• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

New Member with New Jacket

TiredRetired

New Member
Hi all, greetings from Vermont. My first post here. I am a US Navy Vet having served 3 1/2 years on the old USS Independence, CV-62.

I've been a fan of flight jackets for years getting my beloved Cooper A2 jacket back in 1991 from an ad in American Rifleman magazine. NRA life member as well. I still have the Cooper and it still fits me fine. Imagine that. What an awesome jacket it is. I know there may be better leather A2's out there with those "exotic" leathers, but for me, nothing will replace my old Cooper.

Today, I did replace my old no name nylon 45P, which I purchased back in 2002 for $29.99 at a surplus store with a beautiful Valley Apparel Aramid 45P. Price paid on Ebay $64.00 plus another $9.90 for shipping. Looks to be a gorgeous jacket in every respect. Unknown to me my wife bid it and won as I hemmed and hawd about it so long she got sick of it.

Hopefully you guys tell me she done good, but too late for that as it is now bought and paid for. LOL. I have wanted a Nomex jacket since I got my nylon one but never willing to spring for the bucks. Based on my research I have found none in this condition cheaper.

Anyhoo, long winded post and glad to be here among fellow collectors.
 

Attachments

  • va jacket 2.jpg
    va jacket 2.jpg
    201 KB · Views: 452
  • va jacket 3.jpg
    va jacket 3.jpg
    312.5 KB · Views: 470
  • va jacket 4.jpg
    va jacket 4.jpg
    398.1 KB · Views: 417
  • va jacket 5.jpg
    va jacket 5.jpg
    424.9 KB · Views: 411
  • va jacket.jpg
    va jacket.jpg
    246.3 KB · Views: 455
  • va label.jpg
    va label.jpg
    259.9 KB · Views: 570

TiredRetired

New Member
Owner of the jacket just contacted me to say he is throwing in a bunch of Air Force patches for the velcro. Turns out he is a former AF pilot and currently an instructor for the Dassault Falcon jet in the Ukraine. Lives here in the states. Turns out the jacket has spent the last 8 years or so sitting in the closet. He says there is nothing wrong with the zipper, it just can no longer make it past his stomach. LOL.
 

MikeyB-17

Well-Known Member
Welcome aboard Vincent. Can't beat a 45/P, I've owned several including a near-mint 1975 version, my current one is a 1984 Jaydee Sportswear. Warm, comfortable and fireproof! Watch out around here though, the jacket-buying bug is a slippery slope!
 

TiredRetired

New Member
Thanx for the warm welcome. I think this jacket is about 10 years old or so as the owner told me it has hung in his closet for the last 8 years. I was looking for a 45P I could wear up here in the cold weather of New England and I think I found a nice one. Looking forward to getting it.

Cheers.
 
Last edited:

Skyhawk

Well-Known Member
Welcome shipmate! I served on the Indy in Japan when it took over for the USS Midway. Nice to have another USN Vet aboard!

Nice CWU. It was MFG in 2003 according to the tag. Valley is a solid company and you paid a good price. I would say you did great! I just wore mine last night. The quilted liner does a good job keeping you warm in cold temperatures.

Here's a shot of mine with my Velcro squadron patches on:
cwu45.jpg

All the best,
Jay
 

TiredRetired

New Member
Welcome shipmate! I served on the Indy in Japan when it took over for the USS Midway. Nice to have another USN Vet aboard!

Nice CWU. It was MFG in 2003 according to the tag. Valley is a solid company and you paid a good price. I would say you did great! I just wore mine last night. The quilted liner does a good job keeping you warm in cold temperatures.

Here's a shot of mine with my Velcro squadron patches on:
cwu45.jpg

All the best,
Jay

Thanx Jay! Good to see another Indy vet! She was a good solid ship. As you can see from the pics mine comes ready for patches with all the fuzzy side velcro already sewn on. Based on my research I too feel I did good both in quality and price. The jacket appears to be worn very little.

I do have a question. Why do some of the the labels, such as your jacket, have one line redacted with a magic marker. Is it something to do with a military jacket being turned over for civilian use? Just wondering and trying to learn.

Cheers.
 

jschare

Active Member
Welcome aboard shipmate. I served on the Ranger. Being a Navy guy, you can't wear any Chair Force patches on your CWU!
 

TiredRetired

New Member
Welcome aboard shipmate. I served on the Ranger. Being a Navy guy, you can't wear any Chair Force patches on your CWU!

Yeah he's right. Totally unsat! ;)

Luckily you can get all the USN patches you need here:
http://militarybest.com/navsquadpat.html

LOL, no worries. I ordered a blacked out US Flag for the left sleeve:


s-l1600 (1).jpg


and I have a 3" USS Independence patch for the right front.


s-l1600 (2).jpg



I may order this for the right sleeve:

s-l1600.jpg

I am of the mindset that if you did not earn it, it is not yours to wear. So not being an airdale on the birdfarm, I am limited in my choices. :)

How am I doing so far, chaps?

TR
 

Attachments

  • s-l1600.jpg
    s-l1600.jpg
    433.2 KB · Views: 321
Welcome aboard! I'm current Navy and it is good to see another Navy Vet. You did a great job on this find. You have plenty of options for patches. Do you have any cruise patches that you can put on it?
 

Silver Surfer

Well-Known Member
welcome to the abusement park, matey. those nomex jackets are perfect spring wearers, and they are pretty well made too boot. i have a coupla of them one being a 1970s summer version [36-p?] with a bi-swing back. interesting that the 70s jacket seems to be made with a slightly heavier material
 
Top