OK! #2

[Dixon Cannon]

My next big wonder is the following:

I have an Avirex A2 Flight Jacket that I bought through the American Express catalog way back in 1980. That jacket came with a left arm shoulder pocket - a cigarette pocket, if you will. Over the years I've had numerous comments on the authenticity of the pocket on an A2 - some affirming, some negating. Twenty-eight years later I still haven't determined whether a left sleeve cigarette pocket is a legit addition to an authentic A2.

Well guess what? I was watching a video episode of the T.V. production of "Twelve O'Clock High" (a Quinn-Martin Production!) with Robert Lansing in the Gen. Savage role. During a scene in OC, Frank reaches with his right hand toward his left shoulder, pops open the left sleeve cigarette pocket and pulls out a cigarette! Imagine that! Me and Frank Savage, the only two in the world with that little cigarette pocket - after all these years!

So the question becomes; is it legit? Is it a T.V. goof? Is it a strange anomoly? Is this really worth your time to enter into discussion? Should I just take my jacket and go home? (But, in the loving memory of Robert Lansing, I think we owe it to him to resolve this issue once and for all - he deserves it, don't you think?)

Thanks for your kind responses.

-dixon cannon

 

[Story]

So the question becomes; is it legit?

-dixon cannon

Legit, as in 'unauthorized uniform modification'. If I had a job surfing across flak and smoked, I'd get one sewed on there too.

I just cut a piece of velcro off the collar of my ACUs, because it was annoying. Unauthorized, yup. Non-standard, yup. Do I care? Nope.

But it's *real*.

Non-period flight crew opinions and $4 will get you a cup of Starbucks, but maybe Mr Halpert will weigh in.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=27641

 

[KilroyCD]

Military issue A-2s did not have the sleeve pocket unless it was a later personal modification. I've never seen one myself. The Avirex company, especially early on, was famous for taking liberties with designs based on what they thought consumers would want. As a result, there are a lot of inaccurate pieces of psuedo-military clothing out there with the Avirex label.
I should know, as I have four articles of late '80s Avirex clothing, and none of them are correct. :eusa_doh: