How did flight jackets (A-2,A1,B6, etc.) get their letter/numbers?

Grayland said:

My youngest daughter is in Florence, Italy getting her Masters in Fashion Marketing/Merchandising. She complains that Italy is locked down so she's stuck in Florence. First world problem, huh? She was my designated photographer and I miss her!

She was assigned a semester long project on US flight jackets. She actually had to go to a thrift store and get an old flight jacket (she picked up an MA-1) and had to take it apart and check out the construction.

She knows I'm a leather jacket fan so she asked me a question I couldn't answer - and I can't seem to find the answer. Thought I may get some help here.

How did the various jackets get their names? I assume A-2 is the next generation of the A-1, but why is it called the A-1. Why B-3, B-6, MA-1?

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Carlos840 said:

I think the militarry just decided letters and numbers was the best way to deal with things and avoid confusion.

As you say, there is an A-1 and A-2, a B1, B2 and B3, a C1, a D1, a G1.
Basically different letters are different models, different numbers are different versions of a jacket serving the same purpouse.
I don't think the letters themselves have any real meaning, it's not like the army is super imaginative in naming things.
Everything is just designed by a model number and and alteration number:
M16 rifle, evolved into M16A1, M4 carbine into M4A1, M4 Sherman into M4A1, then M4A2 etc.
I don't see why they would change to a super meaningful system just for clothing...

Maybe @Peacoat will know more.

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Carlos840 said:

I think the militarry just decided letters and numbers was the best way to deal with things and avoid confusion.

Click to expand...

Carlos840 said:

I think the militarry just decided letters and numbers was the best way to deal with things and avoid confusion.

As you say, there is an A-1 and A-2, a B1, B2 and B3, a C1, a D1, a G1.
Basically different letters are different models, different numbers are different versions of a jacket serving the same purpouse.
I don't think the letters themselves have any real meaning, it's not like the army is super imaginative in naming things.
Everything is just designed by a model number and and alteration number:
M16 rifle, evolved into M16A1, M4 carbine into M4A1, M4 Sherman into M4A1, then M4A2 etc.
I don't see why they would change to a super meaningful system just for clothing...

Maybe @Peacoat will know more.

Edit: actually the B7 doesn't fit in the B "familly", it's not even a flight jacket... I guess i should have just said nothing, i don't know.

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