Info wanted on B-15 flight jacket

[tylerjl]

I picked this jacket up at an estate sale today and I’m trying to find information on it to properly date it. It’s in great condition but has some holes around the waste band. The USAAF logo is still visible on the left sleeve and has a bell shaped Conmar zipper. I couldn’t find any others with an inside tag like this one. Liner feels like alpaca. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mulceber]

Not sure of the maker, but it’s a private purchase B-15. Nice find!

 

[917_k]

Nice jacket, but it’s a civilian version made post-war. These were made by various manufacturers, often the same companies that produced the wartime gov issue USAAF jackets (some got taken to court and fined over it), for the civilian market. You can always tell because they’re often described as B-15 ‘type’ (there were civilian versions of other flight jackets as well, like the B-9 and B-11, again described as ‘type’).

The other main feature that gives this away as a civi B-15 from an air force jacket is the central zipper (actual B-15s and B-15As had an offset zipper).

 

[tylerjl]

Nice jacket, but it’s a civilian version made post-war. These were made by various manufacturers, often the same companies that produced the wartime gov issue USAAF jackets (some got taken to court and fined over it), for the civilian market. You can always tell because they’re often described as B-15 ‘type’ (there were civilian versions of other flight jackets as well, like the B-9 and B-11, again described as ‘type’).

Other give-away features that distinguished a civi B-15 from an air force jacket are the central zipper (actual B-15s and B-15As had an offset zipper) and fabric hanger.

Great to know. I appreciate the information. Luckily I paid very little for it. I knew nothing about it but took a chance since the price was right.

 

[917_k]

Just to add, on a gov issue jacket the label would describe it with the ‘type’ in front of the spec. Here are a couple of examples of USAAF issued jacket labels:

 

[917_k]

Great to know. I appreciate the information. Luckily I paid very little for it. I knew nothing about it but took a chance since the price was right.

No worries and it’s still a great jacket that dates from the 1940s, with a great story behind them. I can’t remember who it was, but certainly some of the makers were taken to court by the US government for effectively copying and selling what was a government spec piece of military issue clothing.

 

[tylerjl]

I love finding vintage “cease & desist” items. LOL