Original Aero B-3 with duel tone finish.

With the recent thread comparing the duel tone B-3s from GW and ELC, I figured I'd show my Original Aero two tone. Based on info found here on the forum from the Full Gear book, it was produced by Aero under the W535ac-19436 contract from 1941.
I'd say that it's majority red skin minus the front chest, hem, windflap, cuffs and the back sleeve panels which are all seal. I will say that after handling quite a bit sheepskin in collecting and just by studying the pics of others originals, the veg tan sheepskin seems to survive much better than the later spray dyed. This jacket is still quite flexible and even in my younger before I found beer days, I even wore it occasion.

It has what looks like a name written on one of the collar straps and pin marks on the shoulder tabs where maybe rank was once pinned? I also measured the sheepskin depth and found the body and collar to be 3/4in, while the hem is 1/2in, and the windflap and cuff is of course 1/4in sheepskin.

Collar depth

chest depth
The zipper has been replaced with a Frankenstein zip. It has an Ideal zip bottom stop and a post war talon zip slide. Good thing is that they left the original zip tape behind it which I think was done for added strength when the new zip was installed. Anyway, enjoy fellas!
Waist hem depth

Beauty! Thanks for sharing!

Woah!! I might actually have the long lost twin brother of this Jacket!!! Remarkable.

It's stashed away. I'll see if I can find time to get some photos of the Tag, plus detailed closeups for you. Please give me a couple days.

oh wow man, would you just take that patina in for a minute!!!

That's quite a view!!

Thank you so much for posting. This is the KING of all my favourite Jackets.

I posted mine on TFL about 8 years ago. It's an Aero sz. 46

Here are the 'Ebay' seller pics. (try to pretend you didn't see the coat hanger) No one bid because the jacket was either too ratty or no one noticed it was a mixed batch. For whatever reason, no one wanted it that badly.

It came From Wyoming, there was hay in the pocket. I'm sure someone rode horses while wearing this jacket.

You can't see in this photo but the collar was also redskin and the straps are a match to yours!

There's a distinct texture to the chrome sheepskin hide that is unlike any other brand of B-3 I've seen firsthand, it's totally amazing.

Check it out.

Dumpster D said:

Woah!! I might actually have the long lost twin brother of this Jacket!!! Remarkable.

It's stashed away. I'll see if I can find time to get some photos of the Tag, plus detailed closeups for you. Please give me a couple days.

oh wow man, would you just take that patina in for a minute!!!

That's quite a view!!

Thank you so much for posting. This is the KING of all my favourite Jackets.

I posted mine on TFL about 8 years ago. It's an Aero sz. 46

Here are the 'Ebay' seller pics. (try to pretend you didn't see the coat hanger) No one bid because the jacket was either too ratty or no one noticed it was a mixed batch. For whatever reason, no one wanted it that badly.

It came From Wyoming, there was hay in the pocket. I'm sure someone rode horses while wearing this jacket.

You can't see in this photo but the collar was also redskin and the straps are a match to yours!

There's a distinct texture to the chrome sheepskin hide that is unlike any other brand of B-3 I've seen firsthand, it's totally amazing.

Check it out.


View attachment 133761


View attachment 133763

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With that much wear and patina I'm almost surprised it's not falling apart! I'll agree the sprayed sheepskin isn't that flaky as others and mine is still very much soft. I'm wondering if it's something Aero did or whatever factory Aero received its sheepskin from.

outstanding! I've owned some five or six original b-3s over the years, and I still get jazzed up when I see an original.

Goinghome82 said:

With that much wear and patina I'm almost surprised it's not falling apart!

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Ironically, wearing the jacket regularly is likely what kept the leather so fresh. It's a double edged sword, because it does wear out simultaneously.

Definitely was worn while horse back riding. There were signs of 'horse grime' on the inner sleeves, which may even be the very fountain of youth that preserved the more fragile areas that take most of the wear and tear.

It also smelled really strongly of chemical moth balls, so it did it's duty, and was respectfully retired at some point in it's long life.

My own personal estimate is roughly 40,000 hours of wear time to get those sleeves so nice and worn, like a pair of old time boxing gloves. The 'natural' color that wears through on the antique horse trim that gives this thing some distinct 'pop' and attitude. I love seeing every scratch, scuff, blemish on those sleeve reinforcements. That's the bees knees right there.

(ELC was paying attention to that detail, on the Perry Mixed batch. The timeworn treatment hints that a little rough housing is encouraged to give the jacket it's own character)

Again, I'll report back with some details for you, and I'm willing to wager, that both of these Jackets were cut and sewn by the same pair of hands.

