Sometimes casually referred to as a bomber jacket, its original designation was "Jacket, Pilot's (summer)", and its wartime usage was limited neither to pilots nor to bomber crews. Of the nearly 13,000 B-17s built during the war, only 9 flew more missions. This too was time-intensive and gave way to "flat attached" sleeves whose bottom seams met up with the body side seams. The April 1944 USAAF catalog for ordering supplies does not list the AN-J-3 as an option, but both the A-1 and A-2 are listed (the A-1 for $4.00 and the A-2 for $8.12). Papitto Opportunity Connections Mission: The Papitto Opportunity Connection (POC) is a private foundation dedicated to listening and working together with Rhode Islands BIPOC communities to empower and create individual success stories by investing in education, job skills training, and entrepreneurial ventures. Current 21st century version of the classic A-2 Air Force pilot's jacket made by the current USAF contractor! List Price:$480.00. A very nice identified World War II leather A2 Painted Flight Jacket size 34 with name L. Most originals used a sizing system considerably smaller than today's comparable sizes, with only 2-4 inches (100mm) of "slack" over the tagged chest size. Has faded Army Air Force, 401st Bombardment Group, 612th Squadron from 09/25/1944 to 02/21/1945 as a Has 35 bombs painted on No fewer than fifty are on display at any time throughout the Museum, including many historic jackets such as Brig. US Wings recently added to OTEXA's Made in U.S.A. APPRAISER: So that's 30 times he left, not knowing if he was coming back, and that was his badge of courage. The U.S. Army Air Forces Class 13 Catalog listed the garment as "Jacket, Flying, Type A-2". Unlike Navy aviators, who often wore the patches of every squadron they had ever flown with, AAF personnel could only display the patch of their current assignment. Unlike the World War II era pilots, modern Air Force pilots are not permitted to paint their A-2 jackets or disfigure them in any way. Sorry, eBay Auctions, custom orders, Closeout & Clearance items and/or International orders are FINAL SALE, and non-returnable. The Type A-2 flying jacket was adopted as standard issue by the U.S. Army Air Corps as the successor to the Type A-1 flying jacket on May 9, 1931, per specification number 94-3040. As a result, some war-era jackets used by World War II airmen are clearly not true to original AAF specifications, though this makes them no less historic. Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, Dubow Mfg., whose chief peacetime product was baseball mitts. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. $735.00 This means that all materials used in the jacket must be of American origin. Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. US Wings is a veteran-owned business and an official supplier to the US Military. Period photos and films show that the A-2 was typically worn over a shirt, or a shirt and flight suit; airmen were more likely to switch to a sheep-lined jacket or, later, an electrified flight suit for wintertime or high-altitude operations. $669.00 Known zipper suppliers were Talon, Crown, Conmar, and Kwik, with Talon providing the majority of zippers used in wartime A-2 construction. We offer this A-2 recreation as a goatskin alternative that provides a good historical perspective on this iconic jacket. Seeing legendary actors such as Gregory Peck and John Wayne on the big screen wearing A-2s only reinforced their popularity. Veteran Owned Since 1986. Discover the secret histories of some of the greatest music ever written. This same jacket, manufactured by the studio's costume department, had previously been worn by Frank Sinatra in the film Von Ryan's Express. He was in the crew The airman's A-2 was a treasured item and was worn with as much pride as his wings. $764.00 Just as a cottage industry appeared during the war to meet the need for A-2 jackets, so too does such an industry still exist today. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among Also, in the anime Hetalia: Axis Powers, the character America is most always seen wearing an A-2 jacket with the number '50' on the back in white. And it was impossible to prevent airmen from continuing to obtain and wear the style as demonstrated by the large number of photos clearly showing Korean War pilots of F-82s and F-86s still wearing the original A-2 issued to them a decade earlier, or newer jackets made to fit their current sizes. Context is key: APPRAISER: He actually served with the 8th Air Force. Verbal approximations: After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Specially created for corporate jet and airline pilots looking for a traditional look with a modern design. This makes our site more accessible to the blind, visually impaired, motor disabled, people with cognitive disabilities and more. The National Museum of the United States Air Force has a collection of original A-2 jackets, most donated by the families of Air Force pilots. No standard system of distribution was used, though generally airmen lined up in front of boxes containing jackets of various sizes and given the appropriate size jacket by the base quartermaster. The emblem of the Army Air Forces was often sewn, painted, or applied by decal on the left shoulder, while the shield of the specific Air Force (5th, 8th, etc.) In certain ETO units and possibly elsewhere a prerogative of the fighter ace was a red satin lining which was added on confirmation of his fifth aerial kill. Broadly similar in construction to the A-1, it replaced the A-1's buttoned front and pocket flaps with a zipper and hidden snap fasteners (although the first three A-2 contracts retained the pocket buttons). Early wartime pictures show entire bomber crews outfitted with A-2s, although they probably weren't too valuable at altitude in a bomber. Opinion of value: Antique Weapon Store List Price:$540.00. List Price:$650.00. A small "cottage industry" soon appeared, especially in England, to make A-2-style jackets for GIs (including many airborne infantry troops) who otherwise could not get one. email: mail@antiqueweaponstore.com The first Fancy Nancy was lost on the 401sts first mission due to a 401st, more than any other