This is a really nice addition to my collection. This 1940 contract was a very small one compared to wartime contracts and I have only ever seen pictures of two others, one on JC's flight jacket CD and the other on the Aero Leather (Scotland) website. So when this one came up for sale recently I decided to have a shot at it and was surprised that it went for less than two GW repros!
It has features not found on wartime Aeros-the collar stand, nipple snaps (wartime ones have ring snaps) and the late '30s chunky Talon zip. It is remarkably similar to the 1939 Werber.
As you can see the jacket is a a size 44 and it's 100% original. It was originally russet but was re-sprayed seal brown during the war before being issued to E.J. Cichon who flew with the 2nd Combat Cargo Squadron in the CBI theatre. I love the embroidered patch.
I have fixed the 6" seam separation on the right sleeve by turning the sleeve inside out, unpicking the lining stitching (this was the final seam which was closed from the outside when the jacket was finished) and carefully machine stitching the leather seams together, before stitching up the lining. A few moth nips on the knits have been darned and the lining at the collar has been repaired.
Unfortunately you will have to wait for "wearing" pics as my son is away today, but it is a very comfortable fit. If you are going to Flying Legends next month I may well wear this beauty there! Here are the pics.
It has features not found on wartime Aeros-the collar stand, nipple snaps (wartime ones have ring snaps) and the late '30s chunky Talon zip. It is remarkably similar to the 1939 Werber.
As you can see the jacket is a a size 44 and it's 100% original. It was originally russet but was re-sprayed seal brown during the war before being issued to E.J. Cichon who flew with the 2nd Combat Cargo Squadron in the CBI theatre. I love the embroidered patch.
I have fixed the 6" seam separation on the right sleeve by turning the sleeve inside out, unpicking the lining stitching (this was the final seam which was closed from the outside when the jacket was finished) and carefully machine stitching the leather seams together, before stitching up the lining. A few moth nips on the knits have been darned and the lining at the collar has been repaired.
Unfortunately you will have to wait for "wearing" pics as my son is away today, but it is a very comfortable fit. If you are going to Flying Legends next month I may well wear this beauty there! Here are the pics.
