B3 Shoulder tab.

[karhu21]

Just been watching The War Lover featuring Steve McQueen and Robert Wagner and must admit to being
somewhat puzzled over the small piece of leather hanging out on the right shoulder of McQueen´s B3 flight jacket.
What is the purpose..is it something to do with rank insignia?

 

[Otter]

Right in one, that is where the rank tab was attached, no epaulette to sew it to.

 

[rocketeer]

Without anything to hold them down , personally I think they look ridiculous, that is to say they look like they have no purpose. Once they have a rank badge and it is pinned/ sewn to the shoulder of the jacket they look ok but left flapping loose as some wearers do they still look a bit questionable(In my opinion anyway haha) . As it is I did not attach rank to my Eastman B3 but I did sew completely around mine so they did not flap about and looked a lot neater.
Quite a few originals come with these flaps cut off, probably from civvy use. I have had two such original jackets, both with these tabs cut off.