Jacket fit.

[Whatsit]

I watched a video of an old fighter pilot that was a little old man that was skin and bones and the son asked him to put his old a2 jacket on and the jacket was too small. So he hadnt even stopped growing during the war. It’s like my dad during the Vietnam War. His uniform was so small that at one time in college I had a size 28 waist and I still couldn’t get in my dads Air Force uniform. They were still kids.

 

[Smithy]

Still young yes, but another factor that we've talked about a lot on here is they were in operational theatres where nutrition because of rationing and supply was far poorer than what people eat today. Most were also affected by combat stress which is known to affect weight and they were physically more active.

In general people eat a lot more now and a lot of people stuff their faces all day and everyday and sit on their arses for most of it. It's not uncommon for people in the west to eat well north of 3,000 calories a day and yet hardly move so hardly surprising if they resemble a beach ball rather than a greyhound!

These guys were for the most part lean because of age, nutrition, physical activity and to some degree, combat stress.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

In general people eat a lot more now and a lot of people stuff their faces all day and everyday and sit on their arses for most of it. It's not uncommon for people in the west to eat well north of 3,000 calories a day and yet hardly move so hardly surprising if they resemble a beach ball rather than a greyhound!

As a kid I was fed poached food, fish, game etc and vegetables from the garden or foraged........were dirt poor
I've never eaten crap junk food and actively took part in competative sport until well into my 40s
Today I'm still the same size I was in my 20s, I've even got a couple of items of clothing that I first wore in the 1960s and still fit well
It's a life choice

 

[dinomartino1]

Dieticians have long argued that wartime rationing provided the healthiest diet the British population has ever eaten, leading to dramatic post-war improvements in the nation's health.
The result of rationing was that, despite the deprivation, the British population actually ended the war fit and healthy. healthier than they had been before, or have been since.
Children in general were even taller and heavier than those before the war. Infant mortality rates went down, average age of death from natural causes increased, meaning civilians just plain lived longer.

 

[Smithy]

Dieticians have long argued that wartime rationing provided the healthiest diet the British population has ever eaten, leading to dramatic post-war improvements in the nation's health.
The result of rationing was that, despite the deprivation, the British population actually ended the war fit and healthy. healthier than they had been before, or have been since.
Children in general were even taller and heavier than those before the war. Infant mortality rates went down, average age of death from natural causes increased, meaning civilians just plain lived longer.

Makes sense really.

Two of the biggest factors in the west now are: 1) We eat far more than we actually need to and 2) Too much processed, nutritionally deficient, convenience shit.

It's not rocket science. If you eat more calories than your body burns you will gain weight. If you eat less calories than your body burns you will lose weight. If you eat roughly the same amount of calories that your body burns you will stay roughly the same weight. It's basic science, energy in versus energy out.

I watched a hilarious thing on TV last year, they had this big guy bitching on about how he just didn't understand why he'd gotten so huge. Whilst saying this he was half sitting, half lying on the sofa, there was an empty pizza box on the floor beside him and a 2 litre bottle of Coke.

 

[Brettafett]

Makes me think of a book I was reading recently about the AVG. When the chaps got off the boat, Chennault took one look at them and then made them start a PT routine...

 

[Smithy]

Chennault took one look at them and then made them start a PT routine...

Chennault was a great believer in "physical activity" like opening that brothel up for his men!

 

[B-Man2]

I’ve got to agree with Tim. Here in the US there’s an epidemic of Obesity and Diabetes basically because Americans are so over weight. Of course if anyone happens to point this out they are immediately accused of being a “body shamer” and ostracized for their opinions. It’s ridiculous..
My apologies for going off thread and to anyone who might feel offended by my comments, just stating a personal opinion.

 

[dinomartino1]

The weekly British ration for one adult, remember not all food was rationed.

 

[Skyhawk]

I watched a video of an old fighter pilot that was a little old man that was skin and bones and the son asked him to put his old a2 jacket on and the jacket was too small. So he hadnt even stopped growing during the war. It’s like my dad during the Vietnam War. His uniform was so small that at one time in college I had a size 28 waist and I still couldn’t get in my dads Air Force uniform. They were still kids.

