Questions about the age of my Willis and Geiger M445 flight jacket

[Topanga]

Hello!

So years ago I inherited a beautiful old Willis and Geiger M445 flight jacket from a relative. I don't know where or how he acquired it. He was never in the Navy, although I do know he used this jacket while recreational flying in the 80s if not earlier than that.

I used to wear it, but stopped because I really have no idea how old it is and am afraid of damaging it. From the little I could find online there were reproductions made of this jacket after WW2, but I couldn't find much on how to tell the difference between those and the originals. The zipper says Scoville on it.

If any more pictures are needed I am happy to provide them. Would anyone knowledgeable on this be able to help me identify the age and possibly the value of this jacket? Should I be wearing it at all?

Thank you for any help!

 

[B-Man2]

Hi
Your jacket is a reproduction of a WWII W&G 445 made by W&G . The Scovil zipper one of the ways you can tell the difference between an original and the later repro model. Others may a have a different suggestion, so wait for them to offer up their opinions .

 

[Topanga]

Hi
Your jacket is a reproduction of a WWII W&G 445 made by W&G . The Scovil zipper one of the ways you can tell the difference between an original and the later repro model. Others may a have a different suggestion, so wait for them to offer up their opinions .

Thanks for the reply! I couldn't find much info on when these reproductions were made. Could this be older than the 80s?

 

[B-Man2]

Thanks for the reply! I couldn't find much info on when these reproductions were made. Could this be older than the 80s?

I’m not sure of the exact years of reproduction but I would guess it’s a 1980s period repro.

 

[leper-colony]

My memory is the 80s.