Mystery fleece US Army (?) jacket

[FlakMagnet]

Hello gents,

This showed up in a local online auction place recently. Would anyone know if this is a legit US Army issued jacket? It *looks* pretty legit, but I figured you guys might be able to shed more light on this, if it is indeed the "real deal".

 

[ausreenactor]

Seller is having a laugh I think.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I’d like to see a closer view of the label. I’ve not seen anything like it before, it does have a military look about it, and it’s quite a cool jacket.

 

[FlakMagnet]

I’d like to see a closer view of the label. I’ve not seen anything like it before, it does have a military look about it, and it’s quite a cool jacket.

I messaged the seller and he sent me this. He said it was part of his recently deceased father's collection, and doesn't really know much about it, other than the USAAF were fairly active in the airfields/airports near where his father used to live back in the 40s.
I wonder if it's possible that NZ companies were contracted to make some flying kit, like the V505 in Australia for example. I could be wrong, but this seems to closely resemble the F-2 outer jackets. (there's also no zip, just buttons like the F-2)

 

[Smithy]

Can't comment on the veracity of the jacket but there were a LOT of US servicemen in Auckland during the war. My Dad's family had men from the US Army and US Marines billeted with them.

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if uniform and kit were made by local firms due to the sheer number of them, in fact I'd be surprised if it wasn't. Mooneys is an old company (they're still going in Dunedin) and were in Auckland during the war as well. Interestingly they specialised in fur and sheepskin clothing - and still do.

 

[ausreenactor]

I messaged the seller and he sent me this. He said it was part of his recently deceased father's collection, and doesn't really know much about it, other than the USAAF were fairly active in the airfields/airports near where his father used to live back in the 40s.
I wonder if it's possible that NZ companies were contracted to make some flying kit, like the V505 in Australia for example. I could be wrong, but this seems to closely resemble the F-2 outer jackets. (there's also no zip, just buttons like the F-2)


View attachment 68411

US Army had a pretty amazing field jacket with a liner option from 1943 to 1965.

 

[FlakMagnet]

Can't comment on the veracity of the jacket but there were a LOT of US servicemen in Auckland during the war. My Dad's family had men from the US Army and US Marines billeted with them.

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if uniform and kit were made by local firms due to the sheer number of them, in fact I'd be surprised if it wasn't. Mooneys is an old company (they're still going in Dunedin) and were in Auckland during the war as well. Interestingly they specialised in fur and sheepskin clothing - and still do.

Just found out Mooney's went out of business last year. They had a pretty good run, it seems.