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, it's suggested in several locations that a low-volume purchase (unsubstantiated references cite 200-400 jackets) was made to get jackets visible for USAFs 40th anniversary (Sep 87).

EDIT: The NSN isn't as conclusive as I originally thought. Did some quick look-ups and it seems all the issue A-2s have used the same size-specific NSNs -- i.e. -6405 is common to all size 44R A-2s.

Still doesn't explain the NSN/label on this particular jacket -- purportedly issued to its owner in 2006. Source for this photo is US MIlitaria Forum, user "32nd Aero". I've since messaged to see if there were additional photos available. Curious if the interior has the inside breast pockets and pen slots.

 

[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 anniversary and 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.

 

[B-Man2]

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 anniversary and 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.

As far as I know … there aren’t any non issue or I guess you could refer to them as commercially made jackets which have NSN numbers. The National Stock Procurement System is a list of thousands of items from jackets to tools to parts etc. Each item has its own 13 digit number in the catalogue . So if you wanted to order a G-1 jacket for example. You filled out a “MIPR” Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request, listing the funding number and NSN number and size for the “G-1 jacket size 42 one each”.
I’ll post some links if your interested .

national stock number - Google Search

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/TroopSupport/ConstructionandEquipment/HEPP/MIPR_Form_448.pdf

 

[rb3586]

Type
RN
No.
106352
Legal Business Name
A & A MANUFACTURING, INC.
Company Name
D/B/A JILLIAN BRYCE
Company Type
CORPORATION
Business Type
IMPORTER MANUFACTURING WHOLESALER
Product Line
WOMEN'S APPAREL
Material

Street Address:

Address Line 1
525 SEVENTH AVENUE
Address Line 2
16TH FLOOR
City
NEW YORK,
State
New York
Zip
10018
Mailing Address:

Address Line 1
525 SEVENTH AVENUE
Address Line 2
16TH FLOOR
City
NEW YORK
State
New York
Country
United States
Zip
10018
URL

 

[B-Man2]

Just found this on EBay … it’s the same exact label that was resewn onto the jacket you posted. So that solves the label issue and weather it was a military issued label or a commercial label . It’s commercial

Men's USAF Brown Leather A-2 Flyer Bomber Jacket Size 46R | eBay

Style Bomber Jacket. Outer Shell Material Leather. Size Type Regular. Type Jacket. Color Brown.

www.ebay.com

 

[B-Man2]

This is the other label sewn into the lining

 

[FtrPlt]

Well that's interesting! While my pre-Saddlery theory is disproven, are we seeing the first repro of a USAF A-2 jacket? Wondering if this jacket is produced by Sturm?

 

[Deuce Drvr]

I have an Avirex A-2 from 1988 but would need to check the label to see if there is a stock number. The jacket I have is cotton lined with no pen pocket on the inside.

 

[Banzai]

99% certain that Neil Cooper secured the first contract through his “Saddlery” line. Avirex also got a contract that ran concurrently about a year later.

 

[33-1729]

Culling information from various Air Force write ups, Cooper got the first contract (awarded by Dec 31, 1987) consisting of 53,000 jackets with the first 4,000 jackets delivered in May 1988. They were required to be "fabricated from seal brown goatskin leather", but the US supply was insufficient, so goatskins from a number of countries were used. From the U.S. Militaria Forum they posted Cooper (Saddlery) A-2 photos (below) and identified this from the first 1988 contract deliveries based upon the small circle with the size in it on the bottom of the Saddlery label (later ones don't have this).

From another Air Force article they mentioned Avirex made several hundred jackets in 1987 for the USAF 40th anniversary. In Hell Bent for Leather by Nelson & Parsons they note "TAC had bought some replica A-2s from Averix, which also supplied the first couple hundred jackets issued as part of the Air Force celebration." Given the timeline, the Averix jackets may have been obtained as private purchase (consumer) jackets for the 40th Air Force celebration (Sept 18, 1987).

EDIT: The Air Force document states the "jacket shall be in accordance with Willis & Geiger Style Number A-2, Avirex Style Number 2107G or equivalent". Has anyone seen an 1987 Avirex specifically identified as a Style Number 2107G?

 

[Banzai]

That's some good info.

As a tangent, those early Saddlery/Cooper jackets had really weird collars. Big, floppy, long and pointy.