B-1, B-2 and other rare/early jackets

I have found references in certain texts to both a B-1 and B-2 flight jacket - presumably these are very early versions of what would evolve into the B3. Lost Worlds make a version of the B-2, but other than them I cannot find any information on either of these jackets anywhere. Has anybody got any more info or photos of these? I'm interested in learning more about them.

With that in mind, were there ever any additional B series jackets that filled the gaps between the B3 and B6 (B4, B5?)?

The B series jackets are similar to the RAF Irvin and were made by The Switlik Parachute Co.. Both have zipped cuffs, belted waist and neck strap. The b jackets did also have a single front pocket, usually removed, made from horsehide the B1 has a sheepskin lining, the B2 blanket or moquette.
Original B jackets are very rare but are about if you are lucky to find one. There is a thread here somewhere of a members grandfather's B1.

Modern repros seem to all get the pocket design wrong as photos suggest that the pocket had a baggy bellows type construction and not a simple patch pocket as on the A2.
B2 are made by - Lost Worlds, Buzz Rickson's (3 versions) and by The Few.

If memory serves, the pocket on the original B2s was typically removed because it interfered with a parachute harness? The only original ones of which I've ever seen photos from "now" (as opposed to back in the day) had had them removed, which might account for them being not quite right in the repops.

Rarely reproduced, the B2.... I remember Rufus had a buzzone some time ago - saw that in person, beautiful jacket. I always kinda wished Aero would do one, but I heard down the grapevine Ken was convinced there was no demand. Never even seen a photo of a B1, don't think anyone repops those. I guess there isn't the same demand if Hollywood didn't make one look sexy in some WW2 picture. Shame.

Aero's ThunderBay doesn't seem a million miles away from an early B-series; never seen a B1, but if you blanker lined the TB, gave it an outsized mouton collar, and switch the handwarmer pockets for the patch, it wouldn't be far off.

Wow, awesome information and pictures guys. Many thanks for sharing all that!

Quite a handsome jacket, the B2 - it wouldn't look out of place today. It does have something of a proto-Ivin feel about it, particularly with the belt. It's a shame more companies don't offer reproductions of it.

Looks like it's only got a shearling collar and is not made of sheepskin...is the body made from horsehide?

Horsehide body.

MeachamLake said:

It does have something of a proto-Ivin feel about it, particularly with the belt. It's a shame more companies don't offer reproductions of it. Looks like it's only got a shearling collar and is not made of sheepskin...is the body made from horsehide?

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In a couple of books I've got the interior of the B2 jacket appears to be wool-lined, not shearling-lined. I agree the overall shape and config strongly resembles the Irvin and without any knowledge of the topic I'd guess the Americans copied or were inspired by the Irvin in designing a heavy winter flying jacket, although fairly quickly designed their own unique design, the B3.

The B1 is shearling lined the B2 blanket. The Irvin was designed by an American or a Canadian depending on the source.

John Lever said:

The B series jackets are similar to the RAF Irvin and were made by The Switlik Parachute Co.. Both have zipped cuffs, belted waist and neck strap. The b jackets did also have a single front pocket, usually removed, made from horsehide the B1 has a sheepskin lining, the B2 blanket or moquette.
Original B jackets are very rare but are about if you are lucky to find one. There is a thread here somewhere of a members grandfather's B1.

Modern repros seem to all get the pocket design wrong as photos suggest that the pocket had a baggy bellows type construction and not a simple patch pocket as on the A2.
B2 are made by - Lost Worlds, Buzz Rickson's (3 versions) and by The Few.

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Much of what you say, John, is correct, but please note the following:

There was a good deal of experimentation at the time (late '20's/early '30's) and short production runs were made of standardized items and non-standardized items in varying fabrics. The B-2, for example, was indeed also produced by Werber Leather Coat Co. with a sheepskin lining (maybe other makers, too), and I have actually seen about as many of these, rare as they are, as I have the blanket-lined or moquette-lined versions (actually, I've seen very few in moquette).

