Three images showing the top side and backing of a World War II era souvenir pillow cover along with the cardboard mailer in which it was packaged. Made of dark blue satin-type fabric and measuring 16 1/2" x 18" with a 2" gold fringe around all four sides, the pillow cover has a gold flocked imprint "U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES... MARCH FIELD, CALIFORNIA" above and below a gold flocked design of spread wings with shield emblem over three stars. The backing is stitched along all edges except the bottom, which is open to receive a pillow. The cardboard mailer, bearing two three-cent United States postage stamps and several strips of clear tape covering small tears, measures approximately 11 3/4" x 6" x 3/4". It has a printed decorative border around all four edges of the top, with an imprinted "greeting" heading a space for a return address. Pillow covers were made to be souvenirs for servicemen to send or bring home to mothers, wives, sisters, and sweethearts. This is an example of a "location" cover which would feature a specific military base or a city where soldiers went on leave. As indicated by the addresses on the mailer, this pillow cover was sent to Mrs. LeMoyne Lambries in Manitowoc, Wisconsin by B. Pawlok, a private stationed at March Field in California with the 399th Bombardment Group, a training replacement unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces. The United States Army Air Forces, the precursor of the U.S. Air Force, existed under this name as a branch of the Army from 1942 to 1947. The 399th Bombardment Group was stationed at March Field from December 3, 1943 to March 31, 1944.
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