1987 USAF-issue A-2 Contracts

[FtrPlt]

While I've heard suggestions that 'Avirex was first' for many years, I've only recently seen a jacket that suggests it might actually be true. The jacket has an NSN on the tag and the number corresponds to a specification issued 5 July 1987. Same NSN also lists Willis & Geiger as an additional vendor.

NSN is 8415-01-258-6405 (size 44R)

While I haven't seen a W&G jacket with NSN, it appears a low volume purchase (I've read unsubstantiated references to 200-400 jackets) was made to get jackets visible for USAFs 40th anniversary (Sep 87).

The first large volume contract (53,000 jackets) was awarded to Cooper Sportswear (Saddlery) in 1988.

Photo below via internet. I don't know the source. Credit to source

 

[Pilot]

I only see these from Saddlery in the USAF bases…

 

[Pilot]

As a little side note… just see the quality of the « cut, pattern », the goatskin, the knitting and the overall of the « legit issued USAF A-2 « and compare with the « lookalikes and so called… »

 

[B-Man2]

I don’t believe this is an issued USAF jacket. The tag looks more like a commercial tag than an original USAF tag. Also it looks the tag was re-sewn into the lining of the jacket.
Theres no contract number on the tag .
The NSN number or National Stock Number is not a contract number but rather a number used to list items in the National Stock Procurement System. This was obviously used on the label to try and give the impression that the jacket is authentic and original .

 

[FtrPlt]

I've been chasing claims of alleged Avirex jackets purchase in the lead-up to the Saddlery contract on and off for quite a few years.

I'm going on the theory that some batch of jackets was procured prior to the 40th anniversery and delivery commencement of the Saddlery contract.

B-man -- fair comments. How many other non-issue A-2 jackets have NSNs assigned for the full size range? I don't know the answer nor have I looked.