This is a recent addition to my collection of Irvins. The jacket belonged to the Czech fighter pilot Alois Hochmal (1914-2010) who rose through the ranks to Wing Commander in 1944. He commanded 313 squadron composed of Czech pilots and there is a picture of him wearing the very same Irvin in 1941 via the first link below. It is extremely rare to find an Irvin today which was worn by a Czech pilot in the war. BTW he eventually settled in the UK and passed away last year. The jacket has been in storage since the war.
http://horice.safarikovi.org/hochmal.html
http://horice.safarikovi.org/hochmal.html
http://www.cieldegloire.com/002t_hochmal.php
The jacket was made by Links and has the typical slightly rounded collar, medium-sized collar rings and exposed metal under-arm vent rings-characteristics of this high volume maker. Many of Links' Irvins are inferior in terms of build quality, but this one is an exception. All the stitching is straight and intact. The jacket dates to 1940 and was issued to him new shortly after he arrived in England. Apart from the belt buckle which is from another Links jacket everything is original, with no repairs or re-stitching. There is very little wear to the fleece.
http://horice.safarikovi.org/hochmal.html
http://horice.safarikovi.org/hochmal.html
http://www.cieldegloire.com/002t_hochmal.php
The jacket was made by Links and has the typical slightly rounded collar, medium-sized collar rings and exposed metal under-arm vent rings-characteristics of this high volume maker. Many of Links' Irvins are inferior in terms of build quality, but this one is an exception. All the stitching is straight and intact. The jacket dates to 1940 and was issued to him new shortly after he arrived in England. Apart from the belt buckle which is from another Links jacket everything is original, with no repairs or re-stitching. There is very little wear to the fleece.
![002-33.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/002-33.jpg)
![003-33.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/003-33.jpg)
![017-30.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/017-30.jpg)
![016-40.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/016-40.jpg)
![019-26.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/019-26.jpg)
![015-42.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/015-42.jpg)
![004-35.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/004-35.jpg)
![009-41.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/009-41.jpg)
![007-39.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/007-39.jpg)
![010-41.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/010-41.jpg)
![011-41.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/011-41.jpg)
![014-41.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/014-41.jpg)
![021-20.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/021-20.jpg)
![022-23.jpg](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/aswatland/A2%20jackets/022-23.jpg)