IRVIN NUTS?...the ULTIMATE thread for those who love 'em!

Smithy · Jul 24, 2008

Mine's just on a hanger in the cupboard. I actually wore it the other night when we had a sudden cold snap.

tomsk · Jul 25, 2008

Hi, can anyone shed light on the sizing of Aero and ELC Irvins. I take a 46 in an A-2 from both and wondered how the respective RAF sheepskins fit....snug or baggy or just right?
Many thanks!

Tom

Smithy · Jul 25, 2008

Tom, I have an Eastman which is one size larger than the dress jacket size I take (so I wear a 40 in suit jacket and my Irvin is a 42). This gives me enough room to wear a jumper underneath but I can also wear it with just a shirt without looking swamped in the thing. One thing to keep in mind, if you are tall, seriously consider getting length added to the body and sleeves. Eastman's long sizing adds another 1'' but being 6'1'' I had an extra 1 and a half inches added and it's perfect on me.

Spitfire · Jul 25, 2008

Smithy said:
Mine's just on a hanger in the cupboard. I actually wore it the other night when we had a sudden cold snap.

Ahhh yes - as soon as the temperature goes below 18c - out comes the ol' Irvin

I can't wait till autumn either!

Windsock · Jul 25, 2008

Spitfire said:
Ahhh yes - as soon as the temperature goes below 18c - out comes the ol' Irvin

18 deg? Are you talking Celcius Soren? I've been enjoying a few weeks of good chilly weather recently with max's of around 15-17degC breaking my latest Goodwear but I have only given one of my Irvins an outing on two brief occasions when it was blowing as well and probably below 15 and the excuse was that I had the roof off the MG. I would have imagined that for you Northerners (as in Hemisphere) you wouldn't call that cold.

I live in a sensational beachside resort town that sells itself as a sub tropic haven and rear round retreat for anyone escaping the cold, and most of the time it is, but I had to laugh the other day- it was about 18c and all the punters were strolling about the shops in singlets, shorts and beach kit- someone ought to have told them it was cold. It's a funny thing that given the same temps in a different place they'd be covered up.

How dare they come here and spoil my brief window of VLJ weather pretending like that.

For me I take off the A-2 when it gets up to 20degC, and put on the Irvin if it's below 15.

Baron Kurtz · Jul 25, 2008

Windsock said:
I live in a sensational beachside resort town that sells itself as a sub tropic haven and rear round retreat for anyone escaping the cold, and most of the time it is, but I had to laugh the other day- it was about 18c and all the punters were strolling about the shops in singlets, shorts and beach kit- someone ought to have told them it was cold. It's a funny thing that given the same temps in a different place they'd be covered up.

How dare they come here and spoil my brief window of VLJ weather pretending like that.

Well, they're probably dumb Brits. They tend to strip off at the merest sight of the sun.

bk

Smithy · Jul 25, 2008

Windsock said:
18 deg? Are you talking Celcius Soren? I've been enjoying a few weeks of good chilly weather recently with max's of around 15-17degC breaking my latest Goodwear but I have only given one of my Irvins an outing on two brief occasions when it was blowing as well and probably below 15 and the excuse was that I had the roof off the MG. I would have imagined that for you Northerners (as in Hemisphere) you wouldn't call that cold.

I live in a sensational beachside resort town that sells itself as a sub tropic haven and rear round retreat for anyone escaping the cold, and most of the time it is, but I had to laugh the other day- it was about 18c and all the punters were strolling about the shops in singlets, shorts and beach kit- someone ought to have told them it was cold. It's a funny thing that given the same temps in a different place they'd be covered up.

How dare they come here and spoil my brief window of VLJ weather pretending like that.

For me I take off the A-2 when it gets up to 20degC, and put on the Irvin if it's below 15.

I only use my Irvin if it's below 10, which it was the other night so out came the Irvin.

Are you up on the Sunshine Coast Andrew?

Spitfire · Jul 25, 2008

I was only being slightly ironic and pulling Smithys leg a bit with his "cold snap"!
But I am still longing for those cooler days, where the irvin is the only piece to wear. Day in and day out.
We've had summer temperatures around 20-25 celcius for some time now, so it takes quite awhile before the Irvin gets out of the closet.
(But I do visit it sometimes - just to see if it's OK.

)

Windsock · Jul 25, 2008

Smithy said:
I only use my Irvin if it's below 10, which it was the other night so out came the Irvin.

Are you up on the Sunshine Coast Andrew?

Yes I am Tim, a cruel twist of fate no? I can't complain really but I think my affliction stems from being Melbourne bred.

and as I write at 8.00am it's 10c and a bright sunny day and already walkers are out in T shirts

. The ethos of this place normally precludes wearing one at any time except we just had a cold stormy Low sitting over us last week which by now is over your homeland. The only sensible use here is for open cockpit flying or driving. So Soren I have my share of visiting too! But since my real interest in them is pretty much purely historical it doesn't really matter.

