Rough Wear 1941 Goatskin A-2 W535-ac-18091 Pictures

[Roughwear]

Steve, as you know they were technically government property and many were handed back after the War. Many of these were refurbished in air depots and re-issued for Korea. Career pilots kept theirs and some wore them into the 1950s. I think it will be very difficult to find the documentary evidence on which units received the re-issued A2s during Korea.

 

[bazelot]

Mine may have been refurbished around the end of WWII but at least the decal is post 1947 so it would be interesting if those jackets were ever reissued or if if they were refurbished during the war and then a decal added at a later date if the pilot stayed in the service. Really hard to tell for sure but interesting topic

 

[Smithy]

I think the pilots kept them after WW11 and took them to Korea with them

I think we understand that and as I mentioned in my post above, but the question which I asked and which Bazelot affirmed was who (which units, groups, etc) were the reissue A-2s distributed to during the Korean War and was this done in the US or in Korea? I'm 99.9% certain that at the very least they were not issued to Sabre pilots in the 4th and 51st FWs as I have quite a few books on them and every single A-2 photographed is originally WWII issue, eg Jabara, Horowitz/Salter, Gilbert, etc. But those two wings are the only US Korean War units I have an interest in and have books on so I'd be interested to know whether the reissue A-2s went to FB or bomber units or possibly even ROKAF units such as through Bout One. Actually 2BM2K posted a Dubow earlier this year which had a rather cryptic stamp which flummoxed everyone and which I think could actually be Korean and could possibly suggest this was USAF kit issued to ROKAF personnel.

 

[Smithy]

Slightly off topic but something which often is forgotten is that the very first jet ace in the history of aerial warfare was wearing an A-2 when he achieved that milestone - James "Jabby"Jabara on the 20th May 1951. Stars and Stripes were at Suwon when Jabby landed and took some wonderful photos (in colour) of him in his A-2 right after his historic achievement. Kind of neat that the first jet ace wasn't wearing some new-fangled nylon flight jacket but his old leather A-2.

 

[bazelot]

Smithy, do you have a link to those pics?

 

[Smithy]

Sorry Bazelot they are in my books but I'll drag one out and scan it for you. It'll have to be from Thompson and McLaren's "MiG Alley" as the other Korean War books are still in boxes from our move!

Give me a few minutes...

 

[Smithy]

Here you go, Jabby just after he touched down at Suwon on the 20th May 1951 as the world's first jet ace. I have a couple of better ones I think but this should do for now. Hope it fits the bill!

View media item 129

 

[bazelot]

THanks Smithy, are you sure this is an A-2, looks more like a nylon jacket to me.

 

[Smithy]

No it's definitely an A-2 with the USAAF decal on the left sleeve. Sorry it's a shitty scan and photo but it's far more obvious in the other photos from the series which are in my books buried in boxes, it's a seal A-2 and which Jabby wore on his first tour in Korea. His second he went nylon

If you magnify this pic you'll see it's an A-2.

 

[bazelot]

I will trust you on that one Looks like it is a depot refurbish as well with the darker color and US Air Force decal. Maybe it is the one I have

 

[Grant]

My pop, a B-26 Invader co-pilot in Korea, recalled before shipping over seas with the 13th BG was given the choice of flight clothing to wear in combat. He said, like the planes they were flying, most of the choices were WWII surplus. He said he had the pick of dozens of A-2's, but knowing Korea was colder than a witches tit, opted for a D-1 and matching trousers. He flew mostly night combat and recalled the shearing combo kept him warm and toasty. He also had a B-15C, but the D-1 was his fav. If only he had picked up a couple A-2's for his future son!

 

[dujardin]

interesting and beautiful jacket
congrats