I was skinny but fit when I went into boot camp. They issued us all of our uniforms when we arrived. By the end of camp I had gained a lot of muscle mass and my pants wouldn't fit. I had to buy new pants with my own money. This was pretty common.
-Jay

 

[Skyhawk]

As a kid I was fed poached food, fish, game etc and vegetables from the garden or foraged........were dirt poor
I've never eaten crap junk food and actively took part in competative sport until well into my 40s
Today I'm still the same size I was in my 20s, I've even got a couple of items of clothing that I first wore in the 1960s and still fit well
It's a life choice

No doubt! Stay active and healthy and your body will do well. I don't want to date myself too much but lets just say I am over 40 and still doing this stuff: I think this was the season before last year or last year, I forget, but still flying to this day. In an A-1 no less!:

 

[Skyhawk]

So, how about the fit of this A2? Off the shoulders and slightly too big?
View attachment 7927

It went so far off topic, so here we are.....

I have seen the fit all over the place in WWII Photos. Generally the fit is a bit sloppy but this is over the top with the room in the chest. I see 2 possibilities:
1. Borrowed jacket for the photo.
2. All the Q.M. Had, or a hand down in theater.

-Jay

 

[Micawber]

All this stuff about staying active and healthy is fine and very laudable but spare a thought for those who pick up injuries and ill health which preclude them from living the Action Man lifestyle they once did. Those same people may be forced to endure prescribed drugs that have a tendency to cause water retention and weight gain - this despite a regulated exersise routine and sensible diet. Not everyone can retain an all action hero physique for their entire lives.

 

[Flightengineer]

All this stuff about staying active and healthy is fine and very laudable but spare a thought for those who pick up injuries and ill health which preclude them from living the Action Man lifestyle they once did. Those same people may be forced to endure prescribed drugs that have a tendency to cause water retention and weight gain - this despite a regulated exersise routine and sensible diet. Not everyone can retain an all action hero physique for their entire lives.

Gold words and I agree with each of these words. Tested in my own skin ...

 

[Smithy]

All this stuff about staying active and healthy is fine and very laudable but spare a thought for those who pick up injuries and ill health which preclude them from living the Action Man lifestyle they once did. Those same people may be forced to endure prescribed drugs that have a tendency to cause water retention and weight gain - this despite a regulated exersise routine and sensible diet. Not everyone can retain an all action hero physique for their entire lives.

Wasn't meant as a stab at people with genuine medical issues Steve but rather a comment responding to the incredulity which pops up here from time to time about "how come these guys were so thin?" and their genuine surprise at why this is.

 

[Flightengineer]

The main problem that today's men want the jackets on them to look the same as on 20-year-old thin youth pilots, who grew up during the difficult times of the Great Depression and, moreover, was at war in conditions of poor nutrition and stress.

 

[Micawber]

Wasn't meant as a stab at people with genuine medical issues Steve but rather a comment responding to the incredulity which pops up here from time to time about "how come these guys were so thin?" and their genuine surprise at why this is.

Apologies Tim, my observations were not aimed at you mate but rather an attempt to perhaps provide food for thought generally.

 

[Smithy]

Apologies Tim, my observations were not aimed at you mate but rather an attempt to perhaps provide food for thought generally.

All good my friend and it was a worthwhile, timely and pertinent observation.

 

[2BM2K]

Not all A2 wearers were thin.
Dick Winters;

 

[ZuZu]

I don't think thinness alone explains the difference in how A2s looked back when and how they look on us armchair flybois. Just a casual perusal of period photographs shows that men in general were shorter and more importantly had smaller upper bodies. Like 30% smaller than men today. This combined with the high waisted pants made for a unique look we will never have. When we try to pull it off we just look silly. If you're into A-2s far better to go for the jeans thing with an A-2 that's not tight- like the Dubow ol' Dickie has on! Not tight at all. Ditto the guy in the first post of this thread- his A-2 isn't unusually large on him at all.

That's why IMO we oldish modern-day jacketeers are probably better of wearing loose repros made with original patterns in the correct size. Young hipsters too.