B-15 on ebay

[Rutger]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-B-15-Fligh ... 58915690a7

funny that the tag includes a line that says "original type".
Funny : two claims are of (US) AAF stencil, whereas picture says otherwise.
Maybe restenciled B-15's exist?

I find it hard to believe this is a WW2 jacket & wonder how much it's going to fetch.

 

[TankBuster]

You are correct, it's not a WW2 issue jacket. Many newbies are fooled by these every year. It's been covered here numerous times, but for some reason some of them still get bid up by people thinking they are the real deal. "Original Type" equals not original issue.

 

[RCSignals]

Nice zipper

 

[Peter Graham]

Another rubbish postwar copy. Nearly all B-15's now being sold on ebay are postwar copies of one kind or another and they are easy to spot if you know what you're looking for. To add to the confusion, at least two publications have photos of copies that they have been fooled by. The otherwise excellent book "8th Air Force" by Gregory Pons has a Fitzwell jacket complete with photo of the label on page 139 and the inaccuracy riddled "American Flight Jackets, Airmen & Aircraft" by Maguire & Conway has a poor B-15 copy on page 40 complete with the text "Many of these early B-15's did not even have a specification label inside". Complete and utter bollocks ! Every issued B-15 had a spec label, but not with "original type" on it ! When buying a B-15 have a good look at photos of originals. Be very wary if it's got no label. If it's got a label, read it carefully and if it's not got an offset zipper, walk away. And it's not only B-15's. Check this B-9 for only $350.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USAAF-B-9-parka ... 981wt_1037

 

[TankBuster]

Excellent additional info. Peter. I would also add that really clean Large size original WW2 B-15's and B-15A's as well as B10's don't come up often, so always look them over carefully and if you aren't sure, post pictures here first before spending your hard earned money on something that may not be what you think it is.

Happy Holidays!

 

[RCSignals]

which b-15s did have that offset zipper? b-15b?

 

[Peter Graham]

which b-15s did have that offset zipper? b-15b?

B-15, B-15a and B-15b.

 

[Roughwear]

Thanks for the excellent info Peter. It is very helpful to less experienced collectors. It is extremely difficult to pick up a decent issued B15 these days. Too often sellers confuse post war or privately purchased B15s for issued jackets. The same goes for G-1s when most G-1s irrespective of how long after the War they were made are described on Ebay as WW11 flight jackets. :roll:

 

[RCSignals]

which b-15s did have that offset zipper? b-15b?

B-15, B-15a and B-15b.

Thanks. So up to B15b. It's an odd but likeable feature.