Nice period photos of A-2's

[Edward]

found on eBay... Robinson Brothers - Ned Jack Ted

 

[Officer Dibley]

Picked this up from a UK ebay seller....
Pappy Herbst

 

[Grant]

Post war, both Pappy Herbst and Dick Bong died flying the P-80. So tragic.

 

[Griffon_301]

Not a period picture but a screenie from a period movie-Howard Hawks "Air Force"... Pure B-17 porn...
And an interesting A-2 on the left side, it has a press button on the bottom of the zip while the jacket on the right does not have that feature...
Windflap of the jacket in the third picture also has a press button while the collars do not have them...which contract could that be (I am a noob when it comes to A-2s)

 

[DiamondDave]

Not a period picture but a screenie from a period movie-Howard Hawks "Air Force"... Pure B-17 porn...
And an interesting A-2 on the left side, it has a press button on the bottom of the zip while the jacket on the right does not have that feature...
Windflap of the jacket in the third picture also has a press button while the collars do not have them...which contract could that be (I am a noob when it comes to A-2s)

Civilian A-2’s and not Gov’t contracts.
DD

 

[Griffon_301]

Interesting to know! I thought that as the Air corps has granted full support for that movie they also would have opened up their jacket locker for the actors just like the Navy did for the cast if "Dive Bomber" ... At least the Forts and Cobras are.the real deal in that movie ...

 

[Officer Dibley]

2 pics of guys based at my local airfield- Bury St Edmunds / Rougham
First is 4 guys & 4 different jackets

Second shows a baggy B-3.......

 

[Maverickson]

Interesting to know! I thought that as the Air corps has granted full support for that movie they also would have opened up their jacket locker for the actors just like the Navy did for the cast if "Dive Bomber" ... At least the Forts and Cobras are.the real deal in that movie ...

With regards to the jackets used in the movie AIR FORCE i recently did a write on on those same jackets used in the movie here https://www.vintageleatherjackets.o...litary-but-not-only.21008/page-11#post-255721

I've got one of those same Scully Bros. A-2 jackets that were exclusively used in AIR FORCE. Currently in pieces while I finish sourcing the needed parts to do my restoration work. Note that the jacket has an brass M-39. That same model zip was seen used on the pre War 1941 W&G M-422 jackets and helps date those movie jackets.

My civilian Scully Bros. A-2 in size 44 is seen below.

Most notably this particular jacket is an upgrade to all War era issued A-2 jackets.

Note, I just managed to source a decent brass M-39 to replace that zip's separated male insert. Now allowing me to go a head and complete my Scully Bros. jacket's restoration and will get to it if I can catch a break.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Griffon_301]

I missed your post about the history behind the Air Force movie jackets...great and very interesting information about those jackets! Luckily the movie department was allowed to use the B-17s and the Airacobras...

 

[ausreenactor]

Hard to find any repro today that looks like that...

Since grabbing Vic's ELC Monarch I can contend otherwise.

 

[YoungMedic]

Picked this up from a UK ebay seller....
Pappy HerbstView attachment 28559View attachment 28560

Robin Olds talks about John and his crash in his Fighter Pilot memoirs

 

[Greg Gale]

Robin Olds talks about John and his crash in his Fighter Pilot memoirs

I remember that part, very tragic indeed

 

[Officer Dibley]

Great pic of a baggy A-2
Lt Wah Kau Kong

 

[Officer Dibley]

Also from Facebook

 

[Micawber]

From FB too..

452 BG Second (of three) crews of "Ida Wanna" circa 1944. 22 year-old pilot Cyril Joe Stock far-left in the rear. Check the patches back row far left.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Cool jackets on these College looking pilots

 

[Edward]

 

[Brettafett]

Great photo of some A-2s, but look at the guy front, second right. Thats an interesting civvie jacket.

 

[Lorenzo_l]

Great photo of some A-2s, but look at the guy front, second right. Thats an interesting civvie jacket.
View attachment 34365

The civvie jacket looks like a lot like a California-style motorcycle Jacket? PRobably a motorcyclist who could not resist the temptation to fly airplanes. In any case, were civilian jackets allowed in lieu of government-issue uniforms during WW2?

 

[Brettafett]

Yes, I wondered about that. I can imagine he was a tall guy and basically said, "stuff it, I'm a Captain of a B-24 Liberator. None of these A-2s fit, so I'll just wear my own".