Coming Soon - Watch the Skies (or the VLJ, as it were)

[mulceber]

So, as some of you may have suspected from the multiple hints that have been dropped over the last couple weeks (ok, that last one might just be a case of Jeff being Jeff), work is under way on a companion piece to "A Better Fighting Garment...", this time about the A-2 Jacket. We have put together a fantastic team, including @33-1729, @ZuZu, and @Lord Flashheart, and I am beyond excited by how it's coming together. Our aim is to build upon the successes of Eastman's A-2 Guide (now sadly out of print and becoming difficult to find) and present the most comprehensive and authoritative piece on the A-2 Jacket available anywhere. At present we are very close to being done, and we hope to get started rolling it out at some point in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of one of the entries:

 

[mulceber]

J. A. Dubow Mfg. Co. W535-AC-27798​

Contract Awarded: 25 April 1942 (EA2G plate 25; WSC 969)
Date of Completion: August 1942 (WSC 969)
Quantity: 50,000 jackets (EA2G plate 25)
Leather type: horsehide/cowhide and goatskin (EA2G plate 25)
Stitch color: medium brown and olive drab
Zipper(s): Conceivably any that were current in early 1942. The following have been observed. They are listed in approximate order of the frequency with which they have been encountered:

• Crown M-41
• Talon M-41
• Talon M-42
• Crown M-42 dull
• Crown M-42 nickel
• Talon M-39 - possibly a replacement slider
• Kwik M-40 nickel fantail (EA2G plate 25)

General Comments:
Identifying/Distinguishing Details:

• Typical Dubow contract:
  • The most noticeable feature of the Dubow contracts is their small collar, with pointed tips that taper with a recognizable curve toward the back of the jacket.
  • Epaulets are wide as is typical for all Dubow contracts. Dubows had the “fattest” epaulets found on A-2s.
  • Dubows are normally seen with knits that were a distinctive purple shade. They are the only manufacturer to have knits of this color.
  • Wide rectangular x-box stitching on the epaulets (Acme Depot).
  • Strong scalloping on the pocket flaps.
  • Arm holes in the torso are wide and the sleeves tend to be baggy.
  • Unusual pocket placement: equidistant from the outer edge of the storm flap, rather than the zipper. The result is that, if you pay attention, the pocket placement is not symmetrical.
  • Dubow zippers were normally installed so that a lot of zipper tape exposed between the teeth and the leather of the chest panel. This photo illustrates it well. It’s not that dramatic, but compare it to this Aero.
• The spec. label on this contract is noticeably larger than on other contracts, and is unique among spec. labels in that it actually has the size listed on it. Even if the label is missing, stitch holes may remain to identify the jacket.

 

[Abyss]

Thank you all for working on this!

 

[CK90]

Oh boy, it was only a matter of time. Thank you so much gents, what a cracking team of flight jacket connoisseurs to lead the charge as well.

Can’t wait to now elevate my A-2 knowledge along with my Navy intermediates.

Bravo fella’s, bravo.

 

[B-Man2]

OUTFRIGGANSTANDING !!

 

[Kennyz]

View attachment 155443

So, as some of you may have suspected from the multiple hints that have been dropped over the last couple weeks (ok, that last one might just be a case of Jeff being Jeff), work is under way on a companion piece to "A Better Fighting Garment...", this time about the A-2 Jacket. We have put together a fantastic team, including @33-1729, @ZuZu, and @Lord Flashheart, and I am beyond excited by how it's coming together. Our aim is to build upon the successes of Eastman's A-2 Guide (now sadly out of print and becoming difficult to find) and present the most comprehensive and authoritative piece on the A-2 Jacket available anywhere. At present we are very close to being done, and we hope to get started rolling it out at some point in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of one of the entries:

Wow - is this exciting!!! Outstanding work, gentleman!

Ken

 

[Ritchy]

Amazing!
Thanks to all the contributors

 

[Silver Surfer]

to quote burt, " OUTFIGGNSTANDING" is this going to be in an actual book form, with pics?

 

[mulceber]

to quote burt, " OUTFIGGNSTANDING" is this going to be in an actual book form, with pics?

Still in thread form, but with tons and tons of pics.

*I should say we have no plans to turn it into a book at this point. Once we’ve gotten some feedback on how to improve it, (particularly in re: stuff like the zipper data, identifying features, that kind of stuff), we can take another look at whether it’s worth turning into a book.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Go for a book format. Books are so much easier to take to the shitter than the internet.

 

[johnwayne]

As an ex printer I was for doing this years ago but even despite that digital printing now makes shorter runs/smaller quantities more viable than previously, it’s still quite an outlay and probably only possible with the finances that Gary Eastman had at the time. There is of course the John Chapman route of a DVD perhaps, maybe even try get him involved given his invaluable knowledge and expertise?

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Credit to you Jan for driving this project. My knowledge of A-2 is pretty limited but I've learnt a huge amount just reading through the drafts and helping to tidy and tweak it. I think we both felt it was important, having worked through USN jackets in BFG, to update the A-2 information here. But what a challenge. Not for the faint hearted.

I'm pretty sure the Forum won't be disappointed.

 

[mulceber]

Thanks Phil, I hope everyone will enjoy it. Special credit goes to @33-1729 for the sheer number of government documents he brought to the table, along with his experience working with them all.

 

[Spitfireace]

J. A. Dubow Mfg. Co. W535-AC-27798​

Contract Awarded: 25 April 1942 (EA2G plate 25; WSC 969)
Date of Completion: August 1942 (WSC 969)
Quantity: 50,000 jackets (EA2G plate 25)
Leather type: horsehide/cowhide and goatskin (EA2G plate 25)
Stitch color: medium brown and olive drab
Zipper(s): Conceivably any that were current in early 1942. The following have been observed. They are listed in approximate order of the frequency with which they have been encountered:

• Crown M-41
• Talon M-41
• Talon M-42
• Crown M-42 dull
• Crown M-42 nickel
• Talon M-39 - possibly a replacement slider
• Kwik M-40 nickel fantail (EA2G plate 25)

General Comments:
Identifying/Distinguishing Details:

• Typical Dubow contract:
  • The most noticeable feature of the Dubow contracts is their small collar, with pointed tips that taper with a recognizable curve toward the back of the jacket.
  • Epaulets are wide as is typical for all Dubow contracts. Dubows had the “fattest” epaulets found on A-2s.
  • Dubows are normally seen with knits that were a distinctive purple shade. They are the only manufacturer to have knits of this color.
  • Wide rectangular x-box stitching on the epaulets (Acme Depot).
  • Strong scalloping on the pocket flaps.
  • Arm holes in the torso are wide and the sleeves tend to be baggy.
  • Unusual pocket placement: equidistant from the outer edge of the storm flap, rather than the zipper. The result is that, if you pay attention, the pocket placement is not symmetrical.
  • Dubow zippers were normally installed so that a lot of zipper tape exposed between the teeth and the leather of the chest panel. This photo illustrates it well. It’s not that dramatic, but compare it to this Aero.
• The spec. label on this contract is noticeably larger than on other contracts, and is unique among spec. labels in that it actually has the size listed on it. Even if the label is missing, stitch holes may remain to identify the jacket.

can't wait for the Monarch description of which I have one.

 

[Skyhawk]

Great project!
Let me know if you need any info on the P. Goldsmith & Son's contract. I have done like a billion hours research after identifying that jacket.

 

[Pilot]

can't wait for the Monarch description of which I have one.

Same here… Monarch A-2…my favored A-2 maker!

 

[Lorenzo_l]

A commendable effort, Jan et al. I very much look forward to the end product!

 

[blackrat2]

This is going to be the “bible”, can’t thank you guys enough, gonna be awesome to see

 

[Jennison]

A greatly needed resource for those of us who missed the boat on the Eastman guide. From the sound of it, it'll be a great resource for those who have the Eastman guide, too.

Thanks very much for the effort.

 

[mulceber]

A greatly needed resource for those of us who missed the boat on the Eastman guide. From the sound of it, it'll be a great resource for those who have the Eastman guide, too.

That’s the hope! Eastman’s A-2 Guide was lightyears ahead of almost anything else available at the time, but more info has become available since he published.