1st jacket project 2025 - B-58 themed BR MA-1

[Griffon_301]

Hopefully everyone has arrived in the new year safe and sound!

As for me, I am starting the new year with a fun project I had in my mind for quite some time now.

Some of you might have seen that I got two used BR nylon jackets off the net late last year, a WEP and a MA-1.
As my L-2 F-101 themed jacket project went really well, I was soon on the lookout for appropriate patches to theme my MA-1 in a similar vein.
My choice revolved around the B-58, as this was IMHO the coolest jet bomber ever used operationally.
as the B-58 was also used as a chase aircraft during XB-70 testing and I was lucky to source an XB-70 patch from the same seller who offered the B-58 Test Force patch, I might add that patch to the jacket as well...
today, the last missing patch arrived from the States, so the jacket will go to my tailor to have the patches sewn onto the jacket.

so, the two pictures show, how I intend to have them applied. I am not entirely sure if I want to add the XB-70 patch as well, but we will see, the XB-70 might go a little bit higher and more towards the shoulder than seen on the picture.
as usual, comments are highly welcome...

 

[B-Man2]

Very nicely done !

 

[CBI]

cool - I don't think SAC patches ever went on shoulders??????? command patches gotta be right chest especially mid 60's B-58 era consider name strip on left group, squadron, wing insignia on right chest - you can also look up B-58 flight test and see what guys were wearing . I am sure you have

 

[B-Man2]

Doesn’t look like he sewed them on yet .. so maybe he can still swap the command patch and move it to the right chest .

 

[Griffon_301]

thanks for your input, it's highly valued!
from what I found out, my patch setup is not entirely correct, as you pointed out, the SAC patch should not go to the shoulder.
unfortunately the size of the patch is rather small and it would look somewhat lost on the chest.
I might do a bit more research, but I have not found many good pictures of B-58 aircrews unfortunately.
need to look through the few books I have about the Hustler...

and no, the picture just shows my first intended layout.
I am happy about any input or ideas you guys have

 

[CBI]

command patches are about 3 1'2 inches?????? thats the norm so even if it looks small to you, its correct, you could put a patch above it.

 

[Griffon_301]

... and I learned something new again!
I didn't think that command patches were that "small"...
as said, I will do a bit more research then to get the setup more correct...
if anyone comes across good pictures showing B-58 aircrew in MA-1 jackets, feel free to post them here

 

[B-Man2]

... and I learned something new again!
I didn't think that command patches were that "small"...
as said, I will do a bit more research then to get the setup more correct...
if anyone comes across good pictures showing B-58 aircrew in MA-1 jackets, feel free to post them here

Any of these help?
All of them B-58 crews

 

[CBI]

yep - good pics

 

[Griffon_301]

thanks for the pictures. I knew some of them
I can't remember where but I have seen a picture of a B-58 crewman who had bothe, the B-58 Test Force patch and the Bendix Trophy patch on his jacket. that's where my original inspiration came from...
unfortunately I did not save the picture,.so it might be I saw it somewhere in a book.
I'll see if I find the book and rearrange the patches and post a picture later...

 

[Griffon_301]

after browsing every book and other source on the B-58 (or 60ies SAC crews for that matter) I could find, I have arrived at the following layout for the patches in my MA-1.
I will switch the Test Force and XB-70 patch vertically though as the B-58 was here first, so the XB-70 will go down as it would be sewed onto the jacket at a later time I reason when the Test Force patch got pride of place (sleeve) first...

as usual, comments are highly welcome.
and a big thank you to CBI form pointing out the correct position for the command patch...

 

[B-Man2]

after browsing every book and other source on the B-58 (or 60ies SAC crews for that matter) I could find, I have arrived at the following layout for the patches in my MA-1.
I will switch the Test Force and XB-70 patch vertically though as the B-58 was here first, so the XB-70 will go down as it would be sewed onto the jacket at a later time I reason when the Test Force patch got pride of place (sleeve) first...

View attachment 175217

as usual, comments are highly welcome.
and a big thank you to CBI form pointing out the correct position for the command patch...

If I might offer a suggestion… you have a lot going on there. Too much to be honest . If it were me I’d eliminate the 43rd Hustler Patch. I think that it would look a little better.

 

[Griffon_301]

thanks a lot for the input
I might rather trash the XB-70 patch though and move the 43rd Hustler patch to the sleeve then below the Test Force patch as I have seen a picture of jacket somewhere (just cannot remember where :/ ) where the Test Force and the 43rd Hustler patch were worn together l.
the B-58 won several trophies during its phase in period and I would like to keep that patch as a tribute to that

 

[B-Man2]

thanks a lot for the input
I might rather trash the XB-70 patch though and move the 43rd Hustler patch to the sleeve then below the Test Force patch as I have seen a picture of jacket somewhere (just cannot remember where :/ ) where the Test Force and the 43rd Hustler patch were worn together l.
the B-58 won several trophies during its phase in period and I would like to keep that patch as a tribute to that

That’s a good set up. The way it is now just has too much going on. Just an opinion others may differ.

 

[Griffon_301]

your input is highly valued, thank you very much
coincidentally I was not quite happy as well, i just couldn't nail it like you did

so I guess I have the setup I will use then

 

[B-Man2]

your input is highly valued, thank you very much
coincidentally I was not quite happy as well, i just couldn't nail it like you did

so I guess I have the setup I will use then

I looked thru the photos I sent you and the one thing that all the photos have in common is a name tag . Have you considered putting one on?
It might require you to lower the unit patch a bit , but it would add to the authenticity look of your jacket.

 

[Griffon_301]

indeed I was checking Mash already for period correct name tags
so you mean something like this here?

Leather Name Plate - Application Form

 

[B-Man2]

indeed I was checking Mash already for period correct name tags
so you mean something like this here?

Leather Name Plate - Application Form

Yes but without the acknowledgement that you were in the USAF or a pilot or a Lt. Colonel. I think it’s important to be aware that we did not actually earn these titles and those who did, find it highly offensive for those of us who didn’t to wear that type of name tag .
UNLESS …. You want to make your jacket a tribute jacket and put a well know prominent persons name on the tag . For example … I’ve seen tribute jackets with Chuck Yeager, Pappy Boyington and the like. I think for the most part that’s ok because most people will realize that they’re gone and you’re paying tribute to them .

 

[Griffon_301]

of course, you are completely right!
I was just checking MASH and this is what came up from them...
it seems MASH does not offer wings only so I might as well forget about a name tag and go with what I have and do a B-58 tribute jacket just like I did with the F-101 tribute L-2