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1980 Gibraltar Tanker Jacket

Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
Hi all, just thought I'd mention that I just had the surprise actually of buying a NOS 1980 Gibraltar tanker jacket from London and it's the same contract but NOS as the jacket I bought from Riverside California before a year or so ago. The odds of this is (weird) not sure. Same jacket but NOS. It smells like it has been stored for almost forty years. The only difference is that the left arm zip is different from Scovill that is on the first jacket that I got. Same year same contract. Also the right pocket has a crease in the pocket flap that is also the same in both. I thought this was an annoying thing in the first jacket I bought, but it seems like it is made that way.
 

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Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
I was expecting an Istratex or something like that since it wasn't described. Only as NOS and it turns out it is the NOS of the Gibraltar that I already have. So I'm chuffed as they say. I'm set for tanker jackets. 1980 vintage anyhow.
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Hi all, just thought I'd mention that I just had the surprise actually of buying a NOS 1980 Gibraltar tanker jacket from London and it's the same contract but NOS as the jacket I bought from Riverside California before a year or so ago. The odds of this is (weird) not sure. Same jacket but NOS. It smells like it has been stored for almost forty years. The only difference is that the left arm zip is different from Scovill that is on the first jacket that I got. Same year same contract. Also the right pocket has a crease in the pocket flap that is also the same in both. I thought this was an annoying thing in the first jacket I bought, but it seems like it is made that way.
Please post a photo of the front of this jacket look like layed out flat. Thanks
 

Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
Please post a photo of the front of this jacket look like layed out flat. Thanks

NOS top and used in the bottom pic showing the right pocket flap creased (folded over top corner). I thought maybe it would be for better access to a pen slot or something like that but there is none there. Sorry not the best photos as they were shot in low light.
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watchmanjimg

Well-Known Member
Nice scores! As a tanker during the late 1980s I certainly love these jackets, although on my base they were only issued to aviators. The crease on the pocket flap is purely coincidental and was not placed there intentionally.
 

Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
Nice scores! As a tanker during the late 1980s I certainly love these jackets, although on my base they were only issued to aviators. The crease on the pocket flap is purely coincidental and was not placed there intentionally.
Thanks for the info. Odd that they weren't getting issued to Combat Vehicle Crew at least where you were. I guess the Tankers were issued cover all type suit? Ya, I suppose the pocket crease is a manufacturing anomaly.
 

watchmanjimg

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info. Odd that they weren't getting issued to Combat Vehicle Crew at least where you were. I guess the Tankers were issued cover all type suit? Ya, I suppose the pocket crease is a manufacturing anomaly.

When I served with the 4th Infantry Division the unit was considered low priority and did not receive the latest gear in most cases. Nomex clothing had long been the standard for aircrews but I guess tankers were expected to burn. We had the sateen summer as well as the lined winter mechanic’s coveralls, which were not fire retardant.
 

Ed Rooney

Well-Known Member
The summer weight version of this jacket was my main flight jacket for a lot of years. We flew open doors during the summer in OH-58s, so another layer was often necessary. I had mine done up tanker style, BDU style namestrips, wings and rank sewn on rather than a leather nametag on the nomex hook and loop which never stayed hooked.
 

Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
The summer weight version of this jacket was my main flight jacket for a lot of years. We flew open doors during the summer in OH-58s, so another layer was often necessary. I had mine done up tanker style, BDU style namestrips, wings and rank sewn on rather than a leather nametag on the nomex hook and loop which never stayed hooked.
Got any photos?
 

Ed Rooney

Well-Known Member
I have no summer tanker jacket, but I have a CWU 36-p jacket. Which is a summer for the CWU 45-p.

I never really gave the things that much thought. It was just what everyone had, kind of like a field jacket liner or a poncho.

Each time I got issued new flight gear, it included this summer weight version of the tanker jacket. At Fort Rucker for training they gave me the cold weather tanker jacket and the summer version. At the various units, it was this plus the CWU-45p. At one place, I also got the big parka. I never saw an issued CWU-36p in the Army. Mine was from a relative in the Air Guard, and I kept it until it was literally falling apart (about 11 months for most nomex gear).

Here are some pics from the only eBay auction I could find.

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Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
27790
I know I have a problem. But I think I'm in good company here. Third Gibraltar just came in the other day. When you finally figure out something you like why stop? Seriously though, the third Gibraltar Tanker jacket is going to stay in storage for my old age. How much is too much though? Here is eight jackets, but only the one leather in this closet, I have three more leather elsewhere.
 
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