I still have my uncles bomber jacket. He was a Marine and in Nam in '66-'67, two tours as a gunner on a Huey. I hardly ever wear it as here in so cal, doesn't get all that cold. Also have his old patch, "Bill's Bastards" but it was never on the jacket.
My Pop was a Marine Pilot and flew A6s (Intuders)in Nam 66-68, he gave me his jacket in the 80s and I wore that thing out. After Nam they must have stopped issuing them to pilots because he told me when he got out he would get calls from young pilots wanting to buy his........... I wore that jacket all thru High School and wore out the cuffs....... I wonder if I can get those replaced?
I have many fond memories of winter driving in my roadster with no top back in the 50's. I kept warm as toast in my B4 (M445A) navy flying jacket and matching pants. When they got threadbare and started falling apart after 40 years use, a friend put them on display in his museum.
www.lostworldsinc.com These people seem knowledgeable. They have a collection of old jackets, and may be open to doing repairs. I found them because I have the wants for a real horsehide A2. No other experience and no other connection.
1st: Don't wear it unless for special occasions. 2nd: Keep it in a climate controlled area. 3rd: Don't let the sun get to it.
It's definately a G1, I've got a couple, I'd say yours is fairly early is it looks to have a real fur collar & the talon zipper. Most were goatskin, they have a pebbley grain and are softer than the A2's horsehide. The cuffs & waistband wear away and moths love them. I've got a B3 which has a repair on the front - on the inside there is a perfect bullet hole mark. Lest we forget.... Treat it every now and then with hide food, they don't dry out as much as the leather ones but they still need treating.
Aviation Leathercraft make the A2,G1 and B3...and since the Pound fell out of bed...are real affordable, for anyone overseas. You know exactly how they look: they look great! Youve seen them in the movies, from the classic black and white war films to modern hits like Top Gun - every American pilot wears a dashing and practical American flying jacket. There are three real "classics" in American flying jackets: the A2, worn by the United States Army Air Force; the G1 preferred by United States Navy pilots; and Americas equivalent to the RAF Irvin flying jacket, the sheepskin B3 worn by the United States Army Air Force. And, you wont be surprised or disappointed to learn that we make all three! As youd expect, each jacket is hand-made using the best and most authentic materials with huge amounts of attention being paid to the detail. When you put on your jacket it will immediately feel right, but thats not luck: its something we build in. Its something that comes from years of experience and pride in what we do. Order one of our classic American flying jackets and youll quickly come to understand what we mean. Classic American Flying jackets USAAF A2 Flight Jacket The A2 pilots jacket is the classic, plain collared flying jacket worn by United States Army Air Force pilots. Our beautifully cut jacket is perfect for flying, but ... Item Details USN G1 Flight Jacket Dramatic flights, skill, challenge, ambition and success, all powerful and emotive feelings stirred by films like Top Gun. Youll find that similar emot... Item Details Classic US Army Flying Jacket - Type USAAF B3 These impressive sheepskin jackets would keep pilots warm and alert at sub-zero temperatures. Our American B3 jackets work just as well today, giving you that authentic U.S... Item Details Related items Helmets Leather Pilot Helmet Sheepskin Pilot Helmet Black Millia Motoring Helmet Brown Millia Motoring Helmet Goggles MK8 Royal Air Force Goggle MK9 Aviator Goggle Back to top Guarantee Returns Policy Ordering Shipping Aviation Leathercraft a Division of Moto-Lita Ltd. Thruxton Industrial Estate, Hampshire, SP11 8PW, England Designed Website
Is that a fancy word for "talk"??? Perhaps "converse" might have been a better choice if you wanted to get fancy.
I've got the exact same jacket, down to the similar wear on the collar. Bought it new in an Army-Navy store in Passaic, New Jersey in 1969. Gave it to my 26 yr. old son last year. He loves it.
The jackets posted in these threads with the fur collars are G-1's . A descendant of the m-422 and m-422a. the G-1 moniker usually didn't start showing up on G-1 flight jackets till 62 or so. The one with the AAF decal is an A-2 but I have never seen one with a decal on the wearers right shoulder. Typically these decals were applied when the jackets were turned in and reconditioned after someone's tour and then re-issued to the next pilot. Remember they were still property of the US government. Eastman has a great reputation for being some of the best creators of vintage apparel related for the flight jacket industry for some time and their historical knowledge is pretty stunning. But there are still quite a number of Americans who hold this knowledge as well and as far as Eastman or the "far east" companies being the best .... not any more. The Goodwear Leather Coat Co. out of Seattle has been making the Finest if not the most accurate and historically correct reproductions of the A-2 flight jacket for over 2 years now...... and they ladies and gentleman have NO EQUAL in terms of knowledge backing it up and good ol homegrown made here in the USA product. I have been a vintage clothing collector for some time now and have my fair share of original and reproductions flight jackets as I paint them as a good way to "keep em flying" and a great source of hot rod funds. I have seen or owned all of the repro companies jackets ever made and have seen and taken photos of every original ww2 jacket company MFR. to create one back in the day. This is as good as it gets for an A-2 boys and girls. Peep them at www.goodwearleather.com/pages/index.html My painted jacket link is below. Thanks for your time and if you have any close up photos of the labels or zippers post them and I can tell you when the jacket was made pretty much to the year. Rome
dudes, I'll settle this once & for all, that is one of the following, either a cheap "Members Only" copy or a phony "London Fog" reproduction! YOu can take that to the bank. Seriously, The Rome knows his Military Jackets fellow HAMBERS. Like SUPER NERD style, it's an obsession w/the dude. Plus he is really good at painting naked ladies & swastikas on them. Olde Timey WWII fun. Love, Carl
Yes, converse is proper. So is ANAL! There are way to many english teachers in the automotive hobby. I was just sharing a story about a bomber jacket. You, on the other hand, are just thread jacking. With 13,683 posts, It looks to me you have a serious problem keeping things to yourself. Back to class post whores. And people wonder why I never show my work here.
