Memphis Belle Jacket question

[2jakes]

Regarding the original "Memphis Belle" documentary made during WW2.
Prior to takeoff in the briefing room most of the crew are wearing leather jackets
of different shades. I know that camera lights can add some gloss on the leather ,
but even outside the jackets have a shine to them. They were fairly new issued
jackets. And with the war , I don't believe these flyers had the time or even think
about using leather conditioner. So I ask the experts here with your knowledge ,were
the jackets coated by the manufacturers & what was use if they did ? I was viewing
some of the jackets @ Aero & they also have similar look . Thanks.

 

[Peter Graham]

I don't have my copy close at hand for reference but are you referring to A-2 jackets or shearlings ? I'm not any kind of expert but I know that US shearling jackets had a protective coating sprayed on that added to the shine. I don't believe A-2's had any sort of coating. Just nice, shiny new jackets.

 

[Roughwear]

The B-3 jackets had a polyacrilate top finish which would have given them a sheen. A2s had no such finish applied. They were either aniline dyed or spray finished. You see a lot of variation in the sheen or lack of sheen on original A2s as those in this thread shows.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11070

 

[deand]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPU-LxYHKoo&feature=fvsr[/video]

dean