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Custom Made G-1 Jacket

spitfire

New Member
I have just received a custom made G-1 from the 60's 0r 70's.It is lined in shearling sheepskin,and has quilted arms inside.It differs from an original G-1 design quite a lot in places,from the under arm vent holes to the entire back.The knitted wrist cuffs have a thick strip of leather,which is perfect for using as a rest for writing.There is no inner wind flap either.I will post the pictures i got from ebay here for the time being,until i take some more detailed pictures of it.
I originally bought it for a friend of mine and my father,who is a lone solo yachtsman,but this is seriously too small for him.It is a size 40'' chest,according to the seller,but fits me like a 38'' - 40'' chest.The mouton collar cannot be closed on me,and i have a really small head and face.
The zip only has,what look like the initials CC or LC on it.the inner pocket popper has SCOVILL MFG CO.
According to the seller,the jacket was custom made for a Commander Richard Lippencott,who flew P-3 Orions.I will post what the seller says about the jacket and Commander Lippencott below:


Description Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item.
Item Specifics
Country : US Product Type: Flight Jacket
Time Period, War : Vietnam
US Navy pilots often wore custom made flight jackets, both in the cockpit and on the flight line. This custom made G-1 type flight jacket belonged to Commander Richard Lippencott of the US Navy. He served as COMPATWINGSPAC (Commander Patrol Wings Pacific) in the late 1960 s through the early 1970s . Flying P-3 Orion patrol aircraft out of Moffett Field , CA, and other bases including Taiwan and the Phillipines, the Patrol Wings under Lippencott searched the waters of the North Pacific for Soviet submarines. Prior to that, in 1965, Lippencott had gone to sea on the aircraft carrier USS Independence. The 'Indy" was one of the first carriers to take up position off North Vietnam, and conducted air strikes around the clock. Lippencott's goatskin flight jacket features a genuine sheepskin lining , coming right up to a genuine dark mouton collar. It has 2 way snap closure pockets with both top and side entry . The jacket is in very good condition, with some damage to the cuffs (pictured) and 4 small moth holes in the knit waistband. Size 40. Bid with confidence and please view our other great military and aviation classics.


Over all,it is a really well made heavy duty jacket.

myshhepskinlindedG1jacket.jpg


mysheepskinG1jacketcmmdrrichardlipp.jpg


mysheepskinG1jacket.jpg


I will post better pictures sometime soon,before and after applying a coat of pecard to it.
Just a quick update.I have just discovered a small tag with the sizing 42 on it.The main label is missing from it.
 

deeb7

Gone, but not forgotten.
spitfire said:
It differs from an original G-1 design quite a lot in places,from the under arm vent holes to the entire back.

It looks to be more a heavy duty, civilian A-2.

And if Google fails to verify the Lippencott story ... Skeeter would probably know him. :)
 

spitfire

New Member
Thank you deeb7.I have searched google,and there is no mention of a commander lippencott.I did have my doubts when i searched and could not find any mention of him in connection with P-3 Orions etc.
I have just taken a load of pictures of it,using a light therapy box,due to heavy overcast cloudy weather.The little label with 42 on it,said to me,it looks like a civilian label.
Anyway,here are the pictures,before i apply a coat of pecard.Just ask if you want any more.

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spitfire

New Member
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The seller i won this jacket off,has a bit of a nasty attitude towards feedback.he proclaims if a buyer does not give him good feedback,he will give negative feedback in return.maybe he has an equally nasty attitude,regarding stories and authenticity about the jackets he sells aswell.
 

spitfire

New Member
Thank you very much Pensacola.I have never bought a G1 or any other american flight jacket before,so i am pretty lost in a lot of ways in regards to identifying them.I really appreciate the help you have just given.
I have just googled: LL Bean G1 jacket,and seen a few pictures on ebay.You seem to be quite correct Pensacola,it is an exact replica of the LL Bean G1 jackets on ebay.I guess this is definately an LL Bean G1 jacket,and not an original custom made G1 worn by a us naval commander.It looks to me like the seller is a really nasty piece of work.I will keep it,as it will come in handy in winter,if i'm doing any rough stuff,and a lighter sheepskin lined coat is needed,to keep out the chilly weather.
 

