After studying the history of the A-2 jacket and pouring through all of the minutiae written about it on the internet, I came to the startling and glaring realization that the three A-2 jackets I previously purchased were, in actual fact, of the "modern" style. I realized that I absolutely NEEDED a WW 11 style A-2. A friend who served in the 352nd fighter group out Bodney, England offered to give me his, but it turned out that his son had thrown it out since it was "falling apart".
I was considering getting one of the original maker repros from Eastman. At the same time, I was impressed by the way the House jacket is cut, with nicely squared shoulders and a no blousing. When I saw Grant's photo, it really sold me on this jacket. Tonight I ordered an ELC size 40 in seal brown horse hide. I am somewhere between 5'9" and 5'10", 153 lbs and have a 40" chest (with lungs fully expanded), so I think it will be a reasonable fit. In addition, my haircut is much closer to regulation than Grant's (a fact of which I am not proud, but it goes with the chronological territory).
It is a bit of a white knuckle experience laying down $700 for a jacket sight unseen. Hoping for the best...