watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
We've had several interesting discussions regarding these handy and inexpensive jackets, but I've recently added two relatively uncommon early examples to my collection and thought I'd share:
First up is a very early lightweight jacket dating from the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, apparently 1972 per the contract number. The "Model B" designation begs the question of what the "Model A" looked like, and I've seen a 1969-dated example that followed a more conventional pattern with typical knit cuffs and waistband as opposed to the Velcro adjustment tabs shown here. I assume the Army was at first undecided as to which pattern to adopt, but of course by the 1974 contracts this issue was resolved in favor of the type using standard knits. Interestingly, this jacket's main zipper is "sandwiched" between dual flaps (as an aside, both zips were made by General). The exterior flap is secured by Velcro. It would appear that this arrangement was thought to offer more protection against heat entry in case of fire, but was ultimately deemed unnecessary as the feature does not appear in later standardized jackets (although the cold-weather type has an inner storm flap). Sadly this jacket is too large for me, but at least until I find a smaller replacement it will remain in my collection as a representative example:
I don't actually own this '76 cold-weather example, but I included the pic to illustrate the lack of pocket flaps:
Finally, here's a near-mint '77 cold-weather jacket made by Greenbrier. As both labels indicate, it's expressly marked as a flyer's jacket. Unlike the '76 depicted above, this one has pocket flaps. It lacks the Velcro strip seen at the upper back of cold-weather jackets produced from 1980 on:
First up is a very early lightweight jacket dating from the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, apparently 1972 per the contract number. The "Model B" designation begs the question of what the "Model A" looked like, and I've seen a 1969-dated example that followed a more conventional pattern with typical knit cuffs and waistband as opposed to the Velcro adjustment tabs shown here. I assume the Army was at first undecided as to which pattern to adopt, but of course by the 1974 contracts this issue was resolved in favor of the type using standard knits. Interestingly, this jacket's main zipper is "sandwiched" between dual flaps (as an aside, both zips were made by General). The exterior flap is secured by Velcro. It would appear that this arrangement was thought to offer more protection against heat entry in case of fire, but was ultimately deemed unnecessary as the feature does not appear in later standardized jackets (although the cold-weather type has an inner storm flap). Sadly this jacket is too large for me, but at least until I find a smaller replacement it will remain in my collection as a representative example:
I don't actually own this '76 cold-weather example, but I included the pic to illustrate the lack of pocket flaps:
Finally, here's a near-mint '77 cold-weather jacket made by Greenbrier. As both labels indicate, it's expressly marked as a flyer's jacket. Unlike the '76 depicted above, this one has pocket flaps. It lacks the Velcro strip seen at the upper back of cold-weather jackets produced from 1980 on:
