USAAS Duck Cloth Flying Coat

[Smithy]

This is a real long shot but if you never ask you'll never know...

Does anyone know whether anyone makes a repro of the duck cloth flying coat used by the USAAS during WWI?

As some of you know the RFC and RAF are my core interests so this is outside what I know about but I've wanted one for awhile now and with winter well and truly here the urge is back.

Originals are rare as hen's teeth and there's no way you could wear one anyway so a repro it must be but I have no idea whether anyone has ever produced one.

 

[Smithy]

No luck guys?

If it helps, here's a pic of Eddie Rickenbacker wearing one with a chum in same...

...and a reenactor wearing an original...

This is looking more and more like it might have to be a project for Shawn.

I've got a lot of photos of these flying coats.

 

[MaydayWei]

I think Buzz Rickson’s does a similar barnstormer style with a canvas outside and sheepskin inner and collar in a double breasted configuration with belt. But that’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen to those pics!

 

[Smithy]

I think Buzz Rickson’s does a similar barnstormer style with a canvas outside and sheepskin inner and collar in a double breasted configuration with belt. But that’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen to those pics!

I don't think I know the BR jacket you're talking about but if you have some photos of it please post them. I didn't think that BR had reproduced any WWI flying coats.

I have a large interest and even specialised in British WWI flying kit at the museum I worked at and whilst I'm no expert on US kit I do know that this coat was issued in the last 3 or 4 months of the war and would love to have a version of it.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I’ve had a trawl around, and it doesn’t look like anyone is making such a thing-probably a fairly niche market I would imagine. Nearest thing I’ve come across is the old Swedish Army M-1909. I know it’s not what you’re after, but I’d have thought that would be the very fellow up your way!

 

[Micawber]

If you can track down cutting patterns of it or something similar then it would be possible to get one made that included the specifics of that type. It's a long coat of a type that was common in the civvy sector as a motoring or motorbike coat but with detail adaptations. I used to have several large volumes of patterns dating back to the early 20th century but have not seen them for a long time, there were long coat patterns like that in there. It would be e a fun project to take on, I did the same when I wanted a certain type of obsolete civvy jacket made up.

 

[Smithy]

Thanks chaps!

 

[MaydayWei]

@Smithy
Sorry, not BR! It's a style done by both RMC or Freewheelers.
It's not exactly what you're looking for. But it's somewhat visually similar.

Some examples:

新品 フリーホイーラーズ " WINTER AVIATION... - Yahoo!オークション

フリーホイーラーズの "WINTER AVIATION COAT" です。 素材：表地 ヘヴィウエイト モールスキン（コットン100%)　　　裏地 アルパカウールパイル（ウール80%、アルパカ20%） 　色：YARN-DYED KHAKI サイズ：42 実寸：着丈：85ｃｍ 身幅：60ｃｍ 肩幅：52ｃｍ袖丈：66ｃｍ 状態：新品未使用 価格：154000円 申し訳ございませんが、マイナスの評価が多い方、評価が新規の方のご入札は取り消させて頂く場合がございます。 ノークレーム・ノーリター

page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp

2J6112/ジョーマッコイ アバランチコート JOE McCOY - Yahoo!オークション

商品について 在庫について 全ての商品ではございませんが、 自社通販サイト赤富士屋洋服店オンライン本店でも販売をしている場合がございます為、 （オンライン本店のみ10,000円以上お買上げで送料無料※ヤフオク店では不可) 多少のお時間差にて欠品となります場合がございます。 何卒ご了承をお願い申し上げます。 アイテム名 ジョーマッコイ アバランチコート カラー ネイビー サイズ サイズ（34）肩幅（約45cm）袖丈（約60cm）脇幅（約52cm）着丈（約72cm） 商品サイズの計測方法は、こちらをご参照くだ

page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp

 

[ausreenactor]

@Smithy
Sorry, not BR! It's a style done by both RMC or Freewheelers.
It's not exactly what you're looking for. But it's somewhat visually similar.

