Interesting [Original] Field-Modified JA Dubow A2

[FlakMagnet]

I came across this fascinating specimen on the "WWII A-2 Flight Jacket Collector's Group" on Facebook today.

I'm guessing the mouton collar is from either a B-10 or a B-15? I love everything about this jacket.

 

[B-Man2]

I love seeing stuff like this. Field modifications on gear was a regular thing. Much of it has been lost to time, but occasionally stuff like this pops up .
Thank for posting .

 

[mulceber]

Question: why does this 27798 not have the size listed directly on the spec label?

 

[Dany McDonald]

I'd risk saying cost effective? One spec tag for every jacket, and just add a tiny label for sizing.
But I know that every manufacturer were assigned one size per batch, like 38 given to Dubow, 40 to Aero and so forth.
Was the entire contract attached to a unique size, I am not sure.

Bet you veteran collectors here will have an answer...

Food for thought and fun question Jan.

Dany

 

[mulceber]

Sorry, I realized after the fact that there was information I didn't supply in that question. The 27798 contract was unique among A-2 jacket contracts in that the size was listed on the spec label:

I'm just puzzled that this jacket looks to have been the exception to that rule.

 

[leper-colony]

The tag stitching is a little weird.

 

[JonnyCrow]

I love seeing stuff like this. Field modifications on gear was a regular thing. Much of it has been lost to time, but occasionally stuff like this pops up .
Thank for posting .

Seen some interesting field mods from ww2 this is nice

 

[Brettafett]

Thanks for posting, I love that. I love seeing how something has been personalised.
Just illustrations the variation of originals out there.
There are photos of a RW with a field modified fur collar somewhere also.
I also like how the leather is mostly smooth. A lot of originals Ive seen are rather smooth and opaque
Knits look brown also (replacements?)
John nails the stitching, dark tan (typical of Dubow 27798 jackets) as evidenced in these pics.

 

[johnwayne]

Reckon whoever nicked that collar of his g/friends coat, looks way too big for B10/15!

 

[Sabo]

on Facebook someone wrote that the collar comes from an English flight suit

 

[Dany McDonald]

Color and shape match very well a B-15 in my opinion, the underside could provide pertinent information...

D

 

[Flightengineer]

Color and shape match very well a B-15 in my opinion, the underside could provide pertinent information...

D

 

[Dany McDonald]

Oh its detachable... interesting!

Doesn't look B-15 to me now...

thanx

D

 

[Juanito]

I'll be honest, I am.a little skeptical about this jacket with the tag size location inconsistencies as mentioned, as well as the missing "1" on the 30-1415. The heavier leather, and finish is rather Lost Worlds like. I'd like to see the zipper and the underside of the epaulets.

I know there has been some debate on the "Combat Crew" patch as well. It may very well be an original, but...

 

[Grant]

Spec label (looks like a goofy Lost Worlds), zip and knits all look replaced and the art looks recent. Nice fantasy jacket someone made up that Ralph Lauren will probably sell for 3K!

 

[mulceber]

Sharp eyes, guys. That makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Brettafett]

If the FB post is true, the grandfather handed the jacket down. LW would not be around then, making repro Dubows.
Taht jackets old, cracking on the shoulders.
My LW had a dark thread, almost seal brown. This jacket has authentic khaki thread, with the label looking like od, again, rather authentic.
The 1 was there on the label, one can see the stitch hole.
Original leather name tag missing. Rank tab stitch holes on epaulets.
Whether art is from WW2 or not, I guess one could contact the owner...
My moneys on that being and original, albeit modified.

 

[mulceber]

My LW had a dark thread, almost seal brown. This jacket has authentic khaki thread, with the label looking like od, again, rather authentic.
The 1 was there on the label, one can see the stitch hole.

The lack of a size on the spec label still gives me pause. The stitching attaching the spec label to the liner also looks pretty amateurish.

 

[FlakMagnet]

I found an interesting discussion on the "Combat Crew" patch on the US Militaria Forum.

WW2 USAAF "Combat Crew" patch question

I've been a GI collector for nigh on 30 years, with a penchant for USAAF uniforms, wings and related insignia etc. I must have looked at literally thousands of images of airmen from WW2, but in all of that time I think I've only ever seen the "Combat Crew" patch, as illustrated below, being worn ...

www.usmilitariaforum.com

Quote post #4 "These were sold by Patch King and Hobby Guild to collectors in the 1940's. As these patches were made in the 40's, it's makes sense you could find one on a WW2 era uniform. Even though they were manufactured primarily for the collector market, many "Patch King" patches were actually worn by active duty service members."

There's a photo of a B-24 waistgunner with a similar looking patch, as well as other examples in the thread

 

[Grant]

Thanks for posting, I love that. I love seeing how something has been personalised.
Just illustrations the variation of originals out there.
There are photos of a RW with a field modified fur collar somewhere also.
I also like how the leather is mostly smooth. A lot of originals Ive seen are rather smooth and opaque
Knits look brown also (replacements?)
John nails the stitching, dark tan (typical of Dubow 27798 jackets) as evidenced in these pics.

I'm not saying it's a LW jacket, just the spec label. BTW, original 27798's also used OD thread that fades to a light khaki as in the photos. Maybe someone took an original and mucked this up? Anyones guess.