A-2 Jacket in Best Years of Our Lives?

[Bronco]

Hi,
Is there a consensus on the maker of the leather jacket Dana Andrews wore in Best Years of Our Lives?
I'm always amazed at how great this A-2 looks when I see this movie.
Mike

 

[Roughwear]

Welcome to the forum Mike. It's certainly not a Bronco! It seems to have a collar stand, wide epaulets and rounded pocket corners suggesting it is a Rough Wear A2.

 

[crazyace]

That is a good question. I love that movie and often wondered the same thing. Thanks for the answer Andrew.

 

[cmk-2]

I love the scene where Dana Andrews is at his fathers house and he puts the jackets on it sounds wonderful! New and not broken in.

 

[cmk-2]

Also it had a patch on it at one time...You can see the stich holes below the name tag.

 

[EmergencyIan]

^ I noticed that this evening, as well. Name tag and patch is removed on the left side. I noticed because I got a new TV, which is 75” and I can now see so many details in the jacket. The left front of the jackets grain stands out much more than the right front. It’s war surplus, but it’s, obviously, in great condition. The movie is wonderful, and I’ve seen it many times. Because of that, I now find myself focusing in Dana’s A-2 in scenes that he wears it. It aired this evening on TCM and I was taken in by it.

- Ian

 

[jeremiah]

Great movie. My money is on a RW.

 

[jeremiah]

wow, I think Dana Andrews was wearing a BK jacket made in victory hide. watched this again last night paying careful attention to the jacket shots. Drapes and creases like mine. even the leather looks similar. what a co-inky-dink.

 

[Juanito]

I recall in my hazy memory that discussed on some forum (maybe here for all I know) and the consensus was unequivocally Rough Wear, although I don't think anyone specified a contract.

I have toyed with the idea of making a "tribute" jacket for the movie with Fred Derry's name tag and rank with the "Round ? Trip" nose art painted on the back. Lord knows I have a few disposable A-2s to experiment with, starting with an old Avirex MacArthur Horsehide.

 

[Brent]

 

[EmergencyIan]

I recall in my hazy memory that discussed on some forum (maybe here for all I know) and the consensus was unequivocally Rough Wear, although I don't think anyone specified a contract.

I have toyed with the idea of making a "tribute" jacket for the movie with Fred Derry's name tag and rank with the "Round ? Trip" nose art painted on the back. Lord knows I have a few disposable A-2s to experiment with, starting with an old Avirex MacArthur Horsehide.

That would be pretty neat! Just keep in mind that in the movie Fred Derry’s A-2 is “plain.” I know that you can see where a name tag and patch have been removed from the left side chest of it. I’m only supposing, but my guess is that’s because the jacket was actually used during the war and had said patches removed before becoming a movie prop in 1946. Again, that’s a guess.

Would be a cool tribute, though. Lord knows the original is one nice A-2!

- Ian

 

[jeremiah]

Here is a black and white shot of my aero.

 

[Juanito]

That would be pretty neat! Just keep in mind that in the movie Fred Derry’s A-2 is “plain.” I know that you can see where a name tag and patch have been removed from the left side chest of it. I’m only supposing, but my guess is that’s because the jacket was actually used during the war and had said patches removed before becoming a movie prop in 1946. Again, that’s a guess.

Would be a cool tribute, though. Lord knows the original is one nice A-2!

- Ian

Yes, it is a plain jacket. The one in my mind would be a wholly fictitious creating of the man, the jacket and the B-17 in the wrecking yard, which was painted for the movie.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Yes, it is a plain jacket. The one in my mind would be a wholly fictitious creating of the man, the jacket and the B-17 in the wrecking yard, which was painted for the movie.

That sounds great, actually! I’d love to see it, if you do it.

- Ian

 

[Officer Dibley]

View attachment 8525 Here is a black and white shot of my aero.

Seeet ! Is that a Rea Deal jerky ? I hope so- that's what i'm waiting on !

 

[Grant]

Seeet ! Is that a Rea Deal jerky ? I hope so- that's what i'm waiting on !

Nope, I believe that's a Bill Kelso Aero.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Nope, I believe that's a Bill Kelso Aero.

I think you are correct, Grant, that's not how we do our box stitch

 

[Grant]

You're right. There's something nice about the all cotton thread that BK uses.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Well i hope my Aero measures up to that one then !

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

I was referring to the positioning of the box