I'm in England, a woman named Michelle Diprose is/was very good but expensive. Not been in touch with her for years, she is from Kent.
When you see a WW2 movie depicting the fighter plane squadrons of the RAF, you will often see the pilots running to their aircraft on hearing the scramble bell. More often than not, the pilots were only ever seen in their uniform, some are even seen in shirt sleeves. Those film makers are, on occasions, economical with actual accounts, nothing like a bit of fiction to spice up a story line, but they knew better when it came to the wardrobe department. The reason you see fighter pilots without a jacket is because the single seater takes heat from the front engined aircraft, despite the best efforts of the designers. Bomber crews flew higher and their engines are all wing mounted.
Avirex used a hand of card patch on a lot of their repro's, though at that time often had lithographed depictions of bomber sorties on the backs.
Were they fictitious I do not know as I never followed anything up. Their book, Cowboys of the Sky reads like a historical volume but is nothing of the sort, just a company catalogue full of their non accurate A2s with split backs and hand warmer pocketed jackets popular at the time with a few wartime photo's thrown in for good measure. The back panel images were popular though but were they fictitious? China Doll, American Beauty, Glen Miller's Army Air Force Band, Flying Tigers and especially Going My Way Saipan 1945 were but a few, the latter featuring what would only be allowed de mobbed post war.
Just Google USAAF fighter squadron(or bomber) patches and hundreds come up, you are spoilt for choice.
(The other great charity he inspired is Jail Guitar Doors, which was set up by Billy Bragg in Joe's memory. Designed to work with people in prison, teach them to play, to find something in music that can change their lives and help them go straight once back out. Wayne Kramer has established a US wing of this in recent years.)
Well, there's one pin up that certainly looks a lot better on the bike than she does on the jacket.
Ah, dear 'Uncle' Joe - closing in on sixteen years gone. Still remember where I was when I heard. Probably the only man I'd have ever willingly followed into battle. Despite him being a Sassenach.
I've never put a pin on a jacket unless I see it as a permanent decoration - same as putting on a patch or a stud, I suppose. Thinking about it from that angle helps, I find. Only got the one painted jacket, myself - a cheap Perfecto type with a BRMC logo on the back of it. Only worn it in a costume context, though - can't see wearing it out and about, somehow!
I can see your dilemma here, but to be honest you have bought a jacket to wear be it a biker or Flight jacket so enjoy it. Forget the resale value for the enjoyment you will get over 10 years will far outweigh worrying about it's resale. If resale is an important thing you may become paranoid about wearing it in extreme situations such as leaning on bar tops which bikers do a lot of, getting under cars if you drive an oldie but goodie or brushing up against a walls etc. I even lent mine to a lady I was romancing to sit on in a field, thats the Walter Raleigh in me
You could always wear it to the office on a 'Dress down Friday' something I have never believed in for managers and above. I could not take a manager seriously were he to be wearing Steve McQueens original Great Escape jacket, nor Brando's biker with BRMC plastered on the back. Some may disagree but it is just my opinion. Casual wear to work then remove it, fair do. Never to an interview unless you happen to be a musician or pop star such as Slash etc!
Nice girl, nice bike but the shoes YUK!
Now you’ve gone and done it @Edward Ive got myself a Jail Guitar Doors pin. I said ah hell if Joes going on there Wayne Kramer and Billy Bragg’s foundstion certainly deserve its place. Should be here in 3 business days. 20 US dollars for a pin, but for a great cause I can stomach. Clang clang go the Jail guitar doors.
