A-2 jacket
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The Type A-2 leather flight jacket is an American military flight jacket originally invented and developed for and closely associated with
History
The Type A-2 flying jacket was adopted as standard issue by the
The U.S. Army Air Forces Class 13 Catalog listed the garment as "Jacket, Flying, Type A-2". It describes the jacket's construction as "seal brown
The A-2 was replaced by the AN6552 (AN-J-3) per a specification 94-3040 reference document dated May 24, 1943, and declared "Limited Standard", meaning replacements were available. The April 1944 USAAF catalog for ordering supplies does not list the AN-J-3 as an option, but both the A-1 and A-2 are listed (the A-1 for $4.00 and the A-2 for $8.12). The lack of AN-J-3 replacements may explain why three U.S. A-2 contracts were granted in Dec. 1943, or after the A-2 jacket was officially replaced. (The lack of AN-J-3 replacements may also explain why flying jackets were purchased in Australia by the Department of the U.S. Army in June 1943. These "V505" jackets have been shown to be used by some members of the U.S. Fifth Air Force.)[1]
Design and construction
Although the actual design would vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, and even among contracts within a single manufacturer, all A-2 jackets had several distinguishing characteristics: a snap-flap patch pocket on either side that does not have hand warmer compartments (hands in pockets were considered unfit for a military bearing), a shirt-style snap-down collar, shoulder straps (or
Prior to World War II the collar was sewn to a neckband or "stand" like those found in dress shirts, a time-intensive operation. Wartime contracts generally had "simple attached" collars, sewn directly to the back panel and rolled over, although Rough Wear and Perry continued using the collar stand throughout. Similarly, most pre-war (and some wartime) A-2s had inset sleeves, attached at a better attitude for body movement. This too was time-intensive and gave way to "flat attached" sleeves whose bottom seams met up with the body side seams.
A-2s were initially constructed of horsehide,[2] which was either vegetable- or chrome-tanned. Some later A-2s were made from goatskin (as was the Navy G-1 jacket) and others from cowhide (which can be very difficult to tell from horse if tanned identically). All Spiewak and Doniger jackets are of goat, as are many Cable, Dubow, Bronco, Perry, and Rough Wear examples.
Wartime-issued A-2 jackets appear in a wide range of color tones and hues, although all are based on two distinct colors: Seal (dark brown to almost black) and russet (pale red-brown to medium brown). Most lighter russet jackets were darker seal re-dyed during the war to cover scuffing and discoloration although some contracts, like the Aero Leather 21996, were dyed seal right from the start. Original knit cuffing typically matched the leather or came close, but exceptions exist, such as Aero Leather's eye-catching rust-red cuffing on seal brown hide.
The A-2 was one of the early articles of clothing designed expressly to use a zipper. Zippers were made of steel or brass, and some were nickel plated. Known zipper suppliers were Talon, Crown, Conmar, and Kwik, with Talon providing the majority of zippers used in wartime A-2 construction. Until about 1940, Talon zippers with riveted or grommeted metal bottoms were used.
Unlike modern, loose-fitting jackets, the original A-2 looks to us today a rather trim-fitting jacket. Period photos and films reveal a jacket which could be worn fitted and sharp looking or a bit baggy and loose in the body. It was designed to fit the thinner male of the time- original A-2 jackets worn by modern men may seem a bit snug in the shoulders. This is particularly true of pre-war contract garments such as the 1933 Werber and the 1938 and 1940 Aero Leathers. Period photos and films show that the A-2 was typically worn over a shirt, or a shirt and flight suit; airmen were more likely to switch to a sheep-lined jacket or, later, an electrified flight suit for wintertime or high-altitude operations.
