Bill Kelso - Aero 16160 Chennault

[B-Man2]

Hello????
Are you still there ??
Hopefully , we’ve changed your mind on the HWT thing.

 

[mulceber]

Probably doesn’t check the forum when he’s at work.

 

[B-Man2]

How sad.......

 

[ausreenactor]

Was watching this one and bidding on the 'Connell's Special' one. BK did not answer my messages to confirm if they would declare a lower value than AUD$1000 for customs so I stopped bidding. It went for just over US$800.

Jaw hit the floor when I saw the final price on this one. You must have wanted it a LOT! You certainly got a great jacket for your money. Don't wear it! Put it in a bag and get that sensational overload every year or so when you unleash it...

Thanks for the pics....

 

[Aeroga]

Victory HH
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Nice photos, how old is your jacket? Victory HH seems to get scratches quite easily and they are all over my jacket already just from wearing at home. Just waiting for the jacket weather here to wear it outside.

 

[Aeroga]

Do not, I repeat, do not HWT that jacket. It is totally unnecessary. The sleeves will shorten a little during wear, and the somewhat stiffer blousiness will become more supple. The sleeves are perfect in length as they are.

Thanks I was not firm about the HWT, and keen to wait out until it breaks in more. It's probably a bit of a contrast as my other jackets tend to be more form fitting. You know how the war time A2s tend to be either slightly larger or smaller, I guess this is what the situation is like for me.

 

[Aeroga]

Great looking jacket just the way it fits. I wouldn’t do a thing for a year until it breaks in and forms to your frame . What size is that?
Cheers

Thanks Burt this is in size 38 (as per tag) fits size 38-40 in reality

 

[Aeroga]

It won’t make a difference either with victory HH. ELC HH does tend to shrink when wet and dried up a bit. Victory will not.

Thanks for the info, I did not know that..

 

[Aeroga]

Wow, your jacket looks amazing, the fit is PERFECT in my opinion, and that Victory HH looks TERRIFIC, can’t imagine the patina in a couple years! Great purchase!

Thanks, I refrained from buying more jackets as I want to focus on wearing the existing ones out. This came across and I just had to pull that trigger when it's victory HH and "my size".

 

[Aeroga]

Listen to this man. You would be f@£€ing nuts to do anything to this jacket than to just wear it a lot and wear it hard.

There's all this esoteric bullshit you see about wear and patina on dedicated leather jacket sites like this, most of it is absolute nonsense. You want your A-2 to look like those guys in WWII? Just wear the damn thing. Wear it in the rain, wear it when you're doing chores around the yard/garden, wear it to a football match, do some work on the car wearing it, get drunk and fall asleep on the couch in it, eat pizza/a kebab wearing it. Don't be afraid one second or think "should I do this in my jacket?". Live your life in the thing. That's what the fellas back in WWII did in theirs and they looked the best because of it.

Agreed. These are meant to be worn, just like any piece of clothing intended for. The wear and tear on a jacket could really tell a great story. My Dubow is coming to 10 years old and it's been with me in my travels to more than 20 countries.

 

[ausreenactor]

I wish I had an A-2 to wrap myself in today! Hungover and feeling sorry for myself. Need horsehide and pizza.

 

[Aeroga]

I like the leather of the VH but my BK dubow color is my favorite if my three.
yours looks like a nice antiqued russet like mine.
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Very very nice jacket, with a lot of character!

 

[Aeroga]

Hello????
Are you still there ??
Hopefully , we’ve changed your mind on the HWT thing.

Hey Burt, still here. Don't worry I didn't run off to HWT and the next post you see from me is "I shouldn't have done it"! I'm in Hong Kong and the timezone is on the complete flipside

 

[mulceber]

Agreed. These are meant to be worn, just like any piece of clothing intended for. The wear and tear on a jacket could really tell a great story. My Dubow is coming to 10 years old and it's been with me in my travels to more than 20 countries.

View attachment 25645

A beauty! What make?

 

[Aeroga]

Was watching this one and bidding on the 'Connell's Special' one. BK did not answer my messages to confirm if they would declare a lower value than AUD$1000 for customs so I stopped bidding. It went for just over US$800.

Jaw hit the floor when I saw the final price on this one. You must have wanted it a LOT! You certainly got a great jacket for your money. Don't wear it! Put it in a bag and get that sensational overload every year or so when you unleash it...

Thanks for the pics....

I actually had been eyeing both jackets. But as I have other jacket projects underway, I could only get one more. Jackets with decals and patches are not really my cup of tea but if I had to choose it would have to be the Chennault. His story is what started my passion for vintage flight jackets.

Just grateful knowing that the Connell's is with another fellow forumer here. Wear it or keep it in good health! I have every intention to wear mine as much as possible!

Why not share some fit pics of yours?

 

[ausreenactor]

I got outbid in the last day.... I am still keen for Ties to sort out an "Eager Beaver" homage on my BR RW

 

[jeremiah]

I have been to the Chennault museum in Monroe LA. Killer.

 

[Aeroga]

A

I got outbid in the last day.... I am still keen for Ties to sort out an "Eager Beaver" homage on my BR RW

Ah I see! I misread and that you ended up with the Connell's. For what it's worth, it's nice to give your flight jacket a special meaning.

 

[Aeroga]

I have been to the Chennault museum in Monroe LA. Killer.

I'd love to visit it one day the next time I am in the US - may be next year. It has been a special year for me, with a few unexpected purchases of A-2s. The news on Masters of the Air continues to fuel my passion for WW2 flight jackets.

 

[Lebowski]

I like the leather of the VH but my BK dubow color is my favorite if my three.
yours looks like a nice antiqued russet like mine.
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Hey Jeremiah, stop posting your gorgeous grainy hand-made-re-dyed BK Dubow photos please! What are you doing mate?? I should do some casual work except just looking at its gorgeous photos again!! But I can't stop looking on it! Again!! Please stop)) LOL.