The early "B" jackets certainly do resemble the RAF Irvin and can feature the strap on the collar back as found on the Irvin; the early B-3's also bear uncanny similarities to the Irvin.

I wish I could say I have located documents that indicate the exact reason and the T. O. for removing the chest pockets on the early "B" jackets, but based on a general feeling for what was transpiring in the 1930's, the chest pockets were likely removed not because they interfered with the parachute harness but because the harness made any chest pockets impractical/useless.

This is my own personal theory based on how subsequent designs were produced until the very end of WWII and my inability to see how the heavy-weight harnesses could be interfered with by a pocket; however, there were flying suits being produced at the same time and afterward with chest pockets that certainly were meant to be worn with parachute harnesses and chest pockets seem to not have been an issue. An alternate suggestion is that the flying suits were not intended to display unit insignia on the chest but jackets indeed were, even though the actual practice was of wearing unit insignia was not widespread (though still more observed in the 1930's), thus the pocket removal may have had to do with a conflict on the left breast with unit insignia.

Until documents can be found, the pocket removal will remain an issue of speculation and I'd like the open-ended reason to be left as such and not seen too much as being a settled issue as has too often bean the case with other mysteries that have become largely defined as settled in the community of historians and enthusiasts. And I am by no means saying that this is what you were doing.

Irvin made in Buffalo in approx 1937.

I'm always glad to see another thread on inter-war flight jackets. Given my propensity for driving drafty old vehicles with questionable heat in the dead of winter (i.e. my upcoming '23 Ford touring car), I've fancied a B-2 in particular as being the ultimate piece of kit. I'd also like to get my hands on an A-2 mechanic's cap, which is the flat-cap predecessor to the A-3 ball cap worn during the war.

John Lever said:

View attachment 89970 Irvin made in Buffalo in approx 1937.

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What makes you say it's an Irvin made in Buffalo circa 1937, John? There's a thread on here somewhere from earlier this year where I outlined the various design/appearance changes in the B-3 jacket and this certainly matches the second model in the evolution of that style.

Here's the thread I referenced:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/thre...e-1937-undyed-sheepskin-contract.89241/page-2

Seeing in person is, of course, everything, followed by more photos in detail, but everything I see points to second-generation B-3 that was dyed.

The label in the jacket.

John Lever said:

The label in the jacket.

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Can you please post a photo of the label? If you cannot post the label, please post what you can read of the text.

Does the label use the RAF terminology in referencing it? When you say it's an "Irvin," to me that means it's made to a spec. accepted by the A. M. of the RAF and not simply a jacket made by Irvin of Buffalo, NY.

I have a disc with all the photos so ill try to get them onto my tablet somehow. I think the label reads like this -

Winterflying suit type A
Irving Airchute Company
Buffalo
New York.

The collar is asymmetric and the panel seams are flat not rolled.
I understand that Irvin and Irving are the same person, and perhaps there were legal issues with the use of the name. There was a factory in Buffalo.

This is an interesting jacket from the 1930's. It's a civilian B3 of sorts but shares details from the B2 and Irvin. The shell is horse or goat, the lining is shearling.
It has zipped and snap closure on the cuffs, straps on the collar and buckled waist adjustment.
Best of all is the blue silk label
'China Air Motive '

HPA Rep said:

What makes you say it's an Irvin made in Buffalo circa 1937, John? There's a thread on here somewhere from earlier this year where I outlined the various design/appearance changes in the B-3 jacket and this certainly matches the second model in the evolution of that style.

Here's the thread I referenced:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/thre...e-1937-undyed-sheepskin-contract.89241/page-2

Seeing in person is, of course, everything, followed by more photos in detail, but everything I see points to second-generation B-3 that was dyed.

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John Lever said:

View attachment 90012 View attachment 90013

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Holy crap that is something you don't see every day.

That's absolutely stunning!

A rare duck indeed!