CWU-36/45 questions

[Ed Rooney]

Hey, you got my wings on the tanker jacket! When I had one of those, I put my stripes on the collar, which was not the correct placement. The way you have it is right. It's weird to see that jacket with a Combat Action Badge. I thought the tankers were gone by the time the CAB started. U.S. Flag under the unit patch is also an old thing. They changed it around when ACU's came online.

Army CWU-45s are rare on ebay, but they are there. AFAIK, 36's were never a thing for us. I had to lie and cheat to get mine.

I do have some of those, tan and green. They are in my locker but I have some pics on the roll, they are cool, too!View attachment 44579View attachment 44581View attachment 44583

 

[917_k]

Thanks @MaydayWei, and I agree with you, CWUs are not just cooler but the most practical flight jackets to date. No wonder you can see them being worn by other countries Air Force besides US. And when they are patched they look cooler! Here are some right out the closet: 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s.
View attachment 44575

haha I love it, no matter the jacket, Jorge you always absolutely knock it outta the park! Beautiful collection.

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

Thank you guys! Btw, the green one is the Lightweight Flyer’s Jacket version, it doesn’t have the velcro tab on the back as the tanker version. These 2 designs are only seen on the green version, the tan version only comes with the tanker design. I have to do a thread of them, soon!

Lightweight Flyer’s jacket

Cold Weather jacket (Tanker)

Cold Weather jacket (Tanker) Tan

 

[Ed Rooney]

I have an Isratex tanker in Medium Long. It fits like an A-2. The previous owner had Army nametags and a 1st Cav shoulder patch, but no wings, so I think it was a real tanker.

 

[Ed Rooney]

I just found this on eBay:

Vintage 70s US MILITARY Cold Weather Nomex Jacket Flyers Mens Medium | eBay

MADE IN USA. TOP TO BOTTOM 26.

www.ebay.com

It is a cold weather flyer’s jacket. It is basically the tanker, but without the opening in the back. I have never seen one like this before.

 

[MaydayWei]

It is a cold weather flyer’s jacket. It is basically the tanker, but without the opening in the back. I have never seen one like this before.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those the predecessors to the CVC.
From what I've read on VLJ and the hat place, I think they were used by Army air-crew. I think early 70s or somewhat or rather.
But I'm sure Jorge will be the deciding authority on that!

 

[Ed Rooney]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those the predecessors to the CVC.
From what I've read on VLJ and the hat place, I think they were used by Army air-crew. I think early 70s or somewhat or rather.
But I'm sure Jorge will be the deciding authority on that!

Hat place?

 

[MaydayWei]

Hat place?

Fedora Lounge

 

[Ed Rooney]

Fedora Lounge

My eyes

 

[917_k]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those the predecessors to the CVC.
From what I've read on VLJ and the hat place, I think they were used by Army air-crew. I think early 70s or somewhat or rather.
But I'm sure Jorge will be the deciding authority on that!

Possibly this is correct, but it looks like the army at least trialled some different designs for the tanker jacket. These two photos are from 1977 and the jacket is definitely a different design to the eventual CVC jacket:

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

As far as I know, this is the first kind of these Flyer’s jacket design, they are from the 70’s. Note the front pockets lack of the flap, they are just closed by using 2 velcro strips.

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

I have these patches reserved for a project like yours @Greg Gale, I’ve been procrastinating for over 6 years.

 

[MaydayWei]

I have these patches reserved for a project like yours @Greg Gale, I’ve been procrastinating for over 6 years.View attachment 44728View attachment 44729

Are they velcro backed? That will make your life a hell of a lot easier with putting them on and removing them without damaging the jacket.
I learned that the hard way.
Plus, it would save you a ton of money with your tailor.

 

[Greg Gale]

@Jorgeenriqueaguilera looks like our projects are quite similar

 

[Flightengineer]

Thank you guys! Btw, the green one is the Lightweight Flyer’s Jacket version, it doesn’t have the velcro tab on the back as the tanker version. These 2 designs are only seen on the green version, the tan version only comes with the tanker design. I have to do a thread of them, soon!

Lightweight Flyer’s jacketView attachment 44594View attachment 44595

Cold Weather jacket (Tanker)View attachment 44593View attachment 44592

Cold Weather jacket (Tanker) Tan
View attachment 44596View attachment 44597

Jorge, is there at least one AF or USN jacket that you don't have?

 

[Ed Rooney]

Are they velcro backed? That will make your life a hell of a lot easier with putting them on and removing them without damaging the jacket.
I learned that the hard way.
Plus, it would save you a ton of money with your tailor.

Prior to about 2000, it was unusual for patches to have Velcro. It was done, but mostly in the AF, so you have to consider whether you are trying to show a modern jacket or a vintage.

 

[Greg Gale]

Prior to about 2000, it was unusual for patches to have Velcro. It was done, but mostly in the AF, so you have to consider whether you are trying to show a modern jacket or a vintage.

Even the nametags were sewn on directly?
BTW, when did they change the nametags from leather to embroidered? This one looks like it's leather, and everything is velcroed.

 

[Ed Rooney]

Even the nametags were sewn on directly?
BTW, when did they change the nametags from leather to embroidered? This one looks like it's leather, and everything is velcroed.

No, name tags always velcroed.

I think after Vietnam, squadrons began to customize embroidered name tags.

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

Are they velcro backed? That will make your life a hell of a lot easier with putting them on and removing them without damaging the jacket.
I learned that the hard way.
Plus, it would save you a ton of money with your tailor.

Yes, some of them came with velcro on the back from the original owner. My idea is to sewn them onto a jacket someday, the velcro would have to be removed. Trust me, I know how hard is to sewn them onto a jacket lol, I did my VF-31 jacket 9 years ago and after that I’ve been procrastinating other projects, honestly now if you are lucky it’s just easier to buy them from the pilots.

My VF-31 project

The “Real Deal”

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

Jorge, is there at least one AF or USN jacket that you don't have?

There is still a space reserved for an original A-1 in my closet!