-
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
some 1950's nylon
- Thread starter oose
- Start date
Peter Graham
Well-Known Member
Great photos, especially the first one. The A-2 looks almost black on my monitor.
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
The shirt with fly front can be seen on several of the maintenance personnel. The individual at left in the third photo from the bottom appears to have green cuffs on his L-2A as well. While it seems odd that no blue replacements were available so soon after issue, I can't explain why only the cuffs would have faded. Sure wish we could get to the bottom of this green knit controversy.
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
Tim P said:no controversy.... love the green
That's the easy part, Tim. :lol: :lol: :lol:
I was referring to the explanation (or lack thereof) behind the use of green knits.
watchmanjimg said:Tim P said:no controversy.... love the green
That's the easy part, Tim. :lol: :lol: :lol:
I was referring to the explanation (or lack thereof) behind the use of green knits.
I know. It is an oddity that is for sure. An imponderable but its just that little bit different.
does anyone here have an original? I know it has been discussed before but the controversy continues.
My Alpha replica B15d got an airing the other day and was a Godsend in sub-zero temperatures. I wont hear a word said against them..
USMC_GAU-21
Member
AWESOME 50's pics!
As probably has been said before and will be again, field modifications will be done with what ever the rigger had available to make the jacket work for the mission. This gear was intended for aircrew to do their mission. Not look cool. Now, I admit they jackets are way cool, but style was not the reason, but functionality was. Green knits? Did it work ? Yes.
flying in the Marine Corps for 22 years taught me one thing, find what works and stick to it. Safety wiring our soles on our flight boots back on, because we could not get replacement boots on the middle of a cruise....well we did it! Not regulation, but we did it. Because it worked. Wearing green CWU-36 with a Desert Tan flight suit? We did it! in 1990 we did not have tan CWU flight jackets in 36/P or 45/P.
I am never surprised when I see pics of folks wearing their gear in the field and the mods I see in those pics. They are in the field!
No controversy, just good 'ol American G.I. innovation!
My one cent......
r- Gunny
As probably has been said before and will be again, field modifications will be done with what ever the rigger had available to make the jacket work for the mission. This gear was intended for aircrew to do their mission. Not look cool. Now, I admit they jackets are way cool, but style was not the reason, but functionality was. Green knits? Did it work ? Yes.
flying in the Marine Corps for 22 years taught me one thing, find what works and stick to it. Safety wiring our soles on our flight boots back on, because we could not get replacement boots on the middle of a cruise....well we did it! Not regulation, but we did it. Because it worked. Wearing green CWU-36 with a Desert Tan flight suit? We did it! in 1990 we did not have tan CWU flight jackets in 36/P or 45/P.
I am never surprised when I see pics of folks wearing their gear in the field and the mods I see in those pics. They are in the field!
No controversy, just good 'ol American G.I. innovation!
My one cent......
r- Gunny
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised by the use of ingenuity in the field either, Gunny. A soldier figures that out the first time he is faced with a bellyache, a shovel, and a roll of toilet paper in the Great Outdoors. :lol:
The controversy I'm referring to deals with the existence (or lack thereof) of any definitive proof that any AF blue jackets were initially produced with all-OD knits, a la the Buzz Rickson L-2A that recently sold on Ebay. Over the years we've had several discussions on this subject with no real solution reached, but I believe awhile back someone posted a pic of green cuffs taken from an original blue jacket that were still blue at the upper portion, which would have been invisible when the cuffs were attached. The implication was that leftover OD knits were dyed and used in assembling the new AF blue jackets, but the dye was unstable and faded in use.
I suppose these particular photos may be of no use in resolving the issue as the B-15D in the top photo proves that the sage jackets were already in circulation at the time it was taken, which explains the color of the replacement cuffs on the L-2A at right. No doubt that jacket was repaired several years after it rolled off the assembly line, but it did so with blue knits all around.
The controversy I'm referring to deals with the existence (or lack thereof) of any definitive proof that any AF blue jackets were initially produced with all-OD knits, a la the Buzz Rickson L-2A that recently sold on Ebay. Over the years we've had several discussions on this subject with no real solution reached, but I believe awhile back someone posted a pic of green cuffs taken from an original blue jacket that were still blue at the upper portion, which would have been invisible when the cuffs were attached. The implication was that leftover OD knits were dyed and used in assembling the new AF blue jackets, but the dye was unstable and faded in use.
I suppose these particular photos may be of no use in resolving the issue as the B-15D in the top photo proves that the sage jackets were already in circulation at the time it was taken, which explains the color of the replacement cuffs on the L-2A at right. No doubt that jacket was repaired several years after it rolled off the assembly line, but it did so with blue knits all around.
my Buzz B15c has standard knits as expected so I dont mind an L2a with OD knits, I didnt like my few one as I felt the nylon was too stiff and preferred to sheeny one of the buzz which I may get one day in standard. I could stand an L2 as well. ELC are all out in my size.
photos of original nylon are always a p;easure to soak up the detail of.
photos of original nylon are always a p;easure to soak up the detail of.
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
Tim, do you remember the early Buzz L-2A with blue knits but OD lining? I had one awhile back, but unfortunately wound up selling it to a forum member. The original 7448 L-2B had OD lining, so there's at least some hint that leftover lining fabric made it into later jackets.
watchmanjimg said:
Blue knits and OD lining... yes I do. I would like one of those in a 46
that whole austerity mishmash idea truly appeals to me. More so than a standard one (which, in their own right are desirable.)When ELC had them I did not have the spare Geld. would trade a Mccoys RW for one of those.
Weasel_Loader
Active Member
Excellent photos!! Thanks for posting.
watchmanjimg said:
I think that's the answer, and they weren't necessarily OD to begin with. Full Gear notes after the Superior Togs L-2A listing fading knits, and I doubt that the author was influenced by the Buzz version.
My own Alpha Replica B-15C is developing noticeable red patches to the blue knits, and it's stored in virtual darkness ... blue may be just one of those tricky colours when it comes to dyes.
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
Well, now that you mention it I once had an N-2A that was turning slightly purple from cuff to elbow on both sleeves. A friend with an aviation background claimed that it came from being worn during the taking of aircraft fuel samples. Apparently the fumes caused a reaction with the dye.
