What does MA stand for in MA-1 jacket?

[alec]

What does MA stand for in MA-1 jacket?

 

[D97x7]

Just a total guess, military airforce.
I'm sure someone who actually knows will tell us.

 

[JonnyCrow]

Just a total guess, military airforce.
I'm sure someone who actually knows will tell us.

"Mil-J-8279G AMENDMENT-1",

 

[B-Man2]

In naval vernacular MA 1 stands for “ Master of Arms 1st Class. However I wasn’t able to attach a meaning to the term as it relates to the jacket .

 

[917_k]

"Mil-J-8279G AMENDMENT-1",

It’s not that, because MA-1 appears on the spec label in 1954, when the spec was simply MIL-J-8279.

I suspect it doesn’t stand for anything as such and was just some internal specification, to differentiate it from other items in the inventory. There was probably a reason MA-1 was settled on from a specification listing perspective, in the same way they went with A-2, B-3, B-15, L-2, K-1 etc in relation to other garments, but the lettering doesn’t stand for anything.

 

[JonnyCrow]

It’s not that, because MA-1 appears on the spec label in 1954, when the spec was simply MIL-J-8279.

I suspect it doesn’t stand for anything as such and was just some internal specification, to differentiate it from other items in the inventory. There was probably a reason MA-1 was settled on from a specification listing perspective, in the same way they went with A-2, B-3, B-15, L-2, K-1 etc in relation to other garments, but the lettering doesn’t stand for anything.

I just checked online and it says:

The original design was contained in United States government military specification "MIL-J-8279." Changes to the jacket were periodically made by the Air Force because of the introduction of new textiles, new sewing techniques or new aircraft cockpit design. The military specification was amended to reflect the changes which was signaled by adding a letter to the Mil. Spec. For example, MA-1 specifications progressed from Mil-J-8279 to J-8279A, then J-8279B, J-8279C, et cetera. The most important revision, Mil-J-8279F, was issued in November 1978[citation needed]. The final revision before being phased out by the United States military is "Mil-J-8279G" and "Mil-J-8279G AMENDMENT-1

 

[alec]

Could it be a clothing system developed by Aero Medical Lab in the 1950s? Cause I found some other objects like MA-1 helmet and MA-1 gloves with contract no. dated 1960.

 

[Rutger]

Damn....
Someone long gone will probably laugh for all eternity over everyone trying to figure that out.

 

[JonnyCrow]

Damn....
Someone long gone will probably laugh for all eternity over everyone trying to figure that out.

Along with European military size labels, especially Belgian

 

[Stravaiger]

At a quick glance I read these letters and think on the lines Military Apparel Thinking deeper…..not a clue

 

[Skyhawk]

Could it be a clothing system developed by Aero Medical Lab in the 1950s? Cause I found some other objects like MA-1 helmet and MA-1 gloves with contract no.

I think you may be onto something there.

I am thinking MILITARY AIRFORCE or MILIITARY AVIATION = MA

For that matter, possibly
A-1 = Army Air Corps #1
A-2 = Army Air Corps / Air Forces #2

 

[johnwayne]

Sure I’ve read ‘A’ denoted summer weight jacket and ‘B’ denoted winter, however, can’t recall where I read that (ELC’s handbook maybe?). Often wondered what happened say between B3 and B10!! And how they arrived at M is anyone’s guess
No idea with Navy’s pre number lettering either!!!

 

[Skyhawk]

B is for bomber - It's obvious - A joke

A = Summer - That doesn't explain the AN series which denoted Army/Navy

M could denote "Model" for the USN - As in Model 422a (M-422a). The Navy loved those model numbers. 37J1, 55J14, etc.

Then again "V" in the Navy stands for fixed wing aircraft. Explain that one.

The truth is out there somewhere.

 

[Rutger]

And whatabout the N3B, N2B etc....

 

[taiAtari]

Isn't US military nomenclature famously incomprehensible: