Discussion: “A Better Fighting Garment…” - A Beginner’s Guide to the US Navy’s WWII-era and later Intermediate Flight Jackets

[Lord Flashheart]

I think the time is right to do some edits. Let's face it this was titled "A beginners guide ..." and yes there's some speculation but if the whole thing gives readers more insight without misleading them (and we did try to be clear about the guesswork and opinion) and gets more people interested in the hobby I think that's a good thing.

 

[Brettafett]

Just received a gem. A mint Ralph Edwards 7823B series 1040-63 size 42. So far Ive been able to try on and inspect. Its immaculate, a Jorge-special, almost like its been in storage since '63.
The previous owner did say NOS. Original knits are perfect, mouton 100% perfect, clean, tight buttons... Not one single issue. However... first try-ons and I feel the sleeves may be a touch short... tears
Will post pics and details in due course.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

*** UPDATE ***

In case you're wondering why this thread isn't a sticky any more Jan, Wei and I are in the process of discussing edits to the original posts with the aim of creating an updated Beginners Guide (which began with about 5 of the 10 pages it currently contains).

This original thread can then naturally evolve into a discussion thread on Navy flight jackets as we feel there's clearly a place for that and an updated Beginners Guide sticky can itself evolve as a tighter source of knowledge as new information emerges or is discussed here.

Stay tuned !

 

[mulceber]

I'll add that I'm really excited about the changes that are coming. As a preview:

• Greatly improved contract data. All of the contracts are now dated to the year, many of them to the month.
• More photos of Navy jackets!
• An honest-to-goodness identification guide to help people figure out what Navy jacket they have.
• Discussion of the different Specifications has been mostly re-written to reflect further research.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Coming shortly - " A Better Fighting Garment 2.0" ...

Following Jan's teaser we are pleased to say we aim to start posting a new Guide thread very soon.

As a small piece of "housekeeping" can we please ask that any comments and discussion on that new Guide thread, as it emerges, are posted here and not in the new Guide. We believe that this will keep the new Guide itself a tightly focused and readily searchable sticky resource for the long haul. Thanks !

Like Jan I'm really excited that this new Guide will be an even more informative source of information about this long running series of leather jackets.

Happy Easter

 

[Sideslip]

Very excited, looking forward to it!

 

[Lord Flashheart]

As mentioned we'd like to keep this thread as a focus for discussion but Jan and I have now posted up "A Better Fighting Garment" 2.0 here

“A Better Fighting Garment…” 2.0 - A Revised Guide to the U.S. Navy's Intermediate Leather Flight Jackets

PREFACE In December 2021 Jan, Wei and I posted a thread entitled “A Better Fighting Garment…” - A Beginner’s Guide to the US Navy’s WWII-era and later Intermediate Flight Jackets. We wanted to fill a gap in the knowledge base on the forum and the thread was written as a “Beginners Guide”. We...

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

 

[mulceber]

And it's now all posted. Phil and I might do some light editing to the content in the next day or so, but all the analysis, contract data, and photos are there.

 

[Spitfireace]

Great stuff! A real labour of love. I appreciate all the work that has gone into this. I notice there are no examples of a Ralph Edwards 7823 C contract DSA-1-9366. If you are still taking submissions I would humbly submit mine, but I need to take some good detail photos first.

 

[mulceber]

Sure! Send them along and we’ll get them in there. If you can get them in the next day or so, that would be best - that way I can edit them in among the already-existing photos and not mess up the flow of the posts.

 

[Spitfireace]

I'll pm them to you?

 

[mulceber]

I'll pm them to you?

Perfect.

 

[mulceber]

@Spitfireace's 7823C is now posted (post #78). If anyone else has jackets to add, now's the time, as we can still edit them into their proper place in the thread instead of tacking them on the end.

 

[Spitfireace]

A question. Where is this pinned to?

 

[mulceber]

The discussion thread isn't pinned at all anymore. The new BFG thread is pinned in Vintage.

 

[Spitfireace]

Ya I meant the BFG. Ok it wasn't obvious to me. Something like this shouldn't be hard to find. Especially for newbies.

 

[Spitfireace]

Maybe if there was a category like pinned. Or am I being obtuse?

 

[Spitfireace]

Sorry probably nit picking.

 

[mulceber]

No worries - it’ll be at the top of the page on the Vintage sub-forum.

 

[Spitfireace]

Ya I see yes. I just meant like a separate category on the left that is a things that should be a reference are. A reference category.