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

[Chandler]

The question is, I guess, are these later G-1s going to appreciate in value as much as the early ones?

Another question would be, how often do you wear any of them and do the dynel collars really look that bad? Maybe it's only a case of you knowing they're not real fur and it gets into your head?

 

[MikeyB-17]

Do you happen to have a photo of the one with the seam down the middle? Jeff posted his version above, but I'd like to find a copy without the photobucket watermark on it.

Yeah I do-it’s that one in Zuzu’s post with the watermark on it! I just found the original thread after I bought it, that’s my jacket! I’m not sure if I have one somewhere without the watermark-I’ll have a look but it might take a while-working. It also, incidentally, had no USN perforation on the windflap.

 

[ZuZu]

Yeah I do-it’s that one in Zuzu’s post with the watermark on it! I just found the original thread after I bought it, that’s my jacket! I’m not sure if I have one somewhere without the watermark-I’ll have a look but it might take a while-working. It also, incidentally, had no USN perforation on the windflap.

Wasn't there talk at the time that it was a "PX jacket" ? If so- why the official label. Weird.

 

[mulceber]

Wasn't there talk at the time that it was a "PX jacket" ? If so- why the official label. Weird.

I wasn't there for that discussion way back when, but if the only evidence for it being a PX jacket was that it had the weird back seam, then that seems like pretty scanty evidence to me.

 

[ZuZu]

The question is, I guess, are these later G-1s going to appreciate in value as much as the early ones?

Another question would be, how often do you wear any of them and do the dynel collars really look that bad? Maybe it's only a case of you knowing they're not real fur and it gets into your head?

IMO- the Dynel doesn't age well- it can look pretty matted and dirty after a lot of use. That being said I think you (Chandler) are right- if these jackets do appreciate a replaced collar will be bad. I had a 48 Star from '76 with great dark goatskin and a matted Dynel collar- I loved it until the cheapo General zipper broke. It was a great wearer even in the rain. Unlike current issue A-2s I think these 70s G-1s will appreciate in value- they're the very last quality issue G-1s. I also think you're right about the psychological aspect of the Dynel collar- they actually were the color the Navy wanted and only geeks notice the fakeness.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I wasn't there for that discussion way back when, but if the only evidence for it being a PX jacket was that it had the weird back seam, then that seems like pretty scanty evidence to me.

There was this:-
Thread 'G-1 PX Purchase Jackets: Are They Military or Civilian?'
https://www.vintageleatherjackets.o...e-jackets-are-they-military-or-civilian.7154/
And this:-
Thread 'My anomalous new G-1'
https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/my-anomalous-new-g-1.711/
Note input from Porkchop, former Naval supply officer. And the date-2008!

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Thanks for digging those links out Mikey. Porkchops comment does explain some of this and this is worth adding to our list of edits (which will probably never be closed )

 

[Ritchy]

This photo seems to indicate that Avirex had a contract for the 7823E in 2000. Is it true ?

 

[mulceber]

This photo seems to indicate that Avirex had a contract for the 7823E in 2000. Is it true ?View attachment 108923

See the contract data in the 7923E post:
https://www.vintageleatherjackets.o...iate-leather-flight-jackets.30031/post-390991

 

[Spitfireace]

Not true.

 

[Wedge417]

Great read thanks a lot! What a gold mine of information y'all are. Now you guys need to make a page about best repros on the current market. A-2s get plenty of attention I feel USN jackets repros are less commonly reviewed.

 

[ZuZu]

Jan- I saw your latest addition to the "Better Fighting Garment...etc" thread. Have you addressed the whole FEC thing? Star Sportswear made issue jackets for the PX or whatever- the models followed pretty much the current design of the day- from the 50s through the 70s. The early ones are indistinguishable from the Star 55J14. The later (70s) ones were more caca. There were many models in between- often only different from the issue model by use of a brown Talon zipper. If I dig I could find many pics.

 

[mulceber]

Anything you can find, we'd be happy to add. I confess, I don't know much about it - that post was actually created by @Lord Flashheart, and I just added it as I was going back through the BFG and editing out a whole bunch of minor errors.

Speaking of which, we just finished the latest round of edits, based on feedback from 2.0. I've also gone back to the original posts in this thread and grayed them out, with a link to 2.0, just so no one is left thinking 1.0's information is the latest and greatest.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

If you've got some more depth on that Jeff please do share it here.

Since we re-drafted BFG into BFG 2.0 we were keen to keep this thread open to flush out more about the Navy jacket story. That way we can thrash out the picture here between members before editing the Sticky.

 

[CombatWombat]

Ahhh I've got a question.....was the G-1 EVER made in black....with a black detachable fur collar?
(I've got a distinct memory of seeing a USN guy swanning around FleetBase East (Sydney) in a black G-1 yet he had "Waves" rather than "Wings" on his name plate

 

[ZuZu]

If you've got some more depth on that Jeff please do share it here.

Since we re-drafted BFG into BFG 2.0 we were keen to keep this thread open to flush out more about the Navy jacket story. That way we can thrash out the picture here between members before editing the Sticky.

I'm working on it. I'll post some pictures and then you guys can make it official in the 2.0.

 

[B-Man2]

Ahhh I've got a question.....was the G-1 EVER made in black....with a black detachable fur collar?
(I've got a distinct memory of seeing a USN guy swanning around FleetBase East (Sydney) in a black G-1 yet he had "Waves" rather than "Wings" on his name plate

Hi CW
To the best of my knowledge there was never a USN issued black G-1 with a detachable collar in the US Navy inventory .if you saw something like that recently are you sure you didn’t see one of the new Surface Warfare Jackets that the U.S. Navy is now issuing to ship board officers ?

 

[Spitfireace]

Otherwise.. private purchase Schott for instance?

 

[Chandler]

Otherwise.. private purchase Schott for instance?

L.L. Bean had a version with a detachable collar, didn't they?

 

[ZuZu]

If you've got some more depth on that Jeff please do share it here.

Since we re-drafted BFG into BFG 2.0 we were keen to keep this thread open to flush out more about the Navy jacket story. That way we can thrash out the picture here between members before editing the Sticky.

I think I'm going to do an FEC thread and then you guys can take the photos and text as needed and incorporate it if you think it's OK. Unless you want me to just put it in the discussion thread. Let me know!