Show us your US(A)AF Eye Candy

[mulceber]

In the same vein as Burt's USN Eye Candy thread, I thought I'd start a thread for original flight jackets from the AAC, AAF and AF. Show us what you've got: A-2s, MA-1s, B-10s, anything. Heck, if anyone has an A-1, we'd love to see it. If it's an authentic flight jacket of the type issued to pilots for the Air Force (and its predecessor organizations), this is your place to share it.

To get things started, I'll share my first original A-2 that I bought from Vic, a depot-redyed United Sheeplined:

 

[B-Man2]

I can tell already this is going to be a fun thread !! I think this is an opportunity for all the guys who want to see a little more V back in VLJ

 

[mulceber]

I think this is an opportunity for all the guys who want to see a little more V back in VLJ

I think Winston's a part of that crowd:

 

[Chandler]

I think Winston's a part of that crowd:
View attachment 54242

Oh, so *that's* what he was saying.

 

[B-Man2]

Some of you may have seen this one before. It’s an original mint condition, size 48 Star that has a beautiful Horsehide with a great finish . It’s been mistaken for a repro a number of times due to the great condition it’s in . Thanks for looking guys .

 

[MaydayWei]

Some of you may have seen this one before. It’s an original mint condition, size 48 Star that has a beautiful Horsehide with a great finish . It’s been mistaken for a repro a number of times due to the great condition it’s in . Thanks for looking guys .

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Where'd you buy that repro, Burt?

 

[B-Man2]

Where'd you buy that repro, Burt?

You see ... I told you so

 

[mulceber]

Burt, if you're going to try and pass off your Good Wears as originals in this thread, at least try to make it convincing. Take a nap in it, give it the hot water treatment, y'know, wear the piss out of it!

 

[B-Man2]

Burt, if you're going to try and pass off your Good Wears as originals in this thread, at least try to make it convincing. Take a nap in it, give it the hot water treatment, y'know, wear the piss out of it!

You guys are just killin me

 

[Chandler]

Some of you may have seen this one before. It’s an original mint condition, size 48 Star that has a beautiful Horsehide with a great finish . It’s been mistaken for a repro a number of times due to the great condition it’s in . Thanks for looking guys .

View attachment 54246View attachment 54247View attachment 54248View attachment 54249View attachment 54250View attachment 54251View attachment 54252View attachment 54253View attachment 54254

48? Some general's jacket?

Is the correct color coming through on your images? I had always thought Stars were darker.

BTW -- That specimen is amazing.

 

[Chandler]

Burt, if you're going to try and pass off your Good Wears as originals in this thread, at least try to make it convincing. Take a nap in it, give it the hot water treatment, y'know, wear the piss out of it!

You know, I'd really thought to try that! Except the zip (not the hide) would rat it out.

I guess I could say it was replaced.

 

[B-Man2]

48? Some general's jacket?

Is the correct color coming through on your images? I had always thought Stars were darker.

It’s the lighting I’m sure . It’s taken indoors . Just a tip about lighting . If you decide to buy a leather jacket , always ask for outdoor natural light photos , for the most accurate color reference .

 

[mulceber]

I had always thought Stars were darker.

They show up both ways. Stars show up in dark russet and light seal. Any chance you could share a picture of yourself wearing this one in natural light, Burt?

 

[Edward]

Original I. Spiewak & Sons
W535ac 28820__42-18776P
Patch: 2nd Bomb SQ., 22nd Bomb Group 5th AAF (B-26 Marauder / B-25 Mitchells and B-24 Liberators) based in Australia.
(previous owner had the knits replaced with black! Ugh! )

 

[917_k]

Another great thread idea @mulceber! I can contribute the ‘V’ but sadly not the ‘L’, as I collect late WW2-Korean War era flight gear at the moment.

In no particular order, here is a feast of nylon jackets I own, all dating from the late 40s & early 50s, that were staples of the early years of the US Air Force. Some you’ve seen before, some you haven’t:

Werber Sportswear B-15A

Reed Products Inc N-3 (technically a flight jacket, but mostly worn by ground crews)

Fruhauf S.W. Garment Co N-3A, with some matching mitts (again, technically a flight jacket but favoured by ground crews)

C.H. Masland & Sons N-2A (very definitely a flight jacket and worn by pilots & bomber crews during the Korean War)

Albert Turner N-3B (one of the last truly ‘flight jacket’ versions of the N-3B as it still retains the oxygen mask tab on the chest

Lion Uniform Company B-15D

Rolen Sportswear B-15D ‘mod’

Skyline Clothing Corporation L-2B (this is the 7448C series and the dates from the late 50s, before the introduction of orange liners on the D series)

Here’s a pair of early MA-1s, the one on the left being a 1958 Albert Turner jacket and the one on the right a 1960 Excel Garment Mfg Co version. Both are from the 8279B series of MA-1s, which feature a green liner that was switched to orange from the C series onwards.

 

[B-Man2]

917
There’s no L required, just an O for original . Your jackets are very cool looking . Skyline made some of the best military nylon jackets back in the day . Great collection !

 

[B-Man2]

Original I. Spiewak & Sons
W535ac 28820__42-18776P
Patch: 2nd Bomb SQ., 22nd Bomb Group 5th AAF (B-26 Marauder / B-25 Mitchells and B-24 Liberators) based in Australia.
(previous owner had the knits replaced with black! Ugh! )
View attachment 54264View attachment 54265View attachment 54266View attachment 54267View attachment 54268View attachment 54269View attachment 54270View attachment 54271

Ed
This looks damn cool with the way you have it displayed . Nice set up !

 

[B-Man2]

Here’s one that I don’t own but it belongs to a friend of mine who’s father was actually part of the original group of American Volunteers who went over to China in 1940 to fly with Chennault. There are a few original jackets from the 14th Air Force which took over command of the original AVG after the war started , but this is one of the few originals from the AVG existing today . You’ll notice the John Wanamakers label sewn into the jacket . Wanamakers was a department store in Philadelphia at the time . My friends father had his mother send him the label and he replaced the military label with the Wanamaker label and was able to bluff the supply clerk into believing that the jacket was a private purchase jacket that he had brought with him to China . As a result he got to keep the jacket and bring it home .I should add that his father was a part of the air and ground crew not a pilot .

 

[917_k]

917
There’s no L required, just an O for original . Your jackets are very cool looking . Skyline made some of the best military nylon jackets back in the day . Great collection !

Thanks Burt! Agreed, Skyline did some superb jackets.

When I get a chance I’ll do a proper thread on this lot, as I have a B-15B & B-15C on their way to my from the States, as well as a very early N-2, I’ve also got the matching flight trousers and flying suits for most of these jackets as well.

Rob

 

[B-Man2]

Thanks Burt! Agreed, Skyline did some superb jackets.

When I get a chance I’ll do a proper thread on this lot, as I have a B-15B & B-15C on their way to my from the States, as well as a very early N-2, I’ve also got the matching flight trousers and flying suits for most of these jackets as well.

Rob

Oh man ! .... looking forward to seeing as much as you care to show us . Thank you !