PS. what really geeks me out about these original Jackets, is where did they serve? Who wore them, what was their position on the plane, how many missions did they fly, and where to and back again? etc etc. If these Jackets could only speak! You know?

Dumpster D said:

Woah!! I might actually have the long lost twin brother of this Jacket!!! Remarkable.

It's stashed away. I'll see if I can find time to get some photos of the Tag, plus detailed closeups for you. Please give me a couple days.

oh wow man, would you just take that patina in for a minute!!!

That's quite a view!!

Thank you so much for posting. This is the KING of all my favourite Jackets.

I posted mine on TFL about 8 years ago. It's an Aero sz. 46

Here are the 'Ebay' seller pics. (try to pretend you didn't see the coat hanger) No one bid because the jacket was either too ratty or no one noticed it was a mixed batch. For whatever reason, no one wanted it that badly.

It came From Wyoming, there was hay in the pocket. I'm sure someone rode horses while wearing this jacket.

You can't see in this photo but the collar was also redskin and the straps are a match to yours!

There's a distinct texture to the chrome sheepskin hide that is unlike any other brand of B-3 I've seen firsthand, it's totally amazing.

Check it out.


View attachment 133761


View attachment 133763

Click to expand...

Another nice piece of history you've got here!

Goinghome82 said:

View attachment 133727View attachment 133729View attachment 133731View attachment 133733View attachment 133735View attachment 133737View attachment 133739
It has what looks like a name written on one of the collar straps and pin marks on the shoulder tabs where maybe rank was once pinned? I also measured the sheepskin depth and found the body and collar to be 3/4in, while the hem is 1/2in, and the windflap and cuff is of course 1/4in sheepskin.

Click to expand...

wow awesome jacket

flyincowboy said:

Another nice piece of history you've got here!

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Thank you.

I find myself completely flummoxed that such a rare piece of flight jacket history somehow wound up in my stash by hook or crook. Seems like the overall condition didn't quite make the grade for most collectors. Pooh-pooh indeed. I'm just some schmoe.

Amazed to see someone else here with a very similar unique and rare piece of flying history. Just wow!

great B-3 stuff!!!!

Goinghome82 said:

Collar depth

View attachment 133741chest depthView attachment 133743
The zipper has been replaced with a Frankenstein zip. It has an Ideal zip bottom stop and a post war talon zip slide. Good thing is that they left the original zip tape behind it which I think was done for added strength when the new zip was installed. Anyway, enjoy fellas!View attachment 133747View attachment 133749View attachment 133751View attachment 133753View attachment 133755
Waist hem depthView attachment 133745

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Frankenstein zipper but other that sweet!

Spitfireace said:

Frankenstein zipper but other that sweet!

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Wartime replacement or? Zipper ID please. This is not uncommon, and does not detract overall vibe, adds to the character/history IMHO.

No. I prefer a period zipper. That's just me though.

Make sure you get an expert to do that though.

Spitfireace said:

No. I prefer a period zipper. That's just me though.

Click to expand...

Just to confirm, you mean the zipper is not wartime replacement right? Any idea of the approximate date of the zip?

On the first B-3. Not yours, I didn't see a close up on yours. Probably an original Talon don't know since I can't see a pic of it.

Spitfireace said:

On the first B-3. Not yours, I didn't see a close up on yours. Probably an original Talon don't know since I can't see a pic of it.

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Who's on first?

Who

The man on first?

Who..

My Jacket has an original Talon zipper. It is broken and missing the insert pin, otherwise original.

The First B-3 Jacket has a replacement zipper.

My question: is the zipper on the *first* B-3 jacket a post WWII zipper?

I don't see the matching Zipper from the first jacket here on this ID checklist. The zipper looks brass. Any chance it could it be a Korean war era zipper, or is it more modern? The repair work looks like it was done sympathetically, with loving care.

This photo unfortunately does not show the 'stops' on the replacement zip (Top right corner is cut) but they appear to match with the 1950's modern. My wild speculation suggests, whoever wore the Jacket may have possibly stuck around the service awhile after WWII...Or maybe at least just the Jacket itself?




UPDATE***

I missed the part of the description where it said the Zipper had a post war talon pull and a different stop box. That part of the text was hidden between some photos and they were taking awhile to load on my screen so I scrolled past somehow. Apologies.

Here are some photos of my original Aero mixed batch B-3 to compare with Goinghome82's original Aero mixed batch B-3.

Both are very different. I am not good with contract numbers. Hopefully an expert will help fill in the details in comparison.

Please forgive the lighting. It is not great, I did the best I could with what I got.

Here's some more cauliflower fleece for you to feast your eyes on.

Before you ask, yes, I oiled the jacket, and yes I regret it, a lot...

It darkened that wonderful patina. I feel shame, always with me.