Using various sources the A2 contracts are compiled along with re-manufacturers making current examples. Gary Eastman's reference book "Type A-2 Flight Jacket Identification Manual" is highly recommended. All production estimates are from Mr Eastman's book.
What's included?
What's not included?
Pre War "Standard Issue"
Contract Nos._Order Nos.__Order Date__Quantity____Original Maker [Re-manufacturer*]
______________32-485_________________<500**____ Security Aviation Togs [GW, RMC]
______________33-1729________________<500**____ Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. [ELC, GW]
W535ac 6213____ 34-518P______5-Sep-33_____~170***___ Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc.
W535ac 8004____36-1112P_____13-Sep-35_____550______Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. [GW]
W535ac 9193____ 37-1119P_____11-Sep-36_____~620***___Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc.
_____________ 37-3061P________________<500**_____Aero Clothing and Tanning Co.
W535ac 9709____ 37-3891P_____3-Mar-37_____375______H.L.B. Corp. [ELC, GW]
W535ac 10490___ 38-1711P_____26-Oct-37____1,500______Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC, GW]
W535ac 12091___ 39-2951P_____ 9-Jan-39____1,250______Werber Sportswear Co. [GW]
War "Standard Issue"
Contract Nos._Order Nos.__Order Date__Quantity___Original Maker [Re-manufacturer*]
W535ac 13911___40-3785P_____18-Dec-39_____3,500_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC, GW]
W535ac 16159_______________2-Nov-40_____9,700_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [ELC, TF]
W535ac 16160_______________1-Nov-40_____4,500_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [BKM, GW]
W535ac 18091_______________6-Mar-41____ 17,628_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [GW]
W535ac 20958__42-1401P______8-Aug-41____30,000_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [ELC, GW]
W535ac 20959__42-1402P______8-Aug-41_____7,000_____Werber Sportswear Co. [BKM, GW]
W535ac 20960__42-1403P______8-Aug-41____13,000_____J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [GW]
W535ac 21035__42-1671P______15-Aug-41_____~300***___Rough Wear Clothing Co.
W535ac 21996______________14-Oct-41____25,000_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [DC, GW, TF]
W535ac 23377______________31-Dec-41____20,000_____Perry Sportswear, Inc. [GW]
W535ac 23378______________26-Dec-41____15,000_____Monarch Mfg. Co. [BKM, ELC, GW]
W535ac 23379______________26-Dec-41____10,000_____J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [GW]
W535ac 23380______________26-Dec-41____12,000_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [BR, BKM, TF]
W535ac 23381_______________5-Jan-42____ 5,000_____Cooper Sportswear Mfg. Co.
W535ac 23382______________29-Dec-41____10,000_____Cable Raincoat Co. [ELC]
W535ac 23383______________22-Dec-41____ 8,000_____unmarked label (Fried Ostermann Co.) [GW]
W535ac 24759__42-10008P____19-Jan-42____10,000_____Cable Raincoat Co. [BKM, DC, GW]
W535ac 27435__42-15142P_____28-Mar-42___50,000_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC]
W535ac 27618__42-16175P_____23-May-42___50,000_____Perry Sportswear, Inc. [GW, TF]
W535ac 27752______________27-Apr-42____50,000_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [BKM, ELC, GW]
W535ac 27753______________29-Apr-42___ 50,000____ unmarked label (Cable Raincoat Co.) [BR, GW]
W535ac 27798______________25-Apr-42____50,000____J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [BKM, DC, GW, LW]
W535ac 28557__42-18245P____ 18-May-42____30,000____Star Sportswear Mfg. Co. [BKM, ELC, GW]
W535ac 28558__42-18246P____18-May-42____10,000____unmarked label (S.H. Knopf) [GW]
W535ac 28560__42-18248P____ 18-May-42____50,000____Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co. Inc. [DC, GW]
W535ac 28819__42-18775P____25-May-42____50,000____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC, BKM, GW]
W535ac 28820__42-18776P____18-May-42____25,000____I. Spiewak & Sons
W535ac 28821__42-18777P____ 18-May-42____25,000____United Sheeplined Clothing Co. [GW]
W535ac 29191__42-19172P____ 18-May-42____59,000____Bronco Mfg. Corp. [ALC, DC, GW]
W535ac 29971__42-21539P_____9-Jun-42_____5,000__unmarked label (David D. Doniger & Co.) [GW]
War - Other
Label___Date__Quantity__Comments
V505____1943____****_____unmarked label ("V" an Australian wartime code for Victoria manufacture)
War "Limited Standard Use"
Order Number__________Order Date__Quantity____Original Maker [Re-manufacturer*]
W33-038 A.C.-1755 (11631)________tbd_____35,000**______J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [BKM, GW]
1756________________________tbd_____25,000**______unmarked label (Perry Sportswear) [ALC]
W33-038 A.C.-1761____________ _tbd______25,000**______Bronco Mfg. Corp.
