Interesting Coastal Command Irvin - Black Fleece

[Dr H]

This one looks intriguing. The vendor has a good looking pair of trousers (in fair condition) with this really unusual Coastal Command Irvin. It looks to be in good nick too (main zip defective, stitching adrift) and the hood is all present and correct, but with a near black fleece.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RAF-WW2-era-I ... 4170a61917

 

[Roughwear]

I was amazed that this jacket did not sell when it was previously listed. Black fleece CC jackets are extremely rare. I suspect the small size counted against it.

 

[Skip]

Hi Ian, Roughwear,

Didn't know they came out with a hood, was it only Coastal Command or was this more a wide spread thing? Does the hood fold away into an internal pocket?

 

[Dr H]

Yes, only the coastal command Matt (to draw attention to ditched pilots).
The hood folds to give a deeper/slightly more proud collar.

 

[Skip]

what would happen if the pilot moved to a different command such as fighter, or bomber? Would they have to trade the jacket in for a non C/C jacket or it stays with them where ever they go? I would imagine flying from Britain no matter what command one would be flying across some stretch of water.

 

[havocpaul]

There are wartime pics of RAF aircrew wearing CC Irvins especially late war period, some flying fighters such as Spits and Typhoons, you can always tell with the way the hood hangs and obviously no strap.

 

[Lebensgefahr]

Hi

Once someone was issued with a piece of kit, that was it, it was theirs regardless of any change of squadron or command. While certain pieces of kit were intended for a specific command i have several photo`s of kit being used other than where it was intended. For example i have photo`s and a wartime film of Mk Vb goggles which were meant for coastal command being used by Mosquito crews and another photo of a group of Spitfire pilots all wearing Mk Vb goggles.
To prove a point i have posted a photo below of 76 Squadron at Holme on Spalding moor in Oct 43 and three of the aircrew that i can see are wearing hooded Irvins. I did have the advantage of having a much larger copy of this photo than you`re looking at.
Race to find them , Go

LG

 

[Andrew]

That's a great photo but I'll have to wait till I see it on something larger than an iPhone before I spot a hood.

Skip, here's that famous painting by Stella Bowen of a RAAF Sunderland crew at Pembroke Dock, hoods visible. I love her work.

 

[Skip]

Thanks all, explained something I hadn't noticed before

Andrew, there's so much going on in that painting, it has life