Do folks in the Air Force of Navy wear Repros?

I have a question.

Does anybody who is Active Duty Navy or Air Force pull off wearing a Repro G-1 or A-2?

I know it's not regulation, but was wondering if anyone did it with a close patterned modern Reproduction Jacket?

Why bust or ruin one you have paid for..

I live near a large Air Force Base and have seen a good amount of air force personnel wearing leather A2's, but most seem to be current issue " The Cockpit" style jackets with rank insignia and name tags. Nothing that looks like a WW2 style repo. They look pretty good though.

i have heard that some of the USN/USMC guys buy jackets from Gibson & Barnes, especially unusual sizes. also, some of them (in the past) purchased WEP jackets from G&B since they are no longer issued.

Thanx for the replies. I thought maybe the G-1 guys would be able to pull it off.

ausreenactor said:

Why bust or ruin one you have paid for..

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Exactly.

My experience in the USN tells me that the G-1 would have to have the Dynel (Fake) fur collar to be worn. The USN is really big on uniformity with gear and uniforms. Really only the Prop plane crews wear the G-1's now and it's difficult for them due to the survival vest. I saw one aircrewman wearing one on preflight walkaround one time, unzipped. I don't know if you could get it zipped over the flight gear. Also on the plane I worked on, The E-2c Hawkye, you sit on the parachute and essentially strap into the parachute when you get into your seat. So you probably could not wear it in flight, but not sure maybe you could strap in over it. It's a whole lot of gear to get a G-1 over but you could possible wear it under the vest:

Skyhawk said:

My experience in the USN tells me that the G-1 would have to have the Dynel (Fake) fur collar to be worn. The USN is really big on uniformity with gear and uniforms. Really only the Prop plane crews wear the G-1's now and it's difficult for them due to the survival vest. I saw one aircrewman wearing one on preflight walkaround one time, unzipped. I don't know if you could get it zipped over the flight gear. Also on the plane I worked on, The E-2c Hawkye, you sit on the parachute and essentially strap into the parachute when you get into your seat. So you probably could not wear it in flight, but not sure maybe you could strap in over it. It's a whole lot of gear to get a G-1 over but you could possible wear it under the vest:

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Thanx for that info!

Skyhawk said:

My experience in the USN tells me that the G-1 would have to have the Dynel (Fake) fur collar to be worn. The USN is really big on uniformity with gear and uniforms. Really only the Prop plane crews wear the G-1's now and it's difficult for them due to the survival vest. I saw one aircrewman wearing one on preflight walkaround one time, unzipped. I don't know if you could get it zipped over the flight gear. Also on the plane I worked on, The E-2c Hawkye, you sit on the parachute and essentially strap into the parachute when you get into your seat. So you probably could not wear it in flight, but not sure maybe you could strap in over it. It's a whole lot of gear to get a G-1 over but you could possible wear it under the vest:

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In any case, they don't look as comfy today with all those straps, buckles, and good lord, parachute straps all cinched up! Guys in WW2 sometimes wore the M-422 under their flight suit with the collar out. (Yes, I know you don't want loose straps but, ooph)

