The Things They Did to Irvin Jackets

[Jennison]

So, I’ve been on an Irvin kick lately and I recall 2 things I read about the use of those Jackets. The first was from a book I cannot remember and the second from the book “Piece of Cake” by Derek Robinson. The former tells the story about how, early in the War, when all the RAF boys from places like Harrow and Eaton were still alive, Irvin jackets were regularly tailored to fit like any part of a uniform. I haven’t seen that tidbit anywhere else. The latter, “Piece of Cake,” relates how during BOB, pilots were cutting off the collars of their Irvin jackets so their peripheral vision wasn’t restricted (doing the “Jerry Twist”). The AM then charged them for the damage.

Has anyone else heard these things?

 

[B-Man2]

Can’t say that I have .. this is a first .

 

[Dumpster D]

I've heard that some Spitfire pilots removed their collars on Irvin Jackets before, yes...But I've never seen an Irvin Jacket still standing with a removed Collar. Do you suppose these Jackets were disposed of by the AM after the war?

I *Do* however have a deacon flight suit, and the gentleman who wore it, removed the collar post war to wear his flight suit riding motorcycles apparently he still had the collar but had lost it and couldn't find it when he brought the Flight suit in to sell to the Military antique dealer who I bought it from...This was 25 years ago now.

As for removing the Irvin collars?

It was mentioned in a documentary about a particular spitfire ace. (It's on youtube, but memory fails me of his name) He recalled this. It was from audio Recordings made during the 1970's.

One thing I've heard first hand account about Irvin Jackets from a Spitfire pilot was that he was told to hand his Irvin Jacket back after the war, and they were piling them all up into giant heaps!!

Too bad they didn't let him keep it.

 

[Spitfireace]

So that begs the question, how did the ones that are still around survive?

 

[Pa12]

So that begs the question, how did the ones that are still around survive?

Bomber crews maybe?

 

[Spitfireace]

Well, if it was the same in the UK forces as the US forces, they were all told to turn in their uniforms when leaving the service. If it's the same as when I was in, you could pay for items out of your own pocket, but everything is property of the government. Most guys don't want to buy that stuff when they are getting out because they are losing their jobs and don't know where their next pay is coming from. The last thing you want to do, is pay money out of your own pocket for uniform you would rather forget and never wear again. You had to turn it in under threat of not getting your last pay cheque if your kit was not turned in.

 

[Dumpster D]

Did they ever sell them as surplus in the 50's 60's?? I figure they still were using them post war in the 50's 60's.

 

[Jennison]

That’s a very good point Spitfireace. How often do we think “why didn’t he keep his .45?” or “what happened to his A-2?” Maybe there aren’t a lot of us who think this way, but I can’t imagine that, in leaving a job I probably would’ve hated. I’d have wanted to keep an article of clothing I had to wear, day in and day out for 2 years or more. I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed or cared who made the jacket, or the hundreds of exactly the same jackets of all the other guys around me who also hated their jobs. My Uncle kept his A-2 because squadron leader told him he could. Within 2 years after the War, the jacket was in the trash. It had a swastika on the back for a fighter he shot down, and my Aunt hated looking at that. She told him to throw it out and he complied without giving it a second thought.

Thanks for bringing that up.

 

[Spitfireace]

I guess that's what makes the few survivors rare jackets now WW2. Most are victims of the intervening years. Interesting point about painted jackets, that some had subject matter that nobody wanted to see when they returned home, so they got trashed.

 

[Spitfireace]

I wonder how many numbers of each jacket survive? That would be probably an impossible project. You know the numbers that were made by each contract. How many are left?