Early USN Flight Jacket / Suit Question

[Falcon_52]

A question for the vintage gear experts: did the USN have an issued winter flight suit or separate jacket and trousers in the late 1920s - 1930s? What I mean is: was there something analgous to the Air Corps B-1/A-1 or B-2/A-2 on the Navy side?

Thanks in advance,

Noel

P.S. Moderators: please move to the "General Flight Jacket Discussion" area if it's more appropriate.

 

[Chandler]

Didn't the Navy have a long leather/sheepskin coat? Reminiscent of WW1 style, double-breasted with a waist belt and fleece collar?

Take a look at the 4th and 5th pictures in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2994

Chandler

 

[deeb7]

... did the USN have an issued winter flight suit or separate jacket and trousers in the late 1920s - 1930s? What I mean is: was there something analgous to the Air Corps B-1/A-1 or B-2/A-2 on the Navy side?

Nothing comparable in leather .... 1927 saw the introduction of the 37S5 Winter Flying Suit.

Heavy khaki jungle cloth, fur lined, with a chamois interlining .... sounds warm enough.

 

[deeb7]

Didn't the Navy have a long leather/sheepskin coat? Reminiscent of WW1 style, double-breasted with a waist belt and fleece collar?

Take a look at the 4th and 5th pictures in this thread: http://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/vi ... f=3&t=2994

Picture 4 looks like M456 suit ... picture 5, M69 transport coat.

Both from the 1940's.

 

[zoomer]

There's at least one picture of a Coast Guard aviator (not Navy) wearing a jacket identical to a B-1 over aviation greens.

The jungle cloth suit may be the one pictured here. (Again, USCG, not USN.)

 

[deeb7]

The jungle cloth suit may be the one pictured here. (Again, USCG, not USN.)

It's similar, but with the pockets at the side, a little later ... probably 1930's.

 

[Falcon_52]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. So, does anyone know if the 37S5 suit was issued up until the M-445 jacket and M-446 trousers came about? Also, would the jungle cloth for the this suit likely be the same material that was used for the 37J1 summer flying jacket?

Thanks again,

Noel

 

[deeb7]

So, does anyone know if the 37S5 suit was issued up until the M-445 jacket and M-446 trousers came about?

No, the 37S5 was replaced by the S-89 Winter suit, which ran through the 1930's. Early 1940's saw the introduction of the M456 heated Colvinex suits.

The book Full Gear also illustrates an intriguing, unknown jacket that seems to pre-date the M444. Olive coloured cloth, alpaca lining, large mouton collar ... very much in the style of a B-3 with the single pocket.

Also, would the jungle cloth for the this suit likely be the same material that was used for the 37J1 summer flying jacket?

The same material, but I don't know if the weight is the same. For the suit, the specs require between 13 1/2 oz - 15 1/2 oz.

 

[Chandler]

.. picture 5, M69 transport coat.

Both from the 1940's.

Really? That long coat is a '40s design? Seems much older in style.

Chandler

 

[deeb7]

Really? That long coat is a '40s design? Seems much older in style.

Yep ... although the design may be traditional, it's a M69F, first contract was fiscal year 1943.

The buttoned front closure replaced the earlier, zippered M69D, and M69E, Willis and Geiger, contracts.

 

[Falcon_52]

David:

Thanks again for the additional information. I appreciate it immensely.

Noel

 

[Chandler]

The buttoned front closure replaced the earlier, zippered M69D, and M69E, Willis and Geiger, contracts.

So how much earlier were the earlier contracts? Could be they were based on earlier designs and the '43 evolved from that?

Chandler

 

[deeb7]

So how much earlier were the earlier contracts?

The first contract for the M69D was in fiscal year 1941.

 

[Chandler]

The first contract for the M69D was in fiscal year 1941.

That design just seems so much older, even for early 40s.

Chandler