A-2 sizing help for 5'8"

Hey guys,

I'll be getting my first A-2 jacket issued to me and unfortunately my unit does not have any for us to try on. It takes almost a year to get the jacket after it is ordered so I wanted to make sure I get the right size! From my understanding, Cockpit USA is the current supplier for Air Force A-2s. It seems like there is plenty of expertise floating around here regarding fit. Can somebody please speak about sizing for an individual measuring 5'8" tall, 165lb, 40"chest? My back measurement is 21" and my arm measurement from the neck to the wrist is 33". I'm in between a 38 or 40, and also cannot decide between a regular or a short. I'm afraid of ending up with a jacket that is too long in the body or too short in the sleeves. Thanks in advance!

bronco34 said:

Hey guys,

I'll be getting my first A-2 jacket issued to me and unfortunately my unit does not have any for us to try on. It takes almost a year to get the jacket after it is ordered so I wanted to make sure I get the right size! From my understanding, Cockpit USA is the current supplier for Air Force A-2s. It seems like there is plenty of expertise floating around here regarding fit. Can somebody please speak about sizing for an individual measuring 5'8" tall, 165lb, 40"chest? My back measurement is 21" and my arm measurement from the neck to the wrist is 33". I'm in between a 38 or 40, and also cannot decide between a regular or a short. I'm afraid of ending up with a jacket that is too long in the body or too short in the sleeves. Thanks in advance!

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I'm about your height and weight and generally take a 38 short. For an A-2 I believe the general rule is for the jacket to come just below your belt. Just as important are the shoulders. A good place to look at proper fits would be on John Chapman's Good Wear Leather site.

Hi bronco,
Welcome to TFL.
Cockpit is indeed one of many companies that have claim to supplying issue A-2s. I'm by no means an expert (although others here are), but my advice would be to order your usual suit jacket size. If you usually wear, say, a 38R, then order the same in your A-2.
However...
If you think that this is going to be a jacket that will give you a dashing look, then I'm afraid you may be disappointed. Pretty much every maker of the re-introduced A-2 style has been obliged to provide a jacket that bares a mere passing resemblance to the WWII jacket. The modern jackets have side panels, some have gussets and side-entry pockets, internal pockets, and they are cut way too wide in the shoulders, and slack around the midriff. The sleeve entry points are far too wide also. The cumulative effect is that it makes a fine romper-suit for 50 year old former pilots, but it's a garbage-bag fit for anyone close to being in shape.
My advice would be to seek out a Gibson & Barnes used goatskin A-2 for a better cut and fit, (and a reasonable price), and see if you can't get Velcro receivers stitched onto it, so that you can get that heroic cut the A-2 if famous for (providing your C.O. isn't going to freak out if he notices your non-issue jacket).

Hey Bronco,

I can't help you much in the fit department, but I'd agree with some of what Big J is saying. The cut of the reissue A-2s are different than the originals. That's not always a bad thing as I think many original makers had their own quirks. But the new jackets are cut baggy.

Presumably, you can't completely depart the pattern on your A-2, but there are some makers that tend towards the military fit of the original A-2s while still using materials that would probably pass the sniff test as being uniform like.

Gibson and Barnes (depending on the pattern) might fit the bill. Even the Cockpit has a historical line that I've heard is trimmer. I know less about US Wings and the like, but I've seen USW's and the Cockpit's leather and I think it is not so exotic as to clearly stand out in a formation...except that you will be better fitted than perhaps some of your more Dilbert looking squadron mates.


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