one for the nylon guys (SR-71 and X-15 related, too)

[SuinBruin]

Came across this in my search for info on whether there was any patch issued for the X-15 program and thought y'all might find it of some interest.

The jacket is an L-2B if I'm not mistaken? (I may very well be, I'm not up on the details of the nylon jackets.)

 

[bfrench]

Came across this in my search for info on whether there was any patch issued for the X-15 program and thought y'all might find it of some interest.

The jacket is an L-2B if I'm not mistaken? (I may very well be, I'm not up on the details of the nylon jackets.)

Sure looks like an L-2B but according to John Chapman's CD, they were sage green - don't know when the change to gray was introduced or if they were given a different designation.

Cheers,
Bill French

 

[Atticus]

Its an L-2B. The early ones were a greyer shade of sage...just like MA-1s. Zipper box flap. Epaulettes with blueish snaps. Pocket flaps. Brass zipper. No O2 tab. Can't tell about the decal, but I'll bet its there. I'm guessing that jacket is pre-1960, but not much so.

AF

 

[watchmanjimg]

I'm guessing that jacket is pre-1960, but not much so.

With no oxygen mask tab I would think it's most likely to be a D model at the earliest, although it appears that at least some Alpha Cs might lack the tab:

http://www.bakahorn.com/flightjacket/l- ... 7448c.html

 

[deeb7]

Sure looks like an L-2B but according to John Chapman's CD, they were sage green - don't know when the change to gray was introduced or if they were given a different designation.

This picture might better represent the colour ...

 

[oose]

Great shot, thanks for posting, I'll add it to my blog! (shameless plug! :roll: :roll: )

stu

 

[delta102uk]

I currently have these 3 SR-71 related jackets in my collection...the early ma-1 is more grey than green...

 

[deand]

[/quote]


Slightly off topic, I love the blue and white cap the guy on the left has on.




dean

 

[dmar836]

One of those pesky lids showing up again. That one almost looks to be painted blue.
Dave

 

[Willy McCoy]

The earlier series I have are slate gray more than green. Great photo! That L-2B looks well worn. I like the X-15 patch and Bulova "astronaut" watch. I would guess this jacket is the last series before the orange lining was employed.

 

[USMC_GAU-21]

Great example of a nice Lid Dean!!

 

[deand]

Great example of a nice Lid Dean!!

Thank you! Actually I prefer the slate grayish sage (to the greener kind), on those early L-2Bs and MA-1s. Anyone else?





dean

 

[USMC_GAU-21]

Dean, exactly !!

Great old "slate" color jackets are very cool.

/r/Dan

 

[herk115]

Came across this in my search for info on whether there was any patch issued for the X-15 program and thought y'all might find it of some interest.

The jacket is an L-2B if I'm not mistaken? (I may very well be, I'm not up on the details of the nylon jackets.)

Okay, so I'm a few years late making this reply...

I just spent a little bit of time helping Michelle Evans with her recently published book "The X-15 Rocket Plane: Flying the First Wings into Space."

Though at least two after the fact X-15 patches were made in the years following termination of the X-15 program, there was apparently never an "official" X-15 patch produced or worn during the program. Sad omission.

The above said, I'd like to be proven wrong, so I'll have something to hunt for!

 

[SuinBruin]

The original photo was moved or deleted, and I thought it was cool enough to include so I'm linking back to the copy on Stu's blog. Thanks Stu!

 

[herk115]

The original photo was moved or deleted, and I thought it was cool enough to include so I'm linking back to the copy on Stu's blog. Thanks Stu!

Exactly the proof I was looking for. For once I'm glad I was wrong. :lol: Of course, do we know if this was an "official" patch or something the crews had made? I know official approval, or lack thereof, didn't always stop us from wearing something on our flight jackets.

 

[herk115]

The original photo was moved or deleted, and I thought it was cool enough to include so I'm linking back to the copy on Stu's blog. Thanks Stu!

Do you have any gouge on who those guys might be, and when the picture was taken? The guy in the pressure suit looks a little like a young Fitz Fulton. It's also the first time I've seen anyone wear an L-2 over their blues. I post date the L-2, but we were not allowed to wear our Nomex jackets with our blues.

 

[SuinBruin]

The photo shows Maj. Ralph Richardson and pilot Bob Gilliland in 1964, I believe. And I'm pretty sure the X-15 patch was unofficial.

http://jetpilotoverseas.wordpress.com/2 ... land-1964/

 

[oose]

Hi,
I've been looking for this to and the only other image I can find is Major Richardson again (Chief of Physiology Lab) and Yeager with Lockheed NF-104, 1963.



All the best
Stu