Identification of type M422a Aero Leather required

[Herman_the_German]

Hello everyone and first of all thanks for the fantastic forum.

I bought a M422a from Aero Leather used but don't know anything about the jacket. So really an original repro it is obviously not, as far as lining and the cuffs are concerned, right?

But then what does the jacket represent?

And more importantly, what kind of leather is it made of?

The jacket was very dry when I bought it, so I first treated it carefully with automotive leather milk.

Can anyone tell me anything about the jacket? It would make me very happy.

Cheers,
Olaf

 

[B-Man2]

Hi Olaf
Your jacket is made from goat skin. It is a reproduction of a WWII US Navy Aviators flight jacket . It looks to be well made but not exactly correct in all of the areas that you would find on an original M-422a jacket.

 

[Harris_HTM]

Further I see the Blue Label; this denotes that it is made of b-stock leather, or leather they had years in stock: https://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/shop/jackets--ready-to-wear/blue-label

 

[Herman_the_German]

Hi Olaf
Your jacket is made from goat skin. It is a reproduction of a WWII US Navy Aviators flight jacket . It looks to be well made but not exactly correct in all of the areas that you would find on an original M-422a jacket.

Thank you, that was quick!

 

[Herman_the_German]

Further I see the Blue Label; this denotes that it is made of b-stock leather, or leather they had years in stock: https://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/shop/jackets--ready-to-wear/blue-label

Ah, good to know - it seems that there are no real mismatches. But the leather has been dry as I mentioned. But that might have been dried out with the previous owner.

 

[Harris_HTM]

Ah, good to know - it seems that there are no real mismatches. But the leather has been dry as I mentioned. But that might have been dried out with the previous owner.

Yeah, could be, I know there are cases where there were no differences between the blue and normal series

 

[MikeyB-17]

It’s a funny kettle of fish-you’re quite right, the lining, label and definitely the knits are not correct for an M-422a, but the leather, zip and collar stencil are. Aero do things like this occasionally, there will no doubt be a story behind it, and it might be worth emailing them to see if they can shed any light. It’s a nice jacket, Aero don’t make any rubbish, but if it was me I would be thinking about changing the knits-M-422a’s did not have OD knits, (except maybe in Japan ), and to me they ruin the jacket, but if you’re OK with them, fine. Did your auto milk improve the leather?

 

[Chandler]

Along with so many other oddities of this jacket, there's no typical wind flap behind the zip.

Other than the USN collar stencil, I'd have identified this piece as Aero's version of a '40s-'50s civilian jacket.

 

[Herman_the_German]

... but if it was me I would be thinking about changing the knits-M-422a’s did not have OD knits, (except maybe in Japan ), and to me they ruin the jacket, but if you’re OK with them, fine. Did your auto milk improve the leather?

What means "OD knits" - the olive color? That is definitely wrong, I know but actually let it look more military than it is when it is a civilian version.
When they need to be replaced I would change to the right color.

About the automotive leather conditioner. I have made the experience that several products from that market are actually more sensible in their effect on the leather. They do not over grease or over oil them and keep the condition closer to original. The add humidity to leather without soften them or close the surface to much. They do not make leather waterproof of course.

 

[MikeyB-17]

OD-olive drab.

 

[Pilot]

Aeroleather ( the US Co. ) never had any M422a contract.
They never had an USN contract at all
Same … they never had a B-10 contract either.
They had only one B-15 1945 contract, which most probably was their last one for the USAAF after their D-2 jacket / B-2 trousers contract also 1944.
Of course they had many USAAF „ leather „ (A-2, B-3 , AN-J-4 etc ).. contracts.
Happy to be proven wrong.

 

[mulceber]

Aeroleather ( the US Co. ) never had any M422a contract.
They never had an USN contract at all
Same … they never had a B-10 contract either.
They had only one B-15 1945 contract, which most probably was their last one for the USAAF after their D-2 jacket / B-2 trousers contract also 1944.
Of course they had many USAAF „ leather „ (A-2, B-3 , AN-J-4 etc ).. contracts.
Happy to be proven wrong.

One SLIGHT correction there: they did have a 55J14 contract for the Navy, since "Aviators' Clothing Co." was actually a re-named Aero leather. Other than that, spot on.

 

[Pilot]

One SLIGHT correction there: they did have a 55J14 contract for the Navy, since "Aviators' Clothing Co." was actually a re-named Aero leather. Other than that, spot on.

Spot on!. Thanks for your additional info.
I meant about the „Aeroleather“ label/brand only.

 

[mulceber]

Agreed, you're definitely not going to see any original Navy jackets with an Aero label.

 

[Herman_the_German]

I have also sent an email to Aero Leathers - here is what they answered. It leaves me a lot more confused than the the plausible answers I have received here in the forum.

I ran your mail by my father and he’s said this looks like a replica of a “private Purchase” M422a. He added “It wasn’t that uncommon for higher ranking USN fliers to buy their own jacket from stores such as Bloomindales. Having a transfer added (behind the collar) aftermarket was a fairly simple procedure.”

So that explains why there’s a civilian label fitted.

 

[mulceber]

I hadn't heard about Navy pilots doing so, but I wouldn't be altogether surprised. Private purchase jackets were a common sight over in the Air Force.

What leaves you confused?

 

[Herman_the_German]

I hadn't heard about Navy pilots doing so, but I wouldn't be altogether surprised. Private purchase jackets were a common sight over in the Air Force.

What leaves you confused?

I'm confused now because I thought the jacket was a replica, not an original - but now it sounds like it really was "In Service". Which would also suggest an older age.

 

[Pilot]

I'm confused now because I thought the jacket was a replica, not an original - but now it sounds like it really was "In Service". Which would also suggest an older age.

In service on ebay… or alike…
Never issued… sorry for dispointing..

 

[Herman_the_German]

In service on ebay… or alike…
Never issued… sorry for dispointing..

That is what I guessed too - it is fine for me too, I never thought it was an original. But the email from Aero Leathers is a bit strange, isn't it?

 

[Harris_HTM]

because I thought the jacket was a replica

That is what I guessed too - it is fine for me too, I never thought it was an original. But the email from Aero Leathers is a bit strange, isn't it?

If I read the email from Aero correct: "and he’s said this looks like a replica of a “private Purchase”".