BK, that thought had occured to me as well! I refer to the climate at this time as "cold warm".

wildbluesea · Jul 26, 2008

ww2 escape movies

Slightly off topic, but still on Irvins - Back in the 60's (yes, shows my age) when I was a kid living in the UK I watched a movie about an RAF plane that was shot down behind enemy lines, I think in Germany. The movie is about the crew trying to make it back home, travelling at night etc. I remember them trying to cross a quick flowing river at one stage. I've wanted an Irvin since then. Any of you guys suggest what movie it may have been? Love to catch up with it again after all these years. Or can you suggest any other good WW2 movies on a similar theme - full of crew wearing Irvins etc. Obviously the Dam Busters and The Great Escape come to mind. You know, back in the 60's you could pick up WW2 surplus at almost any jumble sale - I think they just call them markets now! Items I bought were a gas mask, leather flying goggles, a lightweight army jacket, like those warn in the desert. Think I had to leave them behind when we moved down under. Never found an Irvin till now though!

blacklagoon · Jul 26, 2008

a film called the mosquito squadron has a load of irvins in it.davids mccaullums looked pretty dodgy though.i haven't seen the film for a long time,but try and check it out.

Smithy · Jul 26, 2008

It's awhile since I saw Mosquito Squadron so I can't remember. British war films from around this era seemed to use a lot of dodgy film prop Irvins, Battle of Britain being another.

Expect a big rise in interest in Irvins when Peter Jackson's Dambusters remake comes out in 2009/2010. Eastman are doing the Irvins for the film.

wildbluesea · Jul 27, 2008

Forgot to mention that the late, great, RAF hero, Douglas Bader opened one of our local jumble sales back in the 60's. As a scrawny, shy kid I plucked up the courage to ask him for his autograph, but he refused, stating that if he signed one for me, he'd have to sign one for everyone. Still haven't forgiven him for that, even if he is flying around a little higher nowadays. I do remember that you couldn't see any hint of a limp, despite his tin legs.

Mike1973 · Aug 4, 2008

Just been doing some research on a Stirling downed on a Nuremburg raid in '43, and found my way to this site...

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/

And thought this image would be appropriate here...

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/bacsila.html

Windsock · Aug 5, 2008

Mike1973 said:
Just been doing some research on a Stirling downed on a Nuremburg raid in '43, and found my way to this site...

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/

And thought this image would be appropriate here...

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/bacsila.html

Thanks for that Mike. I wonder where he picked up that one from? Mick Prodgers book on RAFv Luft kit has several similar pictures of captured Irvins- one of the most famous ones being that of Galland.

Interesting aside for me and slightly ironic to read Bacsila's bio, passed away in 1982- he flew as wingman to von Muncheburg who himself was killed in 1943. Only today in the post office I ran into a Friend of mine who as a RAAF Kittyhawk Pilot in 3 Sqn had his flying career permanently and prematurely cut short in December 1942 by Von Muncheburg (I wonder if Bacsila was there on that occasion?). That was the day he last saw his Irvin as they didn't wear them flying in Africa- only on the ground. He spent the rest of the War in Stalag Luft III. Today Allan's a healthy fit 90 year old enjoying the sunny Queensland winter.

But I digress....

ethanedwards · Aug 5, 2008

Good digression though Andrew..............

It's a shock to see the tallies of the experten, so few people accounting for so many allied aircraft. I expect it was much the same vice-versa though?
I wonder how prized an Irvin was as war booty, it must have been near impossible to wear while flying in a 109, although in Ju88's and Bf110's it might have been a different story.

HermannHKG · Aug 7, 2008

Smithy said:
It's awhile since I saw Mosquito Squadron so I can't remember. British war films from around this era seemed to use a lot of dodgy film prop Irvins, Battle of Britain being another.

Expect a big rise in interest in Irvins when Peter Jackson's Dambusters remake comes out in 2009/2010. Eastman are doing the Irvins for the film.

Wasn't Mosquito Squadron a sequel to the more successful 633 Sequadron, starring Cliff Robertson ?

Rgds,

Hermann

ethanedwards · Aug 7, 2008

HermannHKG said:
Wasn't Mosquito Squadron a sequel to the more successful 633 Sequadron, starring Cliff Robertson ?

Rgds,

Hermann

Not as such, 633 Squadron was based on Frederick E. Smith's best selling novel. I think Mosquito Squadron was purely a cinematic effort, shamelessly hanging on the shirt tails of the earlier movie. At least 633 Squadron has a memorable soundtrack!

aswatland · Aug 21, 2008

RAAF IRVIN-Named

Named RAAF Irvins are extremely rare. This one has the original 1941 contract label complete with the officer's name and RAAF service number.

It was worn by a Warrant Officer Brian Jenkins who served in the RAAF. His service number RAAF 411329 is painted on both sides of the belt and his name/service number are written on the label.

W/O Brian Jenkins from North Sydney joined up in April 1941, trained as a WO/AG in Canada attached to the RCAF for training 1941/42, transferred to the UK in march'42, trained with 2OTU (probably where he used this jacket), transferred to India late '42, flew with 99SqRAF (Wellingtons), transferred to 21 Ferry control June'44, returned to Australia Sept '44, medically unfit, discharged March'45.

The jacket is 100% original apart from the main zip which is a late 40s/early 50s Swift. The sleeve zips are very unusual nickle Dot made in Englands.

jamespibworth@n · Aug 21, 2008

Getting a bit cold in the evenings here in Bedford.

Fuel bills going up and up.

We have taken to leaving the heating off and putting our Irvins on.

Any excuse!

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