I am looking to find out information concerning the best WWII leather flight jacket manufacturers in terms of accuracy to original specifications and quality of materials. I have researched Eastman Leather Clothing and they seem to manufacture to the original specifications. I would be interested in an A-2 jacket. Does anyone have any insight on this topic?

GMR,

You could have a look at http://www.acmedepot.com/


Regards,

Paul
The Netherlands

You can also take a look at U.S. Wings U.S. Wings and Garcia Aviation www.garciaaviation.com/cgi-local/store/agora?

Jay Golnick

WHOOPS!
Garcia Aviation is www.garciaaviation.com
Forgot to Preview!

Jay Golnick

Probably your best choice would be from the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Dayton, OH Formerly the Air Force Museum. Email WEB Site www.wpafb.af.mil/museum

Herb Harper

Herb Harper

If you are looking for a really authentic, quality reproduction of an A-2 or B-3, I would recommend Eastman Leather, Real McCoys NewZeland or Aero leather clothing. They all have their strong points, but they are leaps and bounds above other jacket manufacturers.

If you want more info, check out this yahoo group: VintageLeatherJacketsII.

I'm warning you though, this jacket interest can quickly turn addictive. :)

-Jake

Try also www.gibson-barnes.com

I just got my Eastman Rough Wear jacket and it's great!

I also have just got delivery of an Eastman A-2 (their house style jacket in seal brown) and am delighted. The leather is superb, the fit of the jacket is just right. Only the knit wear could be improved upon. As a previous respondant stated, Aero and Real McCoys also look like they sell quality, authentic repros. In America, because of postage and exchange rate costs for the above companies, Lost Worlds might be a good bet. Their jackets dont look as authentic but seem to be well made of great quality leather. Personally I couldn't care if some of the minor details are slightly out.
If money is a big issue then also check out US Wings and US Authentic.

I've owned a Eastman Star A-2, but I found it to be too baggy compared to era photos. Do you Eastman fellows make any adjustments to the size you order to accomodate the look when worn?

I own a Real McCoy's M-422a and I owned one of their Dubow A-2's, but hard times forced me to sell it. Actually, the Dubow factory was right down the street from my apartment. Now it's condos I think. Sad.

-Jake

bought a cooper A/2 last year and love it. original specs and a good fit. a little pricey but well worth the money.
john

Hello..

I purchased a Flightsuit's (now Gibson-Barnes) A-2 about 3 years ago. It's on the baggy side, but since I'm a little on the wide side, it's ok. I do wish I had bought the goatskin, as the horse hide seems to take forever to break in.

Bill

ORIGINAL: Hemiman


Hello..

I purchased a Flightsuit's (now Gibson-Barnes) A-2 about 3 years ago. It's on the baggy side, but since I'm a little on the wide side, it's ok. I do wish I had bought the goatskin, as the horse hide seems to take forever to break in.

Bill

Flightsuits (Gibson & Barnes) are cut for modern people - a little baggier and wider. To get accurate WW2 sizing, according to jacket nuts, you are supposed to order 1-2 sizes smaller than you would in a suit. Likely I'd be a 40, possibly a 42. Their horsehide has drawn som criticism for being too "modern" and uniform, but their vegetable tanned goatskin is supposed to be top notch. Take a look at the review of their jackets on the acme depot; generally their reviews are fairly pro-Eastman, but it's still full of good information.

Take a look at these photos for some great pictures of A-2's and other flight jackets from many eras.
http://members6.clubphoto.com/john512708/guest-1.phtml

-Jake

Jake431 wrote

"I've owned a Eastman Star A-2, but I found it to be too baggy compared to era photos. Do you Eastman fellows make any adjustments to the size you order to accomodate the look when worn?"

Some of Eastmans original contract A-2's may vary slightly in fit from each other and their "house style" A-2. I've heard that Eastman revised their sizing (a couple of years back) to be less modern and more like the original slim fit patterns. I wear suit jackets in a size 42, but often have trouble because of broad shoulders. When I heard Eastman were doing a more original fit I took the risk and ordered a 44. Its just big enougth to wear two layers (as long as its a thin jumper) a 42 would have pinched on the shoulders and restricted forward arm movement (the 44 does a bit)- although been more original fit around the body.
When paying £350 I didnt care if I looked like a WWII American pilot (im clearly not!) but it had to be comfortable enough to get good wear out of it!
Don't get hung up on what the original spec freaks write in these forums - its your jacket, get the fit you want!
As for taking account of "give" in the jacket as it wears - the Eastman (I expect Aero and others to be the same) 3oz Horsehide wont have much stretch in it, its not like the thin cowhide most jackets are made of.
Mark

I am pretty mindfull of the specs, but ultimately I want the jacket to look cool too, and well hey, people just don't wear their pants as high as they used to, so I don't go overboard with the whole "same as an original" thing. Of course that might be why I've never found an A-2 that has knocked my M-422a off me as my daily wearer - the Navy jackets were just cut longer than AAF ones.