* Re-manufacturer identities are
ALC - Aero Leather Clothing [Scotland] http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/
BKM - Bill Kelso Mfg. Co. [UK] http://www.billkelsomfg.com/
BR - Buzz Ricksons [Japan] http://www.buzzricksons.jp/
DC - Diamond Clothing Co., Inc. [USA] http://www.diamondclothingco.com/
ELC - Eastman Leather Clothing [England] http://www.eastmanleather.com/
GW - Good Wear Leather Coat Co. [USA] http://www.goodwearleather.com/
LW - Lost Worlds, Inc. [USA] http://www.lostworldsinc.com/
RMCJ - Real McCoy's [Japan] http://www.realmccoys.co.jp/
TF - The Few [New Zealand] http://www.thefewmfg.com/
** Estimated quantity of manufacture.
*** Paper trail exists, but may not have been manufactured and/or survived as proof of manufacture.
**** Examples exists, but original maker, client(s), and number made are not known. May have been made by Staggs or Lasicas for the USAAF stationed in Australia rather than for the RAAF.
What's included?
- List includes government contracts with a paper trail and/or known survivor(s). For examples, no paper trail exists for a 38-205 contract and an example has not been located so it is not included. The Australian V505 is unique in that no paper trail has been found to provide details on the contract (if there was one), but examples exist so added.
What's not included?
- A contract that is no longer produced by the re-manufacturer is not included. Examples are past annual versions by Buzz Ricksons and out-of-business Real McCoy's Of New Zealand products (the different in-business Japan company of the same name is listed).
- List does not included jackets made like an original maker contract, but using the re-manufacturer company name. For example, the Good Wear Leather Coat Co. Chapman 42-18776P that is based upon the I. Spiewak & Sons A2.
- All of the pre war A-2 are small productions, usually made of horse hide (the first known bovine example is from the 39-2951P contract), and of the lighter russett seal brown color.
- The existence of an original maker A-2 with spun silk lining has not been confirmed and a copy of the spec has been requested from the US government in hopes it will shed light onto why (perhaps the at-the-time lower priced cotton was listed somewhere in the spec as an acceptable substitute - will post what's found when able).
- Mr Chapman of Good Wear Leather Coat Co. has, by far, the most diverse offering, but as a one man shop patience is required.
Pre War "Standard Issue"
Contract Nos._Order Nos.__Order Date__Quantity____Original Maker [Re-manufacturer*]
______________32-485_________________<500**____ Security Aviation Togs [GW, RMC]
______________33-1729________________<500**____ Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. [ELC, GW]
W535ac 6213____ 34-518P______5-Sep-33_____~170***___ Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc.
W535ac 8004____36-1112P_____13-Sep-35_____550______Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc. [GW]
W535ac 9193____ 37-1119P_____11-Sep-36_____~620***___Werber Leather Coat Co., Inc.
_____________ 37-3061P________________<500**_____Aero Clothing and Tanning Co.
W535ac 9709____ 37-3891P_____3-Mar-37_____375______H.L.B. Corp. [ELC, GW]
W535ac 10490___ 38-1711P_____26-Oct-37____1,500______Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC, GW]
W535ac 12091___ 39-2951P_____ 9-Jan-39____1,250______Werber Sportswear Co. [GW]
War "Standard Issue"
Contract Nos._Order Nos.__Order Date__Quantity___Original Maker [Re-manufacturer*]
W535ac 13911___40-3785P_____18-Dec-39_____3,500_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC, GW]
W535ac 16159_______________2-Nov-40_____9,700_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [ELC, TF]
W535ac 16160_______________1-Nov-40_____4,500_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [BKM, GW]
W535ac 18091_______________6-Mar-41____ 17,628_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [GW]
W535ac 20958__42-1401P______8-Aug-41____30,000_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [ELC, GW]
W535ac 20959__42-1402P______8-Aug-41_____7,000_____Werber Sportswear Co. [BKM, GW]
W535ac 20960__42-1403P______8-Aug-41____13,000_____J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [GW]
W535ac 21035__42-1671P______15-Aug-41_____~300***___Rough Wear Clothing Co.