Some examples:

新品 フリーホイーラーズ " WINTER AVIATION... - Yahoo!オークション

フリーホイーラーズの "WINTER AVIATION COAT" です。 素材：表地 ヘヴィウエイト モールスキン（コットン100%)　　　裏地 アルパカウールパイル（ウール80%、アルパカ20%） 　色：YARN-DYED KHAKI サイズ：42 実寸：着丈：85ｃｍ 身幅：60ｃｍ 肩幅：52ｃｍ袖丈：66ｃｍ 状態：新品未使用 価格：154000円 申し訳ございませんが、マイナスの評価が多い方、評価が新規の方のご入札は取り消させて頂く場合がございます。 ノークレーム・ノーリター

page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp

2J6112/ジョーマッコイ アバランチコート JOE McCOY - Yahoo!オークション

商品について 在庫について 全ての商品ではございませんが、 自社通販サイト赤富士屋洋服店オンライン本店でも販売をしている場合がございます為、 （オンライン本店のみ10,000円以上お買上げで送料無料※ヤフオク店では不可) 多少のお時間差にて欠品となります場合がございます。 何卒ご了承をお願い申し上げます。 アイテム名 ジョーマッコイ アバランチコート カラー ネイビー サイズ サイズ（34）肩幅（約45cm）袖丈（約60cm）脇幅（約52cm）着丈（約72cm） 商品サイズの計測方法は、こちらをご参照くだ

page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp

Pretty close!

 

[CBI]

ww2 Sheepskin fur flight jacket

corduroy but kinda cool

 

[Micawber]

ww2 Sheepskin fur flight jacket

corduroy but kinda cool

Close, I like it.

The USAAS coat is in that often to be seen slightly shorterthan 'duster' style. A basic 3/4 length double-breasted overcoat popular at the time in an enormous range of various fabrics, leathers, weights and detail differences.

 

[warguy]

I don’t know, to me that winter aviation coat looks more like the winter coat used by the Marines in China in the 1930’s. Almost an exact replica of that one down to the leather trim around the pocket.

 

[Smithy]

I don’t know, to me that winter aviation coat looks more like the winter coat used by the Marines in China in the 1930’s. Almost an exact replica of that one down to the leather trim around the pocket.

The RMC one that MaydayWei posted in the link could very well be but I don't know enough about US Marine things to comment.

The coat I am interested in and in the photos above was a USAAS issue flying coat for use with Western Front based units introduced in spring/summer 1918.

 

[warguy]

Yeah I follow, and I admire the one you are looking for as well. I have collected Marine Corps items for a decade and recently did an instructional post on the US Militaria Forum on the cold weather jackets worn by the Marines in China in the 30’s and Iceland in 1941 and 42. I have one of each original in my collection. I am certain the RMC one posted in the link above is intended to be a repro of one of those and IMO not a faithful reproduction of the USAAS issue flying coat you are after. I just thought I would mention it. I’ll be watching because if you find a good repro of that WWI flying coat, I will be right on your heels. Nice looking jacket!

 

[Smithy]

I’ll be watching because if you find a good repro of that WWI flying coat, I will be right on your heels. Nice looking jacket!

Sadly but unsurprisingly no one appears to have made, nor currently make a repro of it. Whereas with WWII where every man and his dog has made 60 different repros of every single thing, big and small and no matter how obscure, with WWI stuff far less is or has been reproed.

 

[Smithy]

ww2 Sheepskin fur flight jacket

corduroy but kinda cool

Not what I was initially looking for but I liked this enough to order one. Thanks CBI for the heads up on it!

 

[warguy]

Would love to see some fit pics when you get it.

 

[Kennyz]

Great choice. I think that jacket has a lot of style, Tim.

Ken

Not what I was initially looking for but I liked this enough to order one. Thanks CBI for the heads up on it!

 

[London Cabbie]

Many years ago some fellas I knew wore something like these, they were from some Eastern European uniform, maybe Czech..?
You have to wear the flying cap with it.

 

[Sideslip]

Many years ago some fellas I knew wore something like these, they were from some Eastern European uniform, maybe Czech..?
You have to wear the flying cap with it.

and the 'tache!