-Jake

Hi
Im the new proud owner of an Aeros A2....I can' t vouch for all the others but this ones awesome!! http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com
 
Doug

Hi,
 
I have few Eastman jackets including A2 (3 of them) and 1 G&B; Eastman can do minor adjustments, to begin with you can indicate if you need the short, regular or long fit in the comment section of the order. If you drop a line to Gary Eastman with some little modifications he will accomodate.
 
The G&B I have is great, only yhe horsehide is too thik and the tanning not really to original specs.
 
Paolo

I don't know anything about any of the repo jackets, but I do know someone from the 99th BG who still wears his original horsehide A-2 on a regular basis, and it still looks great on him.  He said he was really glad he got the horsehide because it was so much more durable than the other types of leather.
 
Marty

My Cooper A-2 Flight Jacket (plain brown, now distressed after 25 years) is everything I wanted and an original.  I also have two other "cheap imitation ones" for "knock around."  However, I also have a Cockpit, brown Yankee Lady painted jacket (pictured) which is an exceptional fit and feel. Although the painting is not of the actual "nose art," the jacket is a great "publicity marquee" for YAM (Yankee Air Museum).  I  really enjoy wearing it!  Best Regards!  Steven

[image]local://11777/E75D26F077BD47FAA3E1AE7FC78E6EB9.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Hi all..
For what its worth... I personally chose a Cooper A2 modern produced jacket. Its style is very much from the WW2 era, the Cooper at the time I bought mine was issued to the then USAF air crews.
 
I tried several jacket sizes on, and eventually plumbed for something 'comfortable'. I'm 46 inch shoulder... and well padded across the belly ..!! Or at least I was when I made the purchase. I also elected to buy the 'long' version, because I'm 6'1 and having a regular size just made it look wrong when I raised my arms when surrendering to my buddies...
 
I had the jacket painted right away. This was 12 years ago now, and the paint has cracked a little which makes it look sort of authentic, but its colours remain bright. Probably because I hardly have an opportunity to wear it. Anyone of our own 305th BG will have seen me wearing it at reunions, I always have it with me and wear it then.
 
A local artist to me here in UK painted the rear panel for me, plus added the group and sqn symbols on the front. Had an Air Corp  star and wings on the shoulder too. The rear has the name WE THE PEOPLE, an early bird of our group, an 'F' model which flew the first missions of 1942-43 as part of the 422nd Sqn. It carries the Disney Crow character, stood astride an earth globe. Wings outstretched above its head, holding a 500lb bomb. This B-17F amased a recorded 76 missions (although this total is suspected to be higher with its later night missions) until she was eventually removed from combat in March of 1944 and returned to the ZI for use as a training ship.
 
Although it is not an original jacket I treasure it greatly; because it carries a lot of fond memories from recent years, of friendships from that time, and of people sadly no longer with us.
 
One issue concerns the additions of leather patches, sewn onto the jacket. The shop I purchased my Cooper from advised me not to go down that route. Stitching through the original jacket leather might invalidate the warranty on it with the manufacturer. I do however realise a great many do go ahead and have such patches made and sewn onto jackets, I guess its a personal choice. I didnt; I had the two symbols painted directly onto the jacket. The only thing I havent acquired so far is a whistle!! I am torn between a regular ACME Thunderer, often had by USAAF crews and attached to the clip on the collar. Ive also seen a few examples of US issue bakelite made whistles, but they dont seem as popular, as I understand the whole whistle idea was copied from the RAF boys flying night Op's, and it was the RAF who used the ACME Thunderer.
 
But in recent times Ive seen many new photos of some of our 305th crews with a length of chain, attached to the collar, with the whistle on the other end, tucked into the pocket. I quite like that idea. Plus, a number of our 305th aircrew have shared with me the thought that they managed to 'liberate' Policeman's whilstles, a highly prized trophy by them, instead of the usual ACME type. These are the long slender shape, with a different tone. Again I like that idea as being just a little different, and knowing it is historically correct for our own 305th!
 
Ian W
 

Ian White - 305th BGMA Hon. Life Associate, UK Contact and Organiser of next years 40th Combat Wing UK Reunion - May 21st-31st 2009