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ORIGINAL A. PRITZKER & SONS, INC. TYPE B-15C INTERMEDIATE FLYING JACKET MIL-J-6251

Jorgeenriqueaguilera

Well-Known Member
Gents,

This jacket is one of the icons of Korean War; the Type B-15C Intermediate Flying Jacket. This specific example was made by the prominent A. Pritzker & Sons, Inc. under contract AF33(038)-22518 in fiscal year, 1951.

The B-15C was used by U.S. Air Force aviators in the early 1950s. Interestingly, there are two types of B-15C flying jackets, one with a Olive Drab shell and lining, and one with a Air Force Blue material as well. It's rare for a flight jacket of the same model to have two different colors, but that was due to some circumstances. The previous model B-15B was developed in 1945 by the U.S. Army Air Forces. At that time the USAAF used the experience of World War II to adopt a nylon material using olive green, which provided a high camouflage effect on the ground, and used it for flight jackets such as B-15B.

The confrontation between capitalist and communist nations began opening a new arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Based on the experience of World War II, the United States considered the strategic operation of nuclear weapons. They disbanded the Army Air Forces and founded the Air Force. The U.S. Air Force's mission also included deterrence in the sense of preventing war, and it was necessary to appeal the very existence of the new and powerful U.S. Air Force with impact. To do this, it was ordered that all the property owned by the Air Force, from uniforms to vehicles, would need to be switched to Air Force Blue, a new symbol color inspired by the Air Force.

Some of the flight jackets at the time of the transfer were from World War II, but most of them were made of nylon such as the L-2, B-15B, N-2 and N-3, which were developed after 1945. For this reason, they were immediately switched to the Air Force Blue color.

Although this lasted only a couple of years, due to the fact that the blue color proved to offer little to no camouflage to downed pilots in Korea.

The condition of this example is mint, which is rare considering it is 70 years old. All parts are genuine to the jacket.

Needless to say, these jackets are quite rare due to the short time of supply.

Say no more guys, hope you enjoy it.

Regards,
Jorge

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