Manufacturers
There were many manufacturers of A-2 jackets during the 1930s and 1940s whose product showed a wide range of quality, workmanship, and fit characteristics. All contracts used a cotton lining, though various replacements were made over the years. The first three (3) contracts had button pocket flaps, while all the rest were snapped pockets beginning with Werber order number 33-1729. Manufacturers included civilian clothing producers such as David D. Doniger & Co., makers of the popular MacGregor brand outerwear, as well as leather-goods companies like J.A. Dubow Mfg., whose chief peacetime product was
Contract Number | Order Number | Contract Date | Quantity | Original Maker |
---|---|---|---|---|
31-1897 | 25 | P. Goldsmith Sons Co. | ||
32-485 | 1,666 | Security Sportswear Co. (Aviation Togs) | ||
32-6225 | 600 | Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. | ||
33-1729 | unknown | Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. | ||
W535 AC-6213 | 34-518P | 5-Sep-33 | unknown | Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. |
W535 AC-8004 | 36-1112P | 13-Sep-35 | 550 | Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. |
W535 AC-9193 | 37-1119P | 11-Sep-36 | unknown | Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. |
37-3061P | unknown | Aero Clothing and Tanning Co. | ||
W535 AC-9709 | 37-3891P | 3-Mar-37 | 375 | H.L.B. Corp. |
W535 AC-10490 | 38-1711P | 26-Oct-37 | 1,500 | Aero Leather Clothing Co., Inc. |
W535 AC-12091 | 39-2951P | 9-Jan-39 | 1,250 | Werber Sportswear Co. |
W535 AC-13911 | 40-3785P | 18-Dec-39 | 3,500 | Aero Leather Clothing Co., Inc. |
W535 AC-16159 | 2-Nov-40 | 9,700 | Rough Wear Clothing Co. | |
W535 AC-16160 | 1-Nov-40 | 4,500 | Aero Leather Clothing Co., Inc. | |
W535 AC-18091 | 6-Mar-41 | 17,628 | Rough Wear Clothing Co. | |
W535 AC-20958 | 42-1401P | 8-Aug-41 | 30,000 | Rough Wear Clothing Co. |
W535 AC-20959 | 42-1402P | 8-Aug-41 | 7,000 | Werber Sportswear Co. |
W535 AC-20960 | 42-1403P | 8-Aug-41 | 13,000 | J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. |
W535 AC-21035 | 42-1671P | 15-Aug-41 | unknown | Rough Wear Clothing Co. |
W535 AC-21996 | 14-Oct-41 | 25,000 | Aero Leather Clothing Co. | |
W535 AC-23377 | 31-Dec-41 | 20,000 | Perry Sportswear Inc. | |
W535 AC-23378 | 26-Dec-41 | 15,000 | Monarch Mfg. Co. | |
W535 AC-23379 | 26-Dec-41 | 10,000 | J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. | |
W535 AC-23380 | 26-Dec-41 | 12,000 | Rough Wear Clothing Co. | |
W535 AC-23381 | 5-Jan-42 | 5,000 | Cooper Sportswear Mfg. Co. | |
W535 AC-23382 | 29-Dec-41 | 10,000 | Cable Raincoat Co. | |
W535 AC-23383 | 22-Dec-41 | 8,000 | Fried, Ostermann Co. (unsigned label) | |
W535 AC-24759 | 42-10008P | 19-Jan-42 | 10,000 | Cable Raincoat Co. |
W535 AC-27435 | 42-15142P | 28-Mar-42 | 50,000 | Aero Leather Clothing Co. |
W535 AC-27618 | 42-16175P | 23-May-42 | 50,000 | Perry Sportswear Inc. |
W535 AC-27752 | 27-Apr-42 | 50,000 | Rough Wear Clothing Co. | |
W535 AC-27753 | 29-Apr-42 | 50,000 | Cable Raincoat Co. (unsigned label) | |
W535 AC-27798 | 25-Apr-42 | 50,000 | J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. | |
W535 AC-28557 | 42-18245P | 18-May-42 | 30,000 | Star Sportswear Mfg. Co. |
W535 AC-28558 | 42-18246P | 18-May-42 | 10,000 | S.H. Knopf Mfg. Co. (unsigned label) |
W535 AC-28560 | 42-18248P | 18-May-42 | 50,000 | Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co. |
W535 AC-28819 | 42-18775P | 25-May-42 | 50,000 | Aero Leather Clothing Co. |
W535 AC-28820 | 42-18776P | 18-May-42 | 25,000 | I. Spiewak & Sons Co., Inc. |
W535 AC-28821 | 42-18777P | 18-May-42 | 25,000 | United Sheeplined Clothing Co. |
W535 AC-29191 | 42-19172P | 18-May-42 | 59,000 | Bronco Mfg. Corp. |
W535 AC-29971 | 42-21539P | 9-Jun-42 | 5,000 | David D. Doniger & Co. (signed and unsigned labels) |
Contract Accept | Country | Date | Quantity | Original Maker |
---|---|---|---|---|
10,776 Req. 18669 | Australia | Jun-43 | 3,132 | Simpsons Gloves Pty. Ltd., Vic. ("V505" coded label) |
Contract Number | Contract Date | Quantity | Original Maker |
---|---|---|---|
W33-038 A.C. 1755 (11631) | Dec-43 | 35,000 | J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. |
W33-038 A.C. 1756 | Dec-43 | 25,000 | Perry Sportswear Inc. (unsigned label) |
W33-038 A.C. 1761 | Dec-43 | unknown | Bronco Mfg. Corp. |
Wartime use
The A-2 jacket was awarded to an
