The correct fit

[Anonymous]

A lot has been said about it, but it is true that a photo speaks a 1000 words

Who is the member on the left? I keep forgetting.
Sorry to have used your photo without permission. I hope you don't mind.

 

[colekwok]

I remember he said about that Aero A-2 being too small for him. It does look great though.

 

[Anonymous]

In the picture where he wears it zipped up, yes it looks small.
In this one it is hard to tell 'cause it looks great as you say.

 

[CBI]

cool jacket on the left - would look pretty form fitting when zipped. I think we have all seen a GAZILLION WW2 era photos that show sizing all over the map - you got what you got from the Quartermaster. Agreed that correct fit is not as loose present day. Also, the CUT of WW2 era clothes make a huge difference, correct size or not.

As always, go to the Good Wear site and look at the Doolittle Raiders and some of the period photos also "Customers Wearing" as well as books, on line etc.

 

[Roughwear]

There never was a correct fit in the War, but as today some jackets appear to be more of an appropriate fit (not tight or baggy) than others! The A2 above is very trim fitting when zipped up and you see wartime pictures of a similar fit, but there are many examples of more generous fitting A2s.

 

[unclegrumpy]

Well said CBI & Roughwear!

I bet if the fellow on the left was paying $1000 or so for an Eastman, Aero, or Goodwear, it would be for a jacket one size bigger. Recently I had an Eastman that fit just like that. It looked great unzipped standing still with only a T-Shirt underneath. However, if I moved, put on a a thicker shirt, or breathed when it was zipped, then forget it. I could never have flown an airplane wearing it, and that is a pretty reasonable standard for fit as far as I am concerned.

 

[Rutger]

Well said CBI & Roughwear!

I bet if the fellow on the left was paying $1000 or so for an Eastman, Aero, or Goodwear, it would be for a jacket one size bigger. Recently I had an Eastman that fit just like that. It looked great unzipped standing still with only a T-Shirt underneath. However, if I moved, put on a a thicker shirt, or breathed when it was zipped, then forget it. I could never have flown an airplane wearing it, and that is a pretty reasonable standard for fit as far as I am concerned.

agreed 100%. My first Werber was a 42 and I recognize this so much.
Hands-on-Throttle-and-Stick must have been invented to allow pilots to wear a tighter fitting size .

Anyway, who's the member on the right? I keep forgetting his name.

 

[CBI]

GW Werber fits well - trim but roomy

Same with original Cable:

 

[B-Man2]

IMHO I think the jackets were supposed to fit very trim or even a size smaller in WWII.
You had to get your may west over the top as well as getting into your parachute harness that was supposed to be pulled tight to prevent getting snapped around in the harness when the chute opened.
The trimmer the jacket the better your equipment fit . A loose jacket made for a bad ride in the harness when the chute popped and might even promote an injury.

B-Man2

 

[CBI]

A tight fit limits movement, I think something in the middle makes sense all around even with all of needed gear. In addition, there are just TOO MANY photos from the period that suggest otherwise (that one fit was more "correct" than another). The A-2 design itself is a trim fitting jacket/flight gear without it being super small.

 

[269sqnhudson]

A lot has been said about it, but it is true that a photo speaks a 1000 words

Who is the member on the left? I keep forgetting.
Sorry to have used your photo without permission. I hope you don't mind.

Well it depends what it looks like when he zips it up! If he looks like a stuffed sausage then in fact it's not 'correct' is it?

 

[unclegrumpy]

Well it depends what it looks like when he zips it up! If he looks like a stuffed sausage then in fact it's not 'correct' is it?

Ouch!

 

[Chandler]

As always, go to the Good Wear site and look at the Doolittle Raiders...

The best thing concerning the A-2s I like about all of those pictures? No cuff tunneling. I don't understand what it is about repro production that just can't get that straight. Heck, even the Correct Fit example in this thread has tunneling. I have 4 FJ repros (3 A-2s, one G-1) I wear all the time. Not one of them fits well in the sleeve. I have other, modern, jackets that fit just fine. Don't know what it is with flight jackets.

Chandler

 

[RCSignals]

although, I have seen some period photos of a-2s that show the same 'slight' tunneling as in the first photo as well as in photos of people wearing original jackets. I think that 'slight' tunneling is natural and varies with position of the arm etc. The opposite is absolutely no tunneling with the end of the knit at the wrist and overall too short of sleeve.
What I haven't seen in period photos is complete tunneling, which you do sometimes see on repro jackets.

 

[Chandler]

RC -- look at all the images of the Raiders -- yes, there are some whose jackets are obviously much too small, but the majority of the crew men (who show their sleeves by not having their hands behind their backs) show no tunneling at all. Your definition of "slight" may be different than mine, but to me none of the Raiders show the phenomenon.

OTOH -- I was looking at the Good Wear customers' photos and many of them have the tunneling trouble too. Although, there are pics of Grant (I believe) who seems to have his fit down well.

Chandler.

 

[RCSignals]

I suspect if the individual in the 'correct fit' photo above didn't have his hands in his pockets he wouldn't have any tunneling. His sleeves might even look a little short, but who really knows. The position of the arm, whether the jacket is zipped up or open, all effect the look of tunneling.

 

[CBI]

look at the pics again. when guys put their hands in their pants pockets or on their waist, the "tunneling" is there. Go up to my pics, there are the same creases on both the GW and the original. A little more on the GW but my arms are brought up higher. Tunneling does exist with A-2's when the sleeves are too long. If its really smooth/crease free with arms bent, the jacket is too small. Generalities, I am sure there are exceptions.

 

[RCSignals]

You can see slight tunneling, person second from left

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared ... 4P-017.jpg

this guy, second from right, has opposite problem

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared ... 4P-015.jpg

second from left with hands in pockets similar to 'correct fit' shows slight tunneling

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared ... 4P-011.jpg

second from right, slight tunneling

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared ... 4P-007.jpg

also here second from right

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared ... 4P-005.jpg

there may be afew more but that's enough for now.

 

[CBI]

RC THANKS

 

[derleicaman]

You can see slight tunneling, person second from left

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared ... 4P-017.jpg

These are pictures of Doolittle's Raiders from the flight deck of the Hornet. The "person second from left" with slight sleeve tunneling is Jimmy Doolittle himself.