WWII Russian Flight jackets

[jerome35]

The pilot with 2 orders of Red Banner with the Cat insignia on tail wore a Luftwaffe "Hartman" pattern jacket.

Indeed there was some "non regulation", individual made leather flight jacket, but it was not soviet standard production. The fashion was quite important too: famous picture of soviet pilot Gritsevetz in Mongolia in 1939 where he wore an A2 type jacket, clearly russian made.

All definition before 1936 were abolished about soviet flight Equipment: all pilots had to wear soviet made regulation flight gear. There was very few exceptions.

All people interested can refer to famous 3 volumes books of Kibovski & Tsyaplenkov, great value on this topic. Also some nice pictures of non regulation jackets and "trophy" ones in Stalin's eagles of Seidl. In a more small way some samples of my flight gear and uniforms in Histoire & Collection french books series.

 

[John Lever]

OK, let's just cool down and be civil to each other. This thread can be locked if it gets out of hand. I don't want to do that be will if it it gets personal.

 

[Roughwear]

Do not tell me nonsense - Mr. Know-it-all (jerome35) ... delirium, delusion, raving

Guys,there is a Forum Code of Conduct which is worth reading to keep behaviour on VLJ as gentlemanly as possible.

http://vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/forum-code-of-conduct.13/

 

[jerome35]

Sorry John, won't interfer anymore on this topic as all I have to say has been said. I can't stand beeing taken like a fool while I verifyed all I've stated and everyone can do the same.

Regards

 

[Silver Surfer]

is it me, or does anyone else have a hard time trying to figure out whats being said here? reads to me like guys having a conversation with silly putty .

 

[John Lever]

Agree Victor. It will be locked soon if it continues in this way.

 

[Roughwear]

The thread is becoming meaningless and pointless now and the VLJ Code of Conduct is not being adhered to.

 

[John Lever]

Thread reopened. If it gets tiresome it will be re locked.

 

[Smithy]

I know nothing about WWII Russian flying jackets/coats but some of the patterns in this thread look lovely and far more interesting than the "standard" VVS flying jacket you see worn later by the Soviet MiG-15 pilots during the Korean War.

 

[John Lever]

Aero have been making copies for some years now...They never cease to amaze me.

 

[Smithy]

Aero have been making copies for some years now...They never cease to amaze me.

That's great John that somebody is going to the trouble of resurrecting these jackets. Have you got any pics of the Aero repros, or maybe Ken can post some? Be great to see them.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

As luck would have it this is a subject Aero has learnt a lot about in the last few years
It started when we were asked to replicate an original jacket used by a Soviet pilot during WW2 for a Russian Collector. He used this jacket to set up a website

http://www.aerosvod.com/aerosvod.com/Shop.aspx#!/АлСиб/p/53821810/category=0

The jacket in the pics is the first jacket, UK zipper , stock fitting, excuse the embroidery, that’s added in the USSR, nothing to do with Aero I don’t understand the embroidery as, this apart, the Russians are fussier than John Chapman about the detail being spot on. We now get hand made perfect replicas of the original 1940s zippers, must cost a fortune,
Since them we've been making jackets for some seriously well connected Russians and in the process have acquired a huge library of pictures. Right now I can't work out how to load them but I'll give it some time later.
Briefly,

Paddy is correct about some poetic licence being given to Unit Commaders pre 1949 re the specific jacket "issued".

Eastwood is correct in identifying the "spats" the jackets 1 to 4 were worn in as "issue". He is wrong that jacketNo 1 & No 2 in his four pictures have the same back. I'm suprised nobody noticed they are totally different lengths! I'll let that go but, "Should do better" I've got good pictures of front & back
Incidentaly, jacket No1 and No2 were also worn during WW2

Jerome is wrong that jacket No 1 was never issued, I'll post pics to prove otherwise as soon as I work out how to on here.................or perhaps John Lever might do it for me? John?

I'll also post a load of pics with jackets, crew & planes including several of Yuri Gagarin in his flight jackets as soon as I've got a minute ot hour to work out how. Those with a better knowlege of Soviet Aircaft can date the pics...........again John, please feel free to maker a start:>)

BTW The Long Coat on page 1 is US made, not European, so is the one with the "suspect" collar tip insignia unless these coats were part of "Lease lend" I doubt if they were worn by Soviet pilots.
Neither was made in Europe 100%

More later.........................

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/B9RK7Y/can...s-left-to-right-yuri-gagarin-boris-B9RK7Y.jpg

Jackets 1 & 2 Photo from google!!! So much for the curt "Non Regulation" comment, looks like it's time for some humble pie!

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

couldn't resist this................................

 

[Smithy]

Thanks for that Ken!

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

The Eagle-Eyed amongst you will notice a Zipped and Buttoned version of the same jacket seem to be in use at the same time, oddly, unlike Uncle Sam's jackets , the zippered version seems to pre-date the buttoned version.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

A few photos to be going on with, previous post (Yuri Gagarin is amongst the flight crew wearing the eariest jacket)

I thought I was pretty savvy with IT but I'm finding the VLJ system tricky to say the least but here's another..................maybe someone can date this piocture from the Aircaft?

.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Original Zippers / Label plus repro versions. Don't have a photo of a Russian made repro centre zipper but it's perfect and stunning.

Excuse the sloppy layout, it was perfect when I hit "Reply" then the Original label decided to move it's position.

Ah well..................

 

[FlyingYankee]

Nice, maybe someone will try a reproduction. The collar is unique.

 

[Doctor Damage]

A few photos to be going on with, previous post (Yuri Gagarin is amongst the flight crew wearing the eariest jacket)

I thought I was pretty savvy with IT but I'm finding the VLJ system tricky to say the least but here's another..................maybe someone can date this piocture from the Aircaft?

.View attachment 652

That's a very interesting photo since it suggests the current Russian leather flyer's jackets, which look virtually the same as these WW2 jackets, have a long pedigree. I had assumed the current jackets were just a modern civilian jacket which had been adopted by pilots, etc.