven combat deployments to Vietnam.

On the 26th October 1967 LTJG Robert P. Hickey “ Burner Bob” joined the coveted ranks of those known as ‘Mig Killers’, when he downed a MiG-21 during a Combat Air Patrol near Hanoi. Hickey was awarded the Silver Star for his efforts and was also bestowed with an award for gallantry by the Republic of South Vietnam. He later went on to become an Admiral.

Historical description courtesy of Gary Eastman.