Not to nitpick, but I'd like to point out a few things here. What you've written sounds like he was in the 23rd FG, also the Flying Tigers but NOT the AVG (American Volunteer Group). The 23rd FG absorbed the AVG in July '42. Their blood chits would have had 2 flags, the American and the Chinese flags, while the AVG blood chit would have only had the China flag. And the AVG flew the early P-40s (B and C) only. P-51s didn't come until later, in the 23rd FG. Lots of guys said they were in the Flying Tigers. And they were. But only a handful were ever in the AVG, the original Flying Tigers. That's cool you got to talk to him. You're lucky! And 2 thumbs up for CheaterRome. He knows his stuff! .
I have a leather flight jacket that I bought in'65 from some surplus outfit. If anyone is interested contact me. It's a freebie.
My Uncle Ernie, still wearing his jacket. He flew Photo Recon in FM-2 Wildcats, F6F-5P Hellcats and F8F-1P Bearcats during WWII.
I looked a little better at the photo of the A-2 on the chair . I didn't realize it was facing to the left. The jacket's AAF decal is on the correct shoulder. WHO- HOoo. It looks as it was just given the decal treatment and not re -spray colored or dyed. If the jacket label is worn out or no longer there because of re-lining shoot me some pics of the pockets and collar along with the zipper and I can tell you who made it. There is some really great reference out there for flight jacket stuff. The aforementioned Goodwear leather coat company as I posted in the link above, plus all of these. www.vintageleatherjackets.org/index.php www.thefedoralounge.com/index.php www.lostworldsinc.com/ www.acmedepot.com/ www.aeroleatherclothing.com/ www.eastmanleather.com/ JAPANESE SITES. www.realmccoys.co.jp/ http://www.toyo-enterprise.co.jp/ http://warartcolors.com/ Jacket nerds unite. Jerome
do you have any suggestions on where i can get my granpops a-2 restored needs new cuffs and waist and the leather to be revived
so since this thread is still going figure I'd just chime in and share my view on uniforms and the wearing of.. Its sorta like wearing another Car Clubs jacket that you dont belong to. If you havn't earned it don't wear it
x2 Yes, they are still issueing them. Mine was issued to me in '87 and an officemate got his in flight school in '98.
I've tried to buy B3's on occasion but they are usually in really bad shape-the leather rotted quickly. The G1's seemed to last much longer due to different material. I did find a good, solid pair of the sheepskin lined pants a few years ago but they were too small. I keep thinking I'm going to get a repo B3 someday buy it hasn't happened yet; maybe now is a good time. A good leather repair place (on that does motorcycle leather repair) should be able to repair your worn out cloth parts and zippers.
As a WWII nut, I have to say I agree with you in spirit - but why should'nt I enjoy period /vintage style clothing ? To say that is kinda lame, kinda like saying if you're not a hot rod pioneer back in the day, don't build or drive a lakes styled roadster. WTF ?? Seriously.....those who know me well know that I have the utmost respect for our veterans and their sacrifices - the Greatest Generation. Friends and family of mine have served. What you are saying essentially is that by wearing such an item of clothing, that it demeans their sacrifice. Rubbish I say. Veterans would be proud to see younger generations keeping the flame alive for future generations; wearing these items of clothing simply brings people closer to a time that they never got to experience. And whats the harm in that ? OK so I am jacket nerd....I love my B3 replica....yes, replica. Although I would love an original, I cant justify whats being asked for clapped out, moth eaten geuine WWII jacket. Even though I'd love one, thats money I'd rather sink into speed parts haha !! Still love mine.....very good quality and has held up well over the years. Rat
The "b-3" or the actual Shearling Bomber jackets are to be approached with caution. VERY rarely do you find them in a condition that will not deteriorate rapidly ( read blow apart). During wartime they applied a coating to the sheepskin that was oil and gas and chemically resistant. This in turn did not allow the sheepskin to naturally breath and the sheepskin would just dry up and fall apart. You can find the occasional hermetically sealed b-3 that seems mint but beware especially if it is a navy m-444 or 445(a) they will just fall apart even if they look mint. The earliest b-3's (read pre war) did not have this coating and can be found in good condition sometimes and can be worn as much as a 70 year old garment can....CAREFULLY and not frequently. They can usually be distinguished by their reddish coloring on the leather side of the sheepskin. On the other hand the WW2 british IRVIN sheepskin jacket never had these coatings and usally when found are quite wearable. Anyway the best route to go in a b-3 is reproduction. Either the LOST WORLD one or an EASTMAN "redskin" My Lost Worlds B-3 is 8 years old now and is as great as the day I bought it and possibly the warmest jacket ever created . Yea they are actually still issuing the g-1's. Even though the quality really isn't there in terms of manufacture as compared to the older g-1's The quality of mfr. really starts to fall off after the 1968-70 issue dates on the navy g-1 The companies that mfr. the jackets that I mentioned above make some really nice ones..but reality speaking nothing beats having yours issued to you. It's MUCH cheaper. And all of the dudes and duduettes that really earned their wings ... you really can't have more of an authentic memento. Rome
No I respectfully disagree .If the AAF and Navy didn't want you wearing them why are they available at surplus outfits? I think you might have it confused with wearing of rank and with that I agree..that and wearing marine corps stuff. You gotta volunteer for that stuff. Jerome
I just picked up one at an estate sale in the S.F. Bay Area. I almost fainted when the young guy running the sale said $5. I also picked up a black motorcycle jacket there for another five. They are still out there forks. Don't pass up any garage or estate sales. Gary
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