newest acquisition... RAF Mk3 Aircrew Jacket

[Flightengineer]

I don’t know how it is on the later “gray” versions, but on my green one the specifications of this scarf were even indicated on a label

 

[Griffon_301]

it surely is

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Hello Thomas!

thank you for the compliment!
this jacket is my motivation now to continue with my weekly workout routines as it is a really trim fit and I would love to keep it a bit longer...

on a sidenote, I have seen that you got the G-1 I was viewing on the bay
how is it? I liked the patches on it very much.
when I saw it was gone I thought that it might have been someone I know...
I dowsed my grief with a hopefully nice BR Tank Jacket I found on Kleinanzeigen which should be arriving on Friday hopefully...

Hey Phil,

the jacket did not arrive yet but i'm expecting it on the weekend.

I have been watching it coz i wasn't really sure whether it is legit or not and i had to dump 2 jackets out of the collection for the funding.

At some point the price was reduced which actually surprised me and that was the point where i couldn't hold back and pulled the trigger. The "missus" wasn't that excited for another "totally not necessary new/old G1 which looks like all the other leather jackets in your collection" but since i sold 2 jackets before she is all right with it.

The Tanker is the one with the glider-troops markings?

 

[Griffon_301]

actually it's the 67th Troop Carrier Squadron which was operating in New Guinea/Philippines and even Okinawa...

bit yes it's that one, for the final price it was to good an occasion to miss it as I was out for a Tank Jacket for rather long now and I don't mind the patches and the stencils on the back...

 

[blackrat2]

The scarf pocket , is that not for the orange bib, nearly never found with the jacket and which once unpacked is nigh on impossible to put back in the hood

 

[blackrat2]

I know the RAF have a reputation as Brylcreem boys but this is what it’s actually for

 

[Dumpster D]

Brylcreem boys

You just reminded me...

There was a TV film maybe 25 years ago by that name, about Neutral Ireland and RAF POW's in with the Germans, it was actually worth checking out if you can find it maybe? Wouldn't be surprised to find it on youtube.

 

[Flightengineer]

The hood on my jacket was removed by me (useless thing), and the lower part with velcro was removed by the pilot to whom the jacket was issued and who gave me this jacket. I also saw the "escape scarf" only in the photo, although at different times I had 3 or 4 Mk3.

 

[CombatWombat]

I've been trying to get one of these for years.....but the unusual sizing labels (compared with the other "NATO standard " sizing the British use) has put me off ordering one from Fleabay

 

[Griffon_301]

quick and dirty spoken:

size 6 equals 42
size 7 equals 44
size 8 equals 46

I tried a size 6 (too small) while the size 7 fits me quite nicely but rather trim
in ELC jackets I usually wear 46

 

[taiAtari]

Really? I thought these size numbers were staggered in length batches like the old combat smocks. That is: 1,2 and 3 for shorter people, 4, 5 and 6 for people of average length and 7,8 and 9 for taller people. Each successive number in a length grouping would be a small, medium large in body type. So a 1 would be a short/small, a 6 an average length/large and an 8 a tall/medium for example. Could be wrong though, the RAF might have used another mystical sizing system...

 

[Griffon_301]

you might be entirely right!
my answer was based on several size tags I saw on MK3 jackets on the web, and the size 6 I tried and the size 7 I bought seem to confirm my observation.
from what I gather, sizing on the MK3 revolves around chest measurements (IMHO the main factor) and body length.
the size 6 I have seen had smaller chest measurements and shorter body length compared to the size 7 so I would say roughly my "guide" should work...

 

[Griffon_301]

 

[blackrat2]

The sizing can be hit or miss I have had a 7 before and it was like a tent, they do generally run small so if you see one ask for measurements