Anj-3

[Stand By]

And another recent shot. Here it is with the NOS vintage Talon zip that replaced the Aero zip (which, as I'm more than happy to say, worked perfectly, ran as smooth as butter and I had no issues with whatsoever - I just wanted something more authentic to the 1943 era and aura of the jacket).

 

[Sloan1874]

Fantastic looking jacket, it's obviously wearing in well. I love the 'saved pet count' as well, a very nice touch.

 

[Dr H]

Rare wartime image of a pilot wearing an AN-J-3.

 

[Canuck Panda]

The one on the left may have been an AN-J-3 the air force edition.

I've seen over half a dozen of these come and go on the auction sites, but never with a label inside.

Goodwear had one with the A&F label and he had suspected it was from the military surplus

Neither of these has the fancy panelled lining found on the later AN-J-3A

I have finally found an used Toys Mccoys one, airforce version not the navy version.

Fits much slimmer than the A2 jackets, just like the black and white photo up top.

Imo AN-J-3 air force edition has better mobility and fit than the A2. But did these jackets actually existed?

Anyone has an original with an actual label? Please post thanks.

 

[Brettafett]

AVI Leather makes a cracker ANJ-3. Its their own take on the ANJ-3, not based on any particular original.

Most originals had the windflap on the outside, but here are some as above more like the M-422A

 

[Jake Barnes]

Were there actually any "original" AN-J-3s (meaning AN-J-3s produced during the WW II or post-war era) with both epaulets and interior windflap? Most of the photos of original AN-J3s are versions with epaulets and external A-2 style windflap, with a few photos of the seemingly rarer version with no epaulets and M-442 style interior windflap. I have never seen a photo of a military contract or immediate postwar civilian AN-J-3 with both epaulets and an interior windflap.
Despite this, many modern manufacturers (Aero, Bill Kelso, Avi, to name a few) have chosen to make their AN-J-3 repro versions with epaulets and internal windflaps.
But I'm left wondering if there is any evidence that any original AN-J-3s like this (epaulets and internal windflap) actually existed. Does anyone have a photo of, or better yet, an original jacket, of this version?

Quote Reply

 

[raf]

vlj.org can probably help with info on the AN-J-3 jackets. See this long thread: https://www.vintageleatherjackets.o...vy-intermediate-leather-flight-jackets.36527/

I've seen examples with/without collar tip snaps, with/without epaulettes, and with/without internal wind flap. Every example should have internal chest pocket (sim. to Navy G-1), and "Bi-Swing" back, (again sim. to Navy G-1). Pay attention to the location of front patch pockets. Some versions (mimicking Navy AN-J-3 jackets) may have patch pockets attached higher on the chest than other examples which mimic the Army's lower pocket placement. Some folks find the higher pockets awkward to use.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Wasn't this the jacket that was meant as a joint Navy - (Army) Air Force jacket? So historically both branches wore it? Even if it was rare among the AAF? Did the AAF actually wear these? Why didn't they catch on with AAF?

And I am confused… did these have fur collars like the G1 or smooth collar like the A2?

 

[Edward]

Wasn't this the jacket that was meant as a joint Navy - (Army) Air Force jacket? So historically both branches wore it? Even if it was rare among the AAF? Did the AAF actually wear these? Why didn't they catch on with AAF?

And I am confused… did these have fur collars like the G1 or smooth collar like the A2?

Yeah, as with the shearling ANJ4, it was intended to make supply lines more efficient by providing a single jacket like across both the army and the navy (the USAF not being a separate branch of service in its own right until 1947). As Atticus has noted above, though, these jackets were quickly outclassed by alternatives. The last ANJ3s were made in early 1949; by late 1949, the USN were issuing the first jackets labelled a G1.

The USAF clearly chose by 1949 to go in a different direction. They had, of course, already been working with textiles from 1943 onwards; in 1950, if memory serves, they came out with the B15B - the first of the nylons. As best as I understand it. the ANJ3 was never widely issued to air force, and obviously the heads of the USAF in its early years decided, like Hap Arnold in 42., that they didn't want to pursue leather any further.

As to the mouton collar ANJ3s, I first learned of those via this thread back when. What little I've read suggests they were an experimental adaptation of the design influenced by field mods, though in late 49 these evolved into the issued G1.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Yeah, as with the shearling ANJ4, it was intended to make supply lines more efficient by providing a single jacket like across both the army and the navy (the USAF not being a separate branch of service in its own right until 1947). As Atticus has noted above, though, these jackets were quickly outclassed by alternatives. The last ANJ3s were made in early 1949; by late 1949, the USN were issuing the first jackets labelled a G1.

The USAF clearly chose by 1949 to go in a different direction. They had, of course, already been working with textiles from 1943 onwards; in 1950, if memory serves, they came out with the B15B - the first of the nylons. As best as I understand it. the ANJ3 was never widely issued to air force, and obviously the heads of the USAF in its early years decided, like Hap Arnold in 42., that they didn't want to pursue leather any further.

As to the mouton collar ANJ3s, I first learned of those via this thread back when. What little I've read suggests they were an experimental adaptation of the design influenced by field mods, though in late 49 these evolved into the issued G1.

Okay… does that mean the for the most part Navy and Marine pilots in World War II did not have fur mouton collars on their flight jackets?

 

[Edward]

Okay… does that mean the for the most part Navy and Marine pilots in World War II did not have fur mouton collars on their flight jackets?

Those who were issued them would predominantly have had a mouton collared jacket - the short-lived M422 for some, for most the M422a. The AN6552 was a short-lived designation on a jacket that was pretty much a late M422a.... the ANJ3 was the oddity; if I understand what I've read correctly, it was never put into full production, with only a few dozen test jackets being made from 1943 onwards.

The plain leather collars were the norm in the USAAF, with their A2s, though there were examples of field modifications adding a mouton collar to those (if memory serves, more common in the CBI theatre? I'm sure someone on here can confirm either way). Aero used to do a "field modified" A2 which was just an A2 with the mouton collar in their standard range. It's an interesting variation, but very much not the norm for the Army Air Forces.

The TL/DR is that for the vast majority in ww2, with only rare exceptions, the USN guys had mouton collar jackets, the Army guy did not.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Those who were issued them would predominantly have had a mouton collared jacket - the short-lived M422 for some, for most the M422a. The AN6552 was a short-lived designation on a jacket that was pretty much a late M422a. The ANJ3 was the oddity; if I understand what I've read correctly, it was never put into full production, with only a few dozen test jackets made from 1943 onwards.

The plain leather collars were the norm in the USAAF, with their A2s, though there were examples of field modifications adding a mouton collar to those (if memory serves, more common in the CBI theatre? I'm sure someone on here can confirm either way). Aero used to do a "field modified" A2 which was just an A2 with the mouton collar in their standard range. It's an interesting variation, but very much not the norm for the Army Air Forces.

The TL/DR is that for the vast majority in ww2, with only rare exceptions, the USN guys had mouton collar jackets, the Army guy did not.

That's what I thought. I could never fully understood why the Navy and AAF disagreed so much on the fur collar? It seems so arbitrary, especially when they were both flying very similar aircraft.

Quick question: does anyone know what the AN stands for in the designation… I see it all the time for this era.

Also for the record… the G1 was exclusively a post war/cold war jacket, right?

 

[dmoser1978]

Not an ANJ-3 exactly, but I work as a helicopter pilot and had US Authentic make a hybrid jacket of what I consider to be the best features of different jackets.

Basically it's their G-1 with a leather collar, A2 style pocket flaps, a cotton lining, and a sleeve pocket for my ear plugs.

It's been a very versatile jacket for me.