The airman's A-2 was a treasured item and was worn with as much pride as his wings. As airmen progressed through various duty stations, they often added and removed squadron patches, rank marks, and occasionally elaborate artwork depicting the type of aircraft they flew or a copy of the artwork painted on their airplane. Bomber crews often added small bombs to the right front of their jackets, indicating the number of missions they had flown. As a result, many jackets ended up with numerous stitch marks as patches of various sizes were removed and replaced when the owner changed units. Unlike Navy aviators, who often wore the patches of every squadron they had ever flown with, AAF personnel could only display the patch of their current assignment. The emblem of the Army Air Forces was often sewn, painted, or applied by decal on the left shoulder, while the shield of the specific Air Force (5th, 8th, etc.) was often displayed on the right.
Despite the A-2s becoming a symbol of the American pilot, in 1943 General
Fighter pilots, who often had heated cockpits, could wear the A-2 into combat more easily. Some jackets had a map of the mission area sewn into the lining, which could be used (in theory) for navigation if shot down. Some jackets (famously, those from the
Early wartime pictures show entire bomber crews outfitted with A-2s, although they probably weren't too valuable at altitude in a bomber. The pilot and copilot had primitive cabin heat on some aircraft and would wear the A-2, while the rest of the bomber crew usually wore heavier fleece-lined Type B-3 or ANJ-4 (and later B-9 and B-11 parkas), which were warmer and better suited to long hours in the severe cold. However, period photos show A-2s worn by crew underneath heavy outer garments, and candid on-base photos often show crewmen of all ranks in A-2s. A warm and comfortable
Theater-made jackets
Throughout the War, as the A-2s popularity grew, so too did the demand for it. Only aircrewmen could obtain A-2 jackets through regular channels, although a few celebrated nonflying officers like Gens.
Survivors
Original wartime issued A-2 jackets are rare but not unavailable. The value of such originals ranges widely depending on condition, known history, patches and artwork, and even size. Most originals used a sizing system considerably smaller than today's comparable sizes, with only 2-4 inches (100 mm) of "slack" over the tagged chest size. In other words, an original size 42 might be closer to a modern 40 or even a 38, depending on the manufacturer. Original World War II era jackets sell at auction for between $800 and $8,000, with wearable examples generally running $1,000 and up.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force has a collection of original A-2 jackets, most donated by the families of Air Force pilots. No fewer than fifty are on display at any time throughout the Museum, including many historic jackets such as Brig. Gen. James Stewart's A-2 (a Rough Wear contract 42-1401), an A-2 from the AVG "Flying Tigers," and another worn by one of the few U.S. pilots to get airborne during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Modern Air Force A-2
With the exception of a very brief period from 1979 to early 1981 the U.S. Navy never stopped issuing its G-1 leather flying jackets to Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard flight crews. This meant that an entire generation of Air Force pilots and flight crews had missed out on an opportunity not lost to their Naval comrades. Years of effort by U.S. Air Force personnel to get the A-2 jacket reissued finally succeeded when the Air Force began issuing them again in 1988, a decision that may have been influenced by the popularity of the film "Top Gun", and the military apparel it popularized. The first Air Force A-2 contract was awarded to Avirex, but all subsequent contracts from 1988 to 1998 were awarded to Neil Cooper USA, now U.S. Wings of Ohio. The modern Air Force A-2 is authorized for wear by Air Force aircrews and missileers who have completed their mission qualifications.[6]
The latest design differs from the original design in several ways: it is looser-fitting, made only from goatskin, and produced in only a medium seal brown color (though many older, fitted jackets are still in use). Unlike the World War II era pilots, modern Air Force pilots are not permitted to paint their A-2 jackets or disfigure them in any way. The official explanation for this is that the paint is flammable and could pose a fire hazard. The goatskin used in today's A-2 is treated with a special fire retardant chemical. The crewmember's name tag is mounted on the left breast, with the Major Command, HQ USAF, or Combatant Command shield are on the right, attached with Velcro. No patches are permitted to be sewn directly onto the jacket as they were during World War II.
