GREAT ESCAPE type leather A-2 from Real McCoys (with pics)

PADDY · Jun 12, 2007

WELL...partyly true!!

The 'leather' is the drum rolled leather as used by RMNZ for the Great Escape salute jacket (to Cooler King, Steve McQueen).

But in this case, they have made it up to the Dubow model (rather than the RoughWear). It's a size 42 and fits me to a tee!!

Dark chocolate top coat, wears through to a burnished mahogany underneath, and is starting to look lovely. Plenty of grain and jerky areas (where you get lots of natural creasing of the leather), which I just love, I guess I'm just a 'jerky' kinda guy [huh]

Usual scalloped pockets and long, shirt-like pointy collar, synonymous with Dubow of Chicago.

Nice original 'art deco sunray' Talon zipper finishes this baby off a treat!![huh]

The squadron patch 'maybe' an original [huh] But it's damn near impossible to tell really. Anyone out there know what SQUADRON PATCH this is? and where they served during WW2....? (starters for ten!!)

Flieger · Jun 12, 2007

Darn beautiful jacket you got there, Paddy!

:eusa_clap

*Flieger is envious*

Zemke Fan · Jun 12, 2007

That is a humdinger...

of a jacket, Paddy! Wow. Love the way it is breaking in. I will look for info on the squadron patch. Looks original to me.

DiabolicalAngel · Jun 12, 2007

Very nice jacket indeed !

scotrace · Jun 12, 2007

Not only is that a spectacular jacket, but you know how to wear it well!

Technonut · Jun 12, 2007

Now, THAT is a sharp jacket... The grain is outstanding. :eusa_clap very authentic looking fit also.

silhouette53 · Jun 12, 2007

PADDY said:
Mr Middleton Sir, how is it that you are so infuriatingly proficient at looking damn good in your A2's ???? Tell me your secret PLEASE !

Lovely jacket - perfect fit - looks like it already completed 50 missions at least. Very nice indeed - you really have mastered 'the look'

Cheers

Colin

BellyTank · Jun 12, 2007

Nice one P. Daddy.

Reminds me of my/Steve's RMCNZD'Bow...

B
T

Fletch · Jun 12, 2007

silhouette53 said:
Mr Middleton Sir, how is it that you are so infuriatingly proficient at looking damn good in your A2's ???? Tell me your secret PLEASE !

Having a war face helps. That easy bravado of the Great Generation doesn't fit us well these days...

Lt. Norman "Bud" Fortier, 354th FS, 354th FG, 8th AF

Spitfire · Jun 12, 2007

Nice look Paddy:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

cheaterome · Jun 13, 2007

Nice jacket Paddy .. I have seen that jacket and hide in 4oz. as well.

The patch is the 79th fighter group / 85th fighter squadron "flying skullmen" They flew p-40's.

Served in both the 9th and 12th air force throughout the war.

It's a keeper--- nice job.

JEROME

PastimeSteve · Jun 13, 2007

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap Paddy, I'm envious. That is a stupendously cool jacket and it looks like it was made for you.

Now, this newbie doesn't understand some of the code language you're using in your post. Where exactly did you buy/acquire this jacket?

Steve

Feraud · Jun 13, 2007

As always you look great Paddy.

Pardon the silly question but is the patch painted leather?

Fletch · Jun 13, 2007

PastimeSteve said:
:eusa_clap :eusa_clap Paddy, I'm envious. That is a stupendously cool jacket and it looks like it was made for you.

Now, this newbie doesn't understand some of the code language you're using in your post. Where exactly did you buy/acquire this jacket?

Steve

Not sure he specified, but it was made by Real McCoy's New Zealand (RMNZ).
(A spinoff company, Real McCoy's Japan (RMJ), has the rights to the trademark in that country - thus the distinction.)

J.A. Dubow, of Chicago, and Rough Wear, of Middletown, PA, were original WW2 A-2 contractors, whose jackets RMNZ (and others) reproduce today.

Fletch · Jun 13, 2007

OH BTW PADDY!

Your patch represents the 85th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, 12th AF. The 79th FG flew P-40s and P-47s, mostly out of Italy after early service in North Africa.

Supposedly the 85th's winged skull was the inspiration for the insignia of Hell's Angels, who took their name from the 303rd Bomb Group, 8th AF.

Here's a variant in black.

The 79th FG is the subject of a book written in 2002. Among their other exploits, they were the only Army fighter unit to sink an aircraft carrier (the Italian Aquila, then in German hands in Genoa harbor).

PADDY · Jun 13, 2007

Thanks Fletch for the research!

Great to know where the patch pertains to!! thanks for that hard graft to dig up the info! :eusa_clap

Feraud: The patch is a painted circle of leather, stitched onto the jacket. Some patches were painted, some woven/stitched. And some were painted direct onto the jacket leather itself.

SORRY to anyone feeling slightly lost with my using company abrieviations. Please wrap my knuckles anytime I do that!!:eusa_doh:
As sometimes I 'just assume' folk know. But of course there was a time 'I knew zilch about these things too!!' and the only way to learn is to ask.

Also, I still really should 'not assume' and spell things out (this is a place of learning after all! as well as sharing), so apologies

Fletch · Jun 13, 2007

PADDY said:
Great to know where the patch pertains to!! thanks for that hard graft to dig up the info! :eusa_clap

A pleasure my dear sir, a pleasure. May it add to your pride in ownership.

Estevan · Jun 13, 2007

Hey Paddy,glad you like it. It's the perfect fit. Like I said, I believe the patch could be an original. Cool, huh?

Edward · Jun 20, 2007

Looks great- great fit, too. My first A2 is a much more recent one, seems to be a baggier fit than yours, like the current Scotts (or am I just too used to the sung fit of a Brando style mc? My A2 is a 44 same as I always wear in an outer coat...).

Question.... when did they start putting in the hand warmer pockets behind the patch pockets on the front of the jacket? I know mine's not vintage styled exactly (the epaulettes are "wrong" - mine stud on just like a Brando jacket), but I'd assumed (on the dubious basis of Indiana Jones' jacket which I always looked at as a sort of A2 without the elsatic cuffing!) that those were always part of the design.

PADDY · Jun 21, 2007

Welcome Edward! Talking of A-2's...

Edward, features like side entry pockets and internal wallet pockets..etc, are all a modern high street feature, and alien to the original 30's/40's style of military A-2 (which was essentially a work-horse military flight jacket).

Also, remember that when the war for the Americans began in esentially 1942 (41 was basically over when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December), the country was still at the end of the Depression, so the lads were as thin as rakes and so the jackets mostly reflected that with a slim 'shirt like' cut (also a style of the times). But that's what really sets them apart now!! and they look 'so cool' for it.

Horse Hide or goat were the main hides used. Two snap fastened pockets; knits on wrists and waist; throat hook; snap closures on the end of the collar; underarm hole vents...are all features you want in a 30's/40's look A-2.

At the top of WW2 Room (on the Lounge) there is a REFERENCE LIBRARY 1, Have a look in as all the main A-2 makers are listed with their websites.

When you are ready to pull the trigger, ASK US, and we'll help you make that informed decision to take 'one step beyond' into vintage coolness!

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