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How it all began...
- Thread starter JimO
- Start date
Rutger
Well-Known Member
When I was about fifteen my grandma bought me an army jacket at a dumpstore. It was a short jacket, like a flight jacket. After a couple of years the jacket was old and worn and thrown away.
25-odd years later it came back to memory and I wanted another one, identical. Never found it, but in the process discovered the CWU-36 and -45 and the CVC jacket, so bought a couple. When I found out about the earlier jackets such as the L-2 I joined VLJ, with the usual sizing questions.
Still want that old army jacket though….. I never have been able to figure out what it could have been. To me, it had a US Army style.
25-odd years later it came back to memory and I wanted another one, identical. Never found it, but in the process discovered the CWU-36 and -45 and the CVC jacket, so bought a couple. When I found out about the earlier jackets such as the L-2 I joined VLJ, with the usual sizing questions.
Still want that old army jacket though….. I never have been able to figure out what it could have been. To me, it had a US Army style.
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
Was it leather or fabric ?
Silver Surfer
Well-Known Member
not really, Pete ramuzzi was a real quiet guy,, didn't smile much, except as my kid memory has it, smiled when he gave me the a-2. Kinda keep to himself kinda guy......that is, until some of his aaf buddies would come over to his house a couple times, weather permitting, and the would have a bbq and down "mr ramuzzi's"home made wine. but, that's another kid story. the guy was totally into his plants, flower beds, trees, etc, and was about it, as best as a kid could reckon.
ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
The preference for 'diving in' early in the morning gets results.
fighterjock
Active Member
A friend of mine gave me a Cockpit catalog in 1988. I already had the bug way back in 1982 when I joined the air force. Hadn't bought anything at that point. Then I went to Germany in 1989, and soon after that the Air Force started issuing leather A-2 jackets. When I came home from the Gulf War, they were selling A-2's made from Cooper for about 100 bucks, so I bought one. I really liked it but it just wasn't the real thing...……………….and then that damn Ebay and Mannions came along and that was it Brutha! Then I got a job and was actually working on radial engines R2000's and R3350's and flying all over the western united states putting out forest fires, the best day's of my life in terms of employment. One of my airplanes before they chopped it up. Tanker 14 went to Canada Buffalo Airways...…………...TV show Ice pilots. Last photo brings tears to my eyes!
Attachments
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Rutger
Well-Known Member
Fabric, army green, dense cotton able to withstand crawling through the bush. Narrow waist band of same cloth, no hand warmer pockets, buttons closing, two chest pockets, epaulets, collar.
Flightengineer
Well-Known Member
The first jacket was real N2 and it was in 1990s (although then I didn’t know what kind of jacket it was).
Despite the fact that one of my grandfather was a fighter pilot in WW2, and another very distant relative was а gunner in the AAF and I have been flying for many years, flight jackets as such did not interest me for a long time (aircraft and flights were more interesting).
I started more seriosly interested (firstly with nylon) about 15 years ago, when I used these jackets for flying small planes in an aeroclub, cause my main work doesn't need flight jackets, the modern office in big plane need a shirt or blazer only. Then, when I was retraining for 737, I met and made friends with my American colleagues and instructors, I discovered CWU and later G-1, cause among them were also former USN pilots. Although in those years I poorly versed in the jacket nuances. Then got, like many, first Cooper A2, then A2 repros of various levels, and as a result, 2 years ago, I joined VLJ.
Despite the fact that one of my grandfather was a fighter pilot in WW2, and another very distant relative was а gunner in the AAF and I have been flying for many years, flight jackets as such did not interest me for a long time (aircraft and flights were more interesting).
I started more seriosly interested (firstly with nylon) about 15 years ago, when I used these jackets for flying small planes in an aeroclub, cause my main work doesn't need flight jackets, the modern office in big plane need a shirt or blazer only. Then, when I was retraining for 737, I met and made friends with my American colleagues and instructors, I discovered CWU and later G-1, cause among them were also former USN pilots. Although in those years I poorly versed in the jacket nuances. Then got, like many, first Cooper A2, then A2 repros of various levels, and as a result, 2 years ago, I joined VLJ.
bseal
Well-Known Member
It was 1987. I had a new learner’s permit, keys to Mom’s little old beige Ford Escort, a job at a fast food joint, a few bucks in my wallet and a fervent obsession with the opposite sex.
While at the mall, I saw this jacket brand new for a little shy of two hundred dollars. It was definitely oversized on my frame, but smelled fantastic. Wore that thing all the time; feeling invincible and less anchored to home.
Often though, I wonder if my propensity for flight jackets isn’t tied to that sense of new found freedom back then. Borrowing pics of someone else’s well loved garment here. All I can say now as I think back is that it looked real good with feathered hair and a bit of a mullet. Real...good.
While at the mall, I saw this jacket brand new for a little shy of two hundred dollars. It was definitely oversized on my frame, but smelled fantastic. Wore that thing all the time; feeling invincible and less anchored to home.
Often though, I wonder if my propensity for flight jackets isn’t tied to that sense of new found freedom back then. Borrowing pics of someone else’s well loved garment here. All I can say now as I think back is that it looked real good with feathered hair and a bit of a mullet. Real...good.
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YoungMedic
Well-Known Member
Though Ive been wearing flight jackets since I was a kid, my journey into vintage jackets that brought me here started with this peach. For some reason I couldn't stop thinking about it and revisiting my pictures wondering about Russel Paulnock and the Belle of the Brawl, and little did I know what lay ahead. Still love coming here and learning or seeing something new, you are all pretty solid dudes. Wish we could all hang and have a cold one
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
Where is this located Tim ?
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YoungMedic
Well-Known Member
That jacket and others is at the Udvar-Hazy annex of the Smithsonian A&S Museum. An incredible site to visit
ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
Belle of the Brawl! Love that.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Here's where it all began for me; a 1977-78 Schott. Don't recall exactly what year I got it, but I wore it all the time through late HS and early college days. Until I grew out of the 40 size.
A heavy beast, very warm with the quilted lining. I had to replace the zip once, and I recall I had it "leather reconditioned" at a dry cleaners because I thought it was looking too worn.
Yeah, I know -- I was young. And yeah, it is that dark.
Haven't been able to part with it for sentimental reasons, but everything has its price.
A heavy beast, very warm with the quilted lining. I had to replace the zip once, and I recall I had it "leather reconditioned" at a dry cleaners because I thought it was looking too worn.
Yeah, I know -- I was young. And yeah, it is that dark.Haven't been able to part with it for sentimental reasons, but everything has its price.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
None of the above, I'm afraid. I'm boring.
I *was* profiled once while my friend and I were working on his car in the dorm parking lot. Kampus Kop told us he *had* to check us out because of "the guy in the black leather jacket."
Of course I indignantly informed Johnny Law Jr. it was brown.
