have a look on this jacket

[dujardin]

helloooooo

i discover this unusual jacket.
what do you think, motorbiker jacket used by a crew member ????

byeeeeeeeeeeee marcel

 

[SuinBruin]

Interesting. He has cadet wings on his cap, so perhaps he had not earned his A-2 yet.

 

[deeb7]

Good photo, Marcel ... that's a great look with the chocolate shirt, and tie.

 

[Peter Graham]

Interesting. Maybe he was a motorcycle cop. Marcel, do you have a date for the photo ? I always thought that that style of jacket did not appear until after WW2 but the guy wearing the A-2 suggests that it's a wartime photo.

 

[Silver Dollar]

That's weird. I'm surprised that he was allowed to wear something like that with a uniform. It's definitely a biker jacket of some kind.

 

[deeb7]

I always thought that that style of jacket did not appear until after WW2 but the guy wearing the A-2 suggests that it's a wartime photo.

Full Gear illustrates a similar jacket labelled TOPLINE SPORTSWEAR, SEARS ROEBUCK AND CO ... with a nametag, and FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, it's dated 1941.

A 1940 Sears catalogue reproduced below it, lists the jacket as Aviation Style Leather Jacket ... Sky birds wear them for their streamlined neatness - their extra protection.

 

[asiamiles]

That's weird. I'm surprised that he was allowed to wear something like that with a uniform. It's definitely a biker jacket of some kind.

While we now associate this style of jacket with motorcycles, I don't think they were originally designed as such, and back in the day they were known - as David's post indicates - as aviator or aviation jackets. Of course, that's not to say they were necessarily made for pilots either; vintage clothing catalogs picture them as simply casual wear.

 

[Silver Dollar]

That's weird. I'm surprised that he was allowed to wear something like that with a uniform. It's definitely a biker jacket of some kind.

While we now associate this style of jacket with motorcycles, I don't think they were originally designed as such, and back in the day they were known - as David's post indicates - as aviator or aviation jackets. Of course, that's not to say they were necessarily made for pilots either; vintage clothing catalogs picture them as simply casual wear.

That makes sense. The jacket has the offset zipper like a B15 and has more of a Luftwaffe jacket look to me.

 

[442RCT]

A friend of mine had his A-2 painted to honor a friend of his who flew B-24s with the 15th AF out of Toretta, Italy. His friend, Lt. Col. Robert S. Staples, had a photo of members of his unit. What's kewl about this photo is it shows a variation of jackets worn, cloth to leather. The interesting thing is the guy third from the right in front. He's wearing what appears to be a civilian jacket, which according to Maguire and Conway's books, was not an uncommon practice.
49th Bomb Wing, 461st Bombardment Group (H), 15th Air Force

There's a lot of group photos of crew members from this unit, the above photo wasn't one of them. It's a great resource for WW2 crew photos. Most of the crew photos start on Page 12.
http://www.15thaf.org/49th_BW/461st_BG/ ... 0Album.htm

 

[dmar836]

Actually, Schott designed the Perfecto in 1928 - a "double" specifically for motorcycling. In the 40's it became more stylized into what we think of today(models 613 and 618).
So, the "motorcyle" jacket was certainly around in many forms by WWII. All this long before Harley thought of making clothing or, as it stands today, having it made in China.
I have a late 70's Perfecto I wear with pride. They have become a cult jacket much like A-2s and are still being made........... and copied.

Just an FYI,
Dave
Kansas City, USA