Posted By Kevin M. Pearson on August 09, 2006 at 09:44:07:
In Reply to: Flight Jacket posted by Richard Chambers on August 01, 2006 at 23:07:46:
Richard: I saw your post on the Might Eighth Message Board and wanted to reply. Most of the Enlisted Crew flew in the back of B-17s and B-24s. These were unpressurized aircraft and there were many openings in the back of these planes for the guns where cold winds whipped through in the sometimes 60 below zero stratosphere. As a result, the enlisted men had to wear very heavy flight jackets, in addition to electrically heated gloves, socks underwear, etc.
You can not say one fact about the air war without there being at least one exception, but for the most part, the enlisted crew wore B-3, Shearling-line, heavy flight jackets. These jackets and the leather in them were made quite differently than the way leather is made today. Most of today’s leathers are chromium tanned. Jackets of yesteryear were vegetable-tanned, a much more elaborate process producing a much different result. Horse hide was the preferred leather at the beginning of the war. Remember, horses were the main mode of transportation in the 20s and 30s for most of the country and as more and more people bought cars and farm vehicles, there was a huge over supply of horses in the 30s. As the war dragged on and these horse hides were used up due to war production, other leathers were incorporated into B-3s and A-2s such at goat, lamb and cow hides.
There are many companies that made reproduction A-2s and B-3s, but there is absolutely none finer than Eastman Leather Company in Devon, England. Go to www.eastmanleather.com. Not only does Eastman Leather have the best products, but their website is a valuable source of information. I have an Eastman A-2 and B-3, and they are the best of the best. As I travel around to various air shows, my Eastmans put all of the competition to shame. Everything in an Eastman product is to exact Army Air Corps design standards of the era and in many cases they use surplus materials from the 30s and 40s like green OD thread and Talon zippers. Their attention to detail is incredible.
I have the Eastman Rough Wear 1401 Contract A-2 in horsehide, and the B-3 horsehide in brown.
When I first got interested in flying leather, I bought a current issue Coopers Sportswear A-2. This is a goat skin jacket and is chromium dyed into a brown leather. Although I had a Squadron patch painted and other artwork on the coat, I was never happy with it because it wasn’t a good replica from the war. Sure it looks good, but it just isn’t authentic.
Eastman jackets are expensive, a B-3 will run around $800, more if you customize with artwork, but if you are after authenticity, there is none finer anywhere in the world. They can also provide you with the Squadron patches you are looking for.
Do some research on the Squadron patches. Some Groups had theirs embroidered, some were hand painted on leather disks; some were painted right on the jackets. Eastman will use oil paints thinned with 100 Octane aviation fuel, just like during the war, and will exactly color match every paint pigment.
I have no affiliation with Eastman Leather, but having experimented with other jackets from other companies, I can tell you Eastman is the top of the line, the best-of-the-best. Don’t settle for second best or you will never be happy.
I have studied flying leather from the war for many years. If you have any other questions, please fell free to write or call.