Chandler

Well-Known Member
I thought it was a Schott at first too, but the added pics show it doesn't have snap down epaulets and the pocket snaps are covered, the cuff knit doesn't complete the circumference either, unlike (most) Schotts.*

Looking at the LL Bean web site, their "Flying Tiger" jacket with the insulated lining has an A-2-like wind-flap (like), though I imagine their version of this jacket may have evolved over the years it's been available.

*Qualifier: I am speaking of Schotts I've seen from the '70s, looking at their web-site, it looks like they've changed up their current patterns a little bit.

Chandler
 

asiamiles

Well-Known Member
The seller i won this jacket off,has a bit of a nasty attitude towards feedback.he proclaims if a buyer does not give him good feedback,he will give negative feedback in return.

He can't do that anymore, so feel free to leave negative feedback if you're unhappy, and if you don't want to keep it and feel the seller has misrepresented the item you can open a dispute and get a refund though I think the rules dictate that you have to pay the return shipping.
 

Sid Vintage

New Member
100% non military issue LL Bean jacket. The sleeve rib's with leather inserts along with the fleece lining give it away.
 

spitfire

New Member
asiamiles said:
The seller i won this jacket off,has a bit of a nasty attitude towards feedback.he proclaims if a buyer does not give him good feedback,he will give negative feedback in return.

He can't do that anymore, so feel free to leave negative feedback if you're unhappy, and if you don't want to keep it and feel the seller has misrepresented the item you can open a dispute and get a refund though I think the rules dictate that you have to pay the return shipping.


Thank you asiamiles.I was actually so stunned it arrived from america in about 5 - 6 days,i immediately went and gave him positive feedback.I don't think i will send it back and get a refund,as it only cost me $40.00,and it is sturdy enough for me to use for the more harder outdoor things like work etc,as i don't have to worry about damaging it.The only thing i really really want to do,is let everybody and ebay know,that the seller is a blatant liar and fraudster,and judging by the intensity of the story he posted about a commander lippencott,will stop at nothing to fleece customers out of their money.

The seller is: ABRAMSANTIQUES he seems to specialise in selling military items more than anything else.Just to let you all know,incase someone is about to fall into the same trap as i did with him.
 

spitfire

New Member
Sid Vintage said:
100% non military issue LL Bean jacket. The sleeve rib's with leather inserts along with the fleece lining give it away.


Thank you sid.Pointing that out will help me in the future.I hope i don't fall for this type of trick again.
I originally bought it for a friend of my family,who does lone solo yachting,to keep him a bit warmer in the cold winds,and also give him a bit of panache,when he gets his picture taken for the local newspapers when he docks at each port.he lives in western australia,so i doubt a sheepskin would have been used much there,only when he hits colder climates on the waters.Apart from the fact the jacket is too small for him,i don't think i would like to give him such a cheaply made jacket,as it would be a bit silly and insulting of me to my mind,and the heavy weight of this one,would weight his boat down with junk too much.
 

Chandler

Well-Known Member
Sid Vintage said:
100% non military issue LL Bean jacket.

How old do you suppose it is? Because the current Bean, fleece-lined "Flying Tigers" jacket has an outer wind-flap. Similar to, but not exactly like an A-2 flap, Spitfire's doesn't.

Don't know the lineage of the Bean jacket, it's been around a while, but this one doesn't look current. I suppose it's possible that an aviator could have opted to buy a civilian jacket, especially if he was looking for this type of insulation.

beantigers.jpg

Current LL Bean catalog item.

Chandler
 
spitfire said:
Thank you very much Pensacola.I have never bought a G1 or any other american flight jacket before,so i am pretty lost in a lot of ways in regards to identifying them.I really appreciate the help you have just given.
I have just googled: LL Bean G1 jacket,and seen a few pictures on ebay.You seem to be quite correct Pensacola,it is an exact replica of the LL Bean G1 jackets on ebay.I guess this is definately an LL Bean G1 jacket,and not an original custom made G1 worn by a us naval commander.It looks to me like the seller is a really nasty piece of work.I will keep it,as it will come in handy in winter,if i'm doing any rough stuff,and a lighter sheepskin lined coat is needed,to keep out the chilly weather.


