I assumed the OP was referring to U.S. submariners b/c of the reference to G1s and A2s, but you're right -- U-Boat personnel did have leather jackets. They were much longer than flight jackets, however -- more like leather rain coats.Dr H said:Excellent biography of Otto Kretschmer (U99) 'The Golden Horsehoe' by Terence Robertson and the autobiographical U Boat Commander: Fortunes of War by Guenther Prien (U47) both mention the awful toll exacted by damp, humid conditions with U Boats on leather clothing, which quickly fell victim to mildew.
It wasn't considered the most practical clothing in the North Atlantic.
SuinBruin said:I assumed the OP was referring to U.S. submariners b/c of the reference to G1s and A2s, but you're right -- U-Boat personnel did have leather jackets. They were much longer than flight jackets, however -- more like leather rain coats.Dr H said:Excellent biography of Otto Kretschmer (U99) 'The Golden Horsehoe' by Terence Robertson and the autobiographical U Boat Commander: Fortunes of War by Guenther Prien (U47) both mention the awful toll exacted by damp, humid conditions with U Boats on leather clothing, which quickly fell victim to mildew.
It wasn't considered the most practical clothing in the North Atlantic.
I stand corrected. Danke schoen!m444uk said:Short waisted leather jackets were also issued.
rich said:This is fiction I know, but I saw Torpeo Run a couple of weeks ago. When Glenn Ford and Ernest Borgnine are up top, Ernest is clearly wearing an A-1 - someone in the costume dept must have thought it looked the part.
Andrew said:I can't locate it but i'm sure Deeb will.
asiamiles said:rich said:This is fiction I know, but I saw Torpeo Run a couple of weeks ago. When Glenn Ford and Ernest Borgnine are up top, Ernest is clearly wearing an A-1 - someone in the costume dept must have thought it looked the part.
Did Glenn Ford wear a Tanker? I recall him wearing one in more than one film, suggesting perhaps it was a jacket he had a personal liking for?
If the pic is supposed to show U.S. submariners in leather jackets, the POWs would almost certainly have to be Japanese....deeb7 said:Andrew said:I can't locate it but i'm sure Deeb will.
Thanks for the confidence, Andrew, but you may need to give a few more clues. I guess this isn't what you were looking for ....
Did Glenn Ford wear a Tanker? I recall him wearing one in more than one film, suggesting perhaps it was a jacket he had a personal liking for?
Peter Graham said:That's a tanker alright but what's going on with the A-1. Is that a fur collar ?
Oops, I see that now that the beer goggles are off !asiamiles said:Peter, you've been warned before about posting on here after visiting the local! Fur collar?!? Just shadows, mate.
unclegrumpy said:I
Before this "tanker" style flight jacket in the mid to later 1930's, the Navy had a similar jacket made from the same material, but with patch pockets almost like a G-1. Unlike a G-1, they were pleated. This jacket has the look of an Army A-1, but again is different.