WW2 A2 JACKET

SPLINTER · May 23, 2017

Hi Everyone
I have recently aquired a ww2 A2 flying jacket without any manufacturing label inside it.
I dont even know if the lining is the original. The jacket has a khaki coloured lining but there are no traces of where a label has been so its possibly been replaced . There are no vent holes under the armpits either. The jacket has a CBI patch on the lh shoulder and also what i am lead to believe is a 17th airforce patch on the rh shoulder ( the patch needs to be restitched as it is loose). On the lh chest there is a leather name patch with the name Paul Jacques tail gunner.
I would love to hear from the more knowledgeable amongst you of anymore information with regards possible manufacturer and how i could possibly find anymore information with regards to Paul Jacques. I expect that if he was a tail gunner in the 17th then he may possibly have been part of a liberator crew.
regards

aswatland · May 23, 2017

Your A-2 is not an issued jacket, but a privately purchased one. All issued A-2s had underarm vent holes. There were many makers who did were not awarded a government contract who made these jackets during the War and especially after 1943 when they were no longer issued by the USAAF. The collar on your jacket is not dissimilar to those found on Dubow A-2s.

SPLINTER · May 23, 2017

hi aswatland
thank you very much for your reply.
was it unusual or against regulations for aircrew to purchase non issued jackets. I ask as i'm a complete novice but very interested in learning

Treetopflyer · May 24, 2017

SPLINTER said:
hi aswatland
thank you very much for your reply.
was it unusual or against regulations for aircrew to purchase non issued jackets. I ask as i'm a complete novice but very interested in learning

No, it was not unusual. However, that nametag looks suspect. It looks a little too new and in good condition to be original.

SPLINTER · May 24, 2017

Hi
Thanks again
Yes in the back of my mind I thought the name tag may not be original. Did they actually have their crew job i.e. Tail gunner on their tags?
Do you think the badges are original , the leather certainly looks undisturbed where the badge once was on the shoulder.
So it's probable that the jacket is original etc but possible that at some time someone's fancied themselves as a tail gunner and slapped this tag on .
Sorry for asking lots of questions but I'm just very interested in this jackets history

aswatland · May 24, 2017

Without handling the jacket, all the patches look original wartime ones and the chest patch was presumably used on another jacket judging by the wear and not on this one. I can't see the empty stitch holes where it was applied to this A2. The name tag may actually be original too. I have seen several of these on Wartime A2s. There were no regs about not buying an A-2 and badging it up appropriately in the War.

SPLINTER · May 24, 2017

Hi
The flying tiger patch was on the right hand shoulder but the stitching had come undone. I shall post another image of it later on.
At some point someone has tried to replace the cuffs but they haven't done a good job. Can you suggest where I may find originals or good repos. I've been told that bysonleathers do a good job of replacing these.
Regards

aswatland · May 24, 2017

Hi Splinter, I normally buy wristlets from the USA when I restore A-2s. This seller has both wristlets and waistbands. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-Army-A...761388?hash=item2eed2ec6ec:g:opAAAOSw9uFW8yJ6

rocketeer · May 24, 2017

Nice to see a beat up one for a change, lets hope it's legit.
Unless you plan on wearing this jacket I would not worry about changing the cuffs. If it is so dry it would crack the leather , boiling the jacket in a gallon of Pecards mixed with KoCholine and it will never bring it back. If thats the case just hang it up and enjoy it though I do hope it is wearable.

rocketeer · May 24, 2017

Had a pair of these as well. I got Stephen Silburn to put mine on. Excellent job(if your are in the UK)

aswatland said:
Hi Splinter, I normally buy wristlets from the USA when I restore A-2s. This seller has both wristlets and waistbands. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-Army-A...761388?hash=item2eed2ec6ec:g:opAAAOSw9uFW8yJ6

Peacoat · May 24, 2017

While I am no expert on patches, the one on the right chest didn't look like what I thought a 17th Air Force should be. I googled it and found the 17th Air Force patch was not even close to the patch you have. In another post you mention a Flying Tiger patch. While that is closer, a google search doesn't find any that match your patch. The CBI patch is legitimate, though. BTW, the color of the lining is olive drab and not khaki.

Several applications of Pecard might bring this jacket back to life. If it has cracks in the leather, nothing will make it wearable, and probably best to do as rocketeer says above

aswatland · May 24, 2017

It is most likely to be a 14th AF jacket where the Flying Tiger patch was extensively used.

l0fielectronic · May 24, 2017

I tried a search but all that came up was a couple of completed eBay acutions for this jacket.

One from 2007 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-wwii-a2-flight-jacket-flying-tiger-tail

And one that ended this month, that one mentioned
'There is a small amount of provenance and information about the Jacket supplied with the jacket.'

A search for that name only brought up a mention in this document http://www.plan-sussex-1944.net/anglais/infiltrations_into_france.pdf but I think that is not the same person, just the same name.

SPLINTER · May 24, 2017

Hi
Yes I only recently acquired the jacket. I was told by the previous owner that it had been bought from an auction in the states. Other than that I don't know much about it. I do like it's well worn appearance and I don't intend to wear it.
The jacket doesn't have any cracks but has lost lots of colour
As I said I am a complete novice but I am very curious as to its origins especially that patch

SPLINTER · May 24, 2017

Here are some other detailed images

Peacoat · May 24, 2017

Even if you don't intend to wear it, I would treat with Pecard until the hide quits absorbing it. Probably will take two or three coats. If you treat it now, that will forestall the cracking for awhile longer, maybe years.

SPLINTER · May 24, 2017

Hi peacoat
I shall do that. I appreciate the advice.
I have an aero repro A2 which I wear but this is my first hopefully authentic jacket.
I also have a very nice Dobbs MA-1 which I'm very fond of. I can understand why some members have very large collections -- I appreciate all the advice you've all gave to me. These jackets need to be preserved and the history that goes with them

Dumpster Diver · Aug 26, 2017

sayyyy, Thats a good one!

WW2 A2 JACKET

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