In 1996 Neil Cooper USA was awarded a contract from the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP), to redesign the A-2 jacket to be more functional and to improve the fit. Side entry pockets were added to the patch pockets and inside wallet pockets were added. The fit was enlarged via extra pieces under the arms and on the sides. The neck clasp was also eliminated. These modifications were previously carried out by the member themselves at popular places around the world like Pop's Leather in Turkey, or in the numerous shops in Korea. Now that these modifications are part of the official issue, only "Blood Chits" and other internal linings are added by the aircrew themselves.
In 1999 Avirex was again awarded a contract to make A-2 jackets. In 2000 they began producing the "21st Century" A-2 using the updated pattern Neil Cooper USA had designed. In 2006, HQ USAF required all A-2 jackets to be "Berry Amendment" compliant. This means that all materials used in the jacket must be of American origin. Goat skins used are required to have been born and bred in the U.S., and the leather tanned in the U.S. (All jackets made by Cooper Sportswear, and the jackets made by Avirex in 1999, were made of goatskin imported from Pakistan).
Reproductions
Just as a cottage industry appeared during the war to meet the need for A-2 jackets, so too does such an industry still exist today. Because the A-2 never went out of style, production of it never really ceased. Over the years it has varied in style and accuracy relative to the original war-era design, but it has remained visible in popular movies and TV shows of the 1950s and 1960s.
In the mid-1970s several small companies catering to purists began undertaking the job of designing and constructing somewhat authentic reproductions. Duplicating wartime patterns, often obtained through "reverse engineering" from dissected originals, but using incorrect hides that are veg tanned and aniline dyed, originals were chrome tanned and pigment dyed, all-cotton thread, and even actual the World War II-era-old stock Talon zippers, they have effectively recreated a wartime-era jacket that can be worn daily without fear of damaging a valuable original. Some manufacturers have even gone so far as to reproduce the particular details of specific World War II A-2 production contracts. The rarest and most desirable A-2, the Goldsmith 31-1897, has even been recreated based upon photographic evidence as a survivor has not been found.
Popularly priced (approximately US$500 and below) A-2 jackets today only approximate the authentic style, with oversized shoulders and sleeves intended for layering loose clothing underneath, non-spec hand and pen pockets, and softer materials like lambskin. A-2s made today by U.S. Air Force contract manufacturers tend to fit younger, fitter men with v-shaped torsos, and some former pilots have found that their old A-2s no longer fit them.
In the media
A-2 jackets can be seen in many movies, as they came to represent the American fighting man just as much as the
From the 1980s to the present, the A-2 became a popular presidential garment. Beginning with Ronald Reagan and continuing to Joe Biden, every president and in certain cases, some vice-presidents have been seen adorned with the jacket at military installations.
See also
References
- ^ "A2 Contract Dates-Up-Dated".
- ^ "War bonds". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (advertisement). October 3, 1942. p. 8.
- ^ Gary Eastman, "Type A-2 Flight Jacket Identification Manual" (Latimer Trend & Company Ltd., Plymouth, UK, 2012)
- ^ "Spec. 94-3040 Jackets, Flying Type A-2".
- ^ "1943 Australian "V505" Flight Jacket".
- ^ "AFI 36-2903, page 114" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2017.