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L-2B vs MA-1
- Thread starter Greg Gale
- Start date
Smithy
Well-Known Member
Almost certainly a redye Greg. Sorry about the quality of the scan, by the looks of it I must have done it late at night with the lights turned off!
Here's Salter wearing his at Kimpo. The guy standing next to Salter is James Low, the inspiration for Pell in "The Hunters".
Here's Salter wearing his at Kimpo. The guy standing next to Salter is James Low, the inspiration for Pell in "The Hunters".
falcon_ib
Well-Known Member
L-2 seen with the 36th FBS in May, 1953
Buzz Aldrin of the 16th FIS/51st FIG displaying his beautiful patched L-2A in 1953
Not a color picture but one of my favorite mid-50s L-2B portraits (note how he's tucked one of the pocket flaps into the pocket, as well as the uncommon black cloth name tape)
Flightengineer
Well-Known Member
L2B's flaps into the pocket loved to put many pilots 
unclegrumpy
Well-Known Member
The black name tags were typically Japanese made, and I have seen them in blue, red, and yellow as well. I have been told the colors were to designate the wearer's flight. "Flight" being the subsections of a Squadron. I would not say this was a common practice, but you do occasionally see it.
Cocker
Well-Known Member
Seen the color and the USAAF roundel on the shoulder, it's 100% sure it's a depot re-dye indeed!
Brettafett
Well-Known Member
Two love to China!
MeachamLake
Well-Known Member
I got my Bronson 1950s MA-1 today, size 40 (L). I'm blown away. perfect fit, amazing quality. I'll post some pictures and a review later. In the win some lose some game this was definitely a big WIN!
Very interested to see some pics!
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
As I recall from the film, Cleve Saville wore an olive drab L-2.
Is it an L2-B on the right on Major Saville?
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
Certainly an L-2B (although the photo is black and white the "tell" is the nylon oxygen mask tab on the chest vs. the L-2's leather tab), and the intermediate jacket is either a very early Lion Uniform MA-1 or possibly a B-15D (modified). It's hard to tell from the photo.
An L-2B and an MA-1 if I'm not mistaken:
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
Some claim that L-2Bs made it to Korea before the end of the conflict but I wouldn't bet anything valuable on this without more information. The intermediate MA-1 was very common during Vietnam but given its weight I'm not sure many were actually worn there; however, the L-2B was commonly used by Army and Air Force personnel in Vietnam and thereafter until replaced by the Nomex CWU series.
I've never owned an L-2B but I'd really like to buy either one of those, or an MA-1. Question is, how warm are L2B-s compared to an A-2 for example? Which one would be the more practical choice if I own an A-2, a G-1 and an Irvin?
Am I mistaken or L2B-s were typical in the Korean war, and the MA-1 in te late 50s and Vietnam?
Thanks!
falcon_ib
Well-Known Member
MA-1's in Vietnam are commonly seen with 101st Airborne and 1st Cavalry Airmobile helicopter pilots based in the chilly central highlands, where L-2B's are also seen. Photos are from VHPA online museum
Bill Russel, B Troop 2/17 Cav 101st ABN 1969
C/2/17
W.O. Byron 'Crash' Grubbs C/2/17
Michael Russel, Da Lat 1970
Bill Russel, B Troop 2/17 Cav 101st ABN 1969
C/2/17
W.O. Byron 'Crash' Grubbs C/2/17
Michael Russel, Da Lat 1970
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
MA-1's in Vietnam are commonly seen with 101st Airborne and 1st Cavalry Airmobile helicopter pilots based in the chilly central highlands, where L-2B's are also seen. Photos are from VHPA online museum
View attachment 10564
Bill Russel, B Troop 2/17 Cav 101st ABN 1969
View attachment 10565
C/2/17
W.O. Byron 'Crash' Grubbs C/2/17
Michael Russel, Da Lat 1970
Great pictures, but these are all L-2Bs. Do you have any actual Vietnam MA-1 photos?
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
No apology necessary of course, this is just an exchange of information. Aside from the lighter construction, the absence of a windflap identifies all of these as L-2Bs (particularly obvious in the last photo with the jacket completely unzipped). I'm not saying the MA-1 was never worn in Vietnam, but I have yet to see a single original photo proving it.
colekwok
Active Member
Here are a comparison of a B15D(Mod) and two different L-2Bs here which I did just for fun a while ago.
The B15D (mod) is almost identical to the early MA-1 where as the two L-2Bs may have some years apart, but certainly from the later contracts. I have a very early version of L-2b but I haven't taken any picture of it. The B15D is a size 38 while the 2 L-2Bs are medium.
The B15D (mod) is almost identical to the early MA-1 where as the two L-2Bs may have some years apart, but certainly from the later contracts. I have a very early version of L-2b but I haven't taken any picture of it. The B15D is a size 38 while the 2 L-2Bs are medium.