My experience is somewhat dated, but I think that in all but extreme cases, any A-2 repro could be worn unnoticed unless one encounters a fanatic jacket-head, like one of us. The proper name tag and major command patch would have to be worn, of course, but as long as they are there and no unauthorized patches or insignia, no one would notice. I remember one guy in our unit had been given an Avirex for his birthday by his wife and daughter (around 1990, well after we were all wearing Coopers), and wore it unquestioned without any name tag, patch, or other insignia. Another guy in our unit (we were USAF) had picked up a great vintage G-1, complete with squadron patches, and wore it with wild abandon; he received nothing but compliments and admiration (I think it may have been his father's or uncle's or grandfather's jacket). But seriously, as long as the jacket is A-2-ish, and the color is close to the current issue, I don't think anyone would notice. Like the 1940s jackets, there are rampant variations among the different contracts in modern A-2s (1987 - present), and anything that didn't look quite right to someone would probably be dismissed as something from an earlier (or brand new) contract. Again, though, this begs the question, "Why?" As stated above, why would anyone plunge a needle into an expensive repro to make it look modern, when one is issued (for free) the proper jacket with Velcro and insignia already on it? And to agree with another comment above, I noticed even "back then" that it was only us "prop" guys (C-130s) that wore the A-2 in flight, though I'm sure most airlifters, tanker toads, rotorheads, and others that didn't have to squeeze into small cockpits or sit on ejection seats probably wore their A-2s as well. I mean, why show up for a great TDY in a green Nomex issue when you can show up in a spiffy A-2 and strut with it into the hotel bar?

Oh, and to address the Gibson & Barnes G-1 question, I have been told recently by the guys at China Lake that a "team" from G&B shows up there once a year or so to fit everyone for one of their repro G-1s (which have to be paid for out of the member's own pocket). This implies that the command looks the other way and probably condones it. Though just a repro and not an issue, I will agree with anyone who says the G&B G-1 is by far the best G-1 out there. I'll be buying one soon.

herk115 said:

Oh, and to address the Gibson & Barnes G-1 question, I have been told recently by the guys at China Lake that a "team" from G&B shows up there once a year or so to fit everyone for one of their repro G-1s (which have to be paid for out of the member's own pocket). This implies that the command looks the other way and probably condones it. Though just a repro and not an issue, I will agree with anyone who says the G&B G-1 is by far the best G-1 out there. I'll be buying one soon.

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I have a G&B 422a and a LW G-1, Had an Aero 422a, hated it.

I also owned the Nice Ed Church seen here: http://moorecustom.com/jackets/M-422a_Church_46.htm

I liked them all for sure. Don't sell the LW G-1 short though. Very comfortable and supple jacket.

Bang for the Buck and safe bet is for sure the G&B

What was the issue with the Aero 422A?

Cocker said:

What was the issue with the Aero 422A?

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Leather was pebbly but very stiff. That wasn't the problem though. The pattern was just terrible. There was something about the way the arms and armholes fit that made it VERY uncomfortable to wear and everytime you raised an arm, the whole jacket moved up with it.

I've had maybe 10 Navy Jackets, none were like it. In my experience Navy Jackets are really comfortable to wear, except for that Aero I had.

I haven't been impressed with Aero goat either.

I ended up with 4 goat keepers.

A LW G-1, a G&B 422a, and a Langlitz Padded Pocket Columbia in Brown Goat. Ohhh and one Aero Goat A-2, it's painted by Jerome Urbaniak, so I kept it.

Here's the Goat A-2, it's on Jerome's PictureTrail

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/8795260

A few years ago I sold a Johnson Leathers (civilian/non-reg w/handwarmer pockets) M-120 flight jacket to a guy in the Air Force. He told me he planned on wearing it on base. No idea if he ever got away with it.

Wonder if you could wear "Old" issue like an Original Rough Wear or that Ed Church I pointed to?

@les_garten , well received!

les_garten said:

Wonder if you could wear "Old" issue like an Original Rough Wear or that Ed Church I pointed to?

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Probably not in the AF, unless it was a seal brown color. Anything like russet would stick out like a sore thumb and people would question it.

Monsoon said:

Probably not in the AF, unless it was a seal brown color. Anything like russet would stick out like a sore thumb and people would question it.

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I had a Cooper just to have it, but felt it was so bad, I dumped it.

Les, in both the Marine Corps and Navy, repro, vintage, and modified issued jackets are all worn. In fact I wore all types while I was on active duty. I prefer vintage originals, but many repro (G&B, Osan specials, and high end manufactures) are all represented. Unfortunately only a few aircraft types actually use these jackets while flying.

Cheers,
Mowgli