W535ac 21996______________14-Oct-41____25,000_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [DC, GW, TF]
W535ac 23377______________31-Dec-41____20,000_____Perry Sportswear, Inc. [GW]
W535ac 23378______________26-Dec-41____15,000_____Monarch Mfg. Co. [BKM, ELC, GW]
W535ac 23379______________26-Dec-41____10,000_____J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [GW]
W535ac 23380______________26-Dec-41____12,000_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [BR, BKM, TF]
W535ac 23381_______________5-Jan-42____ 5,000_____Cooper Sportswear Mfg. Co.
W535ac 23382______________29-Dec-41____10,000_____Cable Raincoat Co. [ELC]
W535ac 23383______________22-Dec-41____ 8,000_____unmarked label (Fried Ostermann Co.) [GW]
W535ac 24759__42-10008P____19-Jan-42____10,000_____Cable Raincoat Co. [BKM, DC, GW]
W535ac 27435__42-15142P_____28-Mar-42___50,000_____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC]
W535ac 27618__42-16175P_____23-May-42___50,000_____Perry Sportswear, Inc. [GW, TF]
W535ac 27752______________27-Apr-42____50,000_____Rough Wear Clothing Co. [BKM, ELC, GW]
W535ac 27753______________29-Apr-42___ 50,000____ unmarked label (Cable Raincoat Co.) [BR, GW]
W535ac 27798______________25-Apr-42____50,000____J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [BKM, DC, GW, LW]
W535ac 28557__42-18245P____ 18-May-42____30,000____Star Sportswear Mfg. Co. [BKM, ELC, GW]
W535ac 28558__42-18246P____18-May-42____10,000____unmarked label (S.H. Knopf) [GW]
W535ac 28560__42-18248P____ 18-May-42____50,000____Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co. Inc. [DC, GW]
W535ac 28819__42-18775P____25-May-42____50,000____Aero Leather Clothing Co. [ALC, BKM, GW]
W535ac 28820__42-18776P____18-May-42____25,000____I. Spiewak & Sons
W535ac 28821__42-18777P____ 18-May-42____25,000____United Sheeplined Clothing Co. [GW]
W535ac 29191__42-19172P____ 18-May-42____59,000____Bronco Mfg. Corp. [ALC, DC, GW]
W535ac 29971__42-21539P_____9-Jun-42_____5,000__unmarked label (David D. Doniger & Co.) [GW]
War - Other
Label___Date__Quantity__Comments
V505____1943____****_____unmarked label ("V" an Australian wartime code for Victoria manufacture)
War "Limited Standard Use"
Order Number__________Order Date__Quantity____Original Maker [Re-manufacturer*]
W33-038 A.C.-1755 (11631)________tbd_____35,000**______J.A. Dubow Mfg. Co. [BKM, GW]
1756________________________tbd_____25,000**______unmarked label (Perry Sportswear) [ALC]
W33-038 A.C.-1761____________ _tbd______25,000**______Bronco Mfg. Corp.
* Re-manufacturer identities are
ALC - Aero Leather Clothing [Scotland] http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/
BKM - Bill Kelso Mfg. Co. [UK] http://www.billkelsomfg.com/
BR - Buzz Ricksons [Japan] http://www.buzzricksons.jp/
DC - Diamond Clothing Co., Inc. [USA] http://www.diamondclothingco.com/
ELC - Eastman Leather Clothing [England] http://www.eastmanleather.com/
GW - Good Wear Leather Coat Co. [USA] http://www.goodwearleather.com/
LW - Lost Worlds, Inc. [USA] http://www.lostworldsinc.com/
RMCJ - Real McCoy's [Japan] http://www.realmccoys.co.jp/
TF - The Few [New Zealand] http://www.thefewmfg.com/
** Estimated quantity of manufacture.
*** Paper trail exists, but may not have been manufactured and/or survived as proof of manufacture.
**** Examples exists, but original maker, client(s), and number made are not known. May have been made by Staggs or Lasicas for the USAAF stationed in Australia rather than for the RAAF.
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