You are welcome...

For the price of the jacket, it'll do the job in the cold winters...fairly comfortable as well...As for the seller who sold you the jacket with hidden agendas, well, he's already gotten a negative reputation, which is all you could ask for.

Enjoy your G-1....
 

spitfire

New Member
Chandler said:
Sid Vintage said:
100% non military issue LL Bean jacket.

How old do you suppose it is? Because the current Bean, fleece-lined "Flying Tigers" jacket has an outer wind-flap. Similar to, but not exactly like an A-2 flap, Spitfire's doesn't.

Don't know the lineage of the Bean jacket, it's been around a while, but this one doesn't look current. I suppose it's possible that an aviator could have opted to buy a civilian jacket, especially if he was looking for this type of insulation.

beantigers.jpg

Current LL Bean catalog item.

Chandler


Thank you Chandler.I don't know how old LL Bean sheepskin G1/A2 style jackets are,so i sent them an email asking earlier on,asking if they made them during the late 60's early 70's.all i got was an email back asking for my zip code and telephone number.i don't have a zip code,as i live in the uk,so i doubt i will be able to find out.I must say, i have not seen an LL Bean sheepskin in this style before,i have only seen the newer flying tiger version.The seller said it was custom made for a us navy commander,yet to me,it looks like one of LL Beans standard jackets,except it has sheepskin.I definately don't think this was custom made in anyway,espacially since the throat latch does not reach the buttons.
Maybe i am barking up the wrong tree,and the seller is an innocent party like myself.I suppose anyone could walk up to him,sell him a jacket and then fill him full of all sorts of info about it and it's past,perhaps even furnishing a few pictures for realism.
 

spitfire

New Member
PENSACOLA said:
spitfire said:
Thank you very much Pensacola.I have never bought a G1 or any other american flight jacket before,so i am pretty lost in a lot of ways in regards to identifying them.I really appreciate the help you have just given.
I have just googled: LL Bean G1 jacket,and seen a few pictures on ebay.You seem to be quite correct Pensacola,it is an exact replica of the LL Bean G1 jackets on ebay.I guess this is definately an LL Bean G1 jacket,and not an original custom made G1 worn by a us naval commander.It looks to me like the seller is a really nasty piece of work.I will keep it,as it will come in handy in winter,if i'm doing any rough stuff,and a lighter sheepskin lined coat is needed,to keep out the chilly weather.


You are welcome...

For the price of the jacket, it'll do the job in the cold winters...fairly comfortable as well...As for the seller who sold you the jacket with hidden agendas, well, he's already gotten a negative reputation, which is all you could ask for.

Enjoy your G-1....


Thank you pensacola.I have decided not to inform ebay.As wrong as the seller was,to include so much intense information without any proof etc,there is a chance he was fleeced by a customer himself.someone who sold him the jacket and told him loads of stories about it and the owner.As long as there is that small chance,i don't think i want to go all the way and destroy him in anyway.Ebay are getting seriously heavy with sellers these days,and i don't know what they would do.
 

spitfire

New Member
Thank you to everyone who has replied and helped me so much,i deeply appreciate it.
Just a quick update.LL Bean have just sent me an email,telling me all that they can find out about the G1 style jacket.I will post their reply here:

Dear Mr. Williams,

I have finally had a chance to do a bit of research for you regarding the Flying Tiger Jacket you have.

The catalogs in my department only go back to 1981. At that time, it was
selling for $209.00, and had no wind flap. I didn't take the time to go through more recent versions to see when the wind flap was introduced. I didn't know if you needed that information?

I will be off until Sunday, so feel free to call me if you have further questions.

Sincerely,
Peg F.
L.L. Bean Product Support Specialist
llbean.com .
1 800 341 4341 Ext 30020



From what i gather from the email,i have an early version of their flying tiger jacket,dating from approximately 1981.If the flying tiger jacket only goes back to 1981,then either the seller,or the person who sold it to the seller,was lying about it.
I must thank Peg F for taking time to reply.Now,i am off to get an early Billy Ray Cyrus mullet hairstyle to complement the jacket :eek: :lol: :cool:
 
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