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*Newbie* Post Leather Nametape

SParra82

New Member
Hi everyone! I've been on this forum for a little while now and I absolutely love it! I've read so much and gained so much great info. Like other forums that I am on I do not usually post questions until I've searched every possible match for an answer. Which is where I am now... I recently bought a reproduction Cooper Sportswear A-2 (goat leather), size 48L, year unknown, slight wear (pics to follow). The kicker is that I found it just by luck at a thrift store for..... $33.00! Yeah I couldn't say no because I was looking at FiveStar for a looong time. Onto the question though... Is there a regulation for placement of the leather name plate? I know some pilots in WWII probably said "just slap it on the left side of my jacket." But was there a general rule? Thanks for all the help!
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
On A2 jackets the placement of the name tag was basically in a general area of the upper left breast . However it was done by a parachute rigger or a supply grunt and there was no extreme accuracy in its placement . Here’s a couple of photos of original A2 jackets, that you can use as a guide .
A6081A7C-4E3E-4B00-A9DE-502038AEC106.jpeg
550A07B2-833B-48B4-BE81-A6B451745CF0.jpeg
9F0A2E2A-E1F2-44BE-A3AA-2B50FA5BAD29.jpeg
As you can see they’re all over the place , so just pick your spot around those areas and you’ll be in the ballpark . I’d suggest just one thing ... put it on with double sided tape first, so you can see if you’re happy with it before you have it sewn on.
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Perfect thank you so much! Off I go to the tailor!
Ahhhh .... not sure if you missed the part about using double sided tape and taping it to the jacket for a couple of days first. Just to see if you’re happy with it. Once you sew it down it’s done . You have holes in your jacket and if you don’t like it’s placement .. too bad. I would strongly suggest you take this advise before going to the tailor.
 

foster

Well-Known Member
Placement can also be important if you decide (now or later) to put a squadron patch on the jacket as well.
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
I believe I saw something in a 40's AAF manual specifying exactly where these should go. The measurements/direction did not seem to take into consideration a squadron patch. So, good placement for the name tag but IMO, it made the squadron patch too low on the jackets. That said, no idea where exactly I saw this and in reality, all over the map during wartime!
 

stanier

Well-Known Member
On A2 jackets the placement of the name tag was basically in a general area of the upper left breast . However it was done by a parachute rigger or a supply grunt and there was no extreme accuracy in its placement . Here’s a couple of photos of original A2 jackets, that you can use as a guide . View attachment 44132View attachment 44133View attachment 44134As you can see they’re all over the place , so just pick your spot around those areas and you’ll be in the ballpark . I’d suggest just one thing ... put it on with double sided tape first, so you can see if you’re happy with it before you have it sewn on.
Oh wow, and blow me, I wonder who sewed the tag and patch on the A-2 in the first pic? Mr Magoo?

I can imagine the conversation when the wearer collected it from the rigger.... "I hope I'm a better aim with my weapon than your are with your sewing machine..." honestly, I wonder who the flip did that?!
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Oh wow, and blow me, I wonder who sewed the tag and patch on the A-2 in the first pic? Mr Magoo?

I can imagine the conversation when the wearer collected it from the rigger.... "I hope I'm a better aim with my weapon than your are with your sewing machine..." honestly, I wonder who the flip did that?!
Hahaha
Looks like he was having a bad day at the sewing machine.
 
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