aircraft in the group and over 50% of the total missions flown List Price:$630.00. The A-2 was one of the early articles of clothing designed expressly to use a zipper. All contracts used a cotton lining, though various replacements were made over the years. Our Appraiser Index Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. Funding for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is provided by The value of such originals ranges widely depending on condition, known history, patches and artwork, and even size. Wartime-issued A-2 jackets appear in a wide range of color tones and hues, although all are based on two distinct colors: Seal (dark brown to almost black) and russet (pale red-brown to medium brown). looks pretty good other than one tear as pictured on the back upper neck. $810.00 However, period photos show A-2s worn by crew underneath heavy outer garments, and candid on-base photos often show crewmen of all ranks in A-2s. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she Throughout the War, as the A-2s popularity grew, so too did the demand for it. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or A best seller because of the superb components and leathers used. US Wings provides aviation apparel to the U.S. Government and commercial customers along with the general public. In other words, an original size 42 might be closer to a modern 40 or even a 38, depending on the manufacturer. Prior to World War II the collar was sewn to a neckband or "stand" like those found in dress shirts, a time-intensive operation. an active association at www.401bg.org. US Wings Bomber Jackets mean History & Heritage. The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." His character wore the jacket throughout the show's 5 seasons. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Original knit cuffing typically matched the leather or came close, but exceptions exist, such as Aero Leather's eye-catching rust-red cuffing on seal brown hide. jacket with outstanding documented history. $565.00 This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." @RoadshowPBS. Our collection of A-2s is the finest available and we think youll agree! 1997 2022 WGBH Educational Foundation. This gives you a superior level of quality unmatched by inferior mass produced, machine-made garments. A-2s were exclusive to commissioned officers until early in World War II, when also issued to enlisted aircrews. #antiquesroadshow Explore what led to Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine. Address: 561 E Hines Hill Road Hudson, Ohio 44236 Phone: 1-800-650-0659 / 330-655-5050 Fax: 330-653-3750 Email: [emailprotected], Retail Store Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm EST Saturdays: 10am -3pm (Sept-Feb) Sundays: Closed. $44.95 (You can unsubscribe anytime), The US Wings website is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant and adheres to their standards for accessibility of the internet so people with disabilities can surf the web more easily & efficiently. Years of effort by U.S. Air Force personnel to get the A-2 jacket reissued finally succeeded when the Air Force began issuing them again in 1988, a decision that may have been influenced by the popularity of the film "Top Gun", and the military apparel it popularized. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. No patches are permitted to be sewn directly onto the jacket as they were during World War II. In 2006, HQ USAF required all A-2 jackets to be "Berry Amendment" compliant. The lack of AN-J-3 replacements may explain why three U.S. A-2 contracts were granted in Dec. 1943, or after the A-2 jacket was officially replaced. ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the It's the leather bomber's jacket that he wore. A-2s made today by U.S. Air Force contract manufacturers tend to fit younger, fitter men with v-shaped torsos, and some former pilots have found that their old A-2s no longer fit them. List Price:$900.00. You can remove yourself immediately at any time. There were many manufacturers of A-2 jackets during the 1930s and 1940s whose product showed a wide range of quality, workmanship, and fit characteristics. In 1996 Neil Cooper USA was awarded a contract from the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP), to redesign the A-2 jacket to be more functional and to improve the fit. Wartime contracts generally had "simple attached" collars, sewn directly to the back panel and rolled over, although Rough Wear and Perry continued using the collar stand throughout. U.S. Wings is a manufacturer and a supplier. It describes the jacket's construction as "seal brown horsehide leather, knitted wristlets and waistband (skirt)." In the 1960s and 1970s the A-2 reappeared in a new crop of big budget World War II films such as The Great Escape and Patton, as well as being the wardrobe of choice for Bob Crane's character of Colonel Hogan in the popular TV series Hogan's Heroes. ("V505" coded label), This page was last edited on 10 July 2022, at 03:38. Also features WWII era Army Air Force decal on left sleeve. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of List Price:$630.00. Features a variety of naval patches. Rest of the body This is the classic Cockpit Top Gun G-1, similar to the ones worn by the Navy's best of the best! Handmade from Grade A, drum-dyed leather & hand-inspected. Needless to say, Arnold's popularity with his airmen was not improved by his decision. List Price:$640.00. $555.00 Listen carefully. The leather is mostly pliable, a little bit dry but not flaking. Youre seeing this ad based on the products relevance to your search query. The British Royal Air Force Sheepskin Flying Jacket represents the epitome of English heroism during WWII. reads Fancy Nancy with a hula girl which is present but faded. Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Database. ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is a trademark of the BBC and is produced for PBS by GBH under license from BBC, Worldwide. Side entry pockets were added to the patch pockets and inside wallet pockets were added. GUEST: I brought my dad's World War II bomber jacket. The goatskin used in today's A-2 is treated with a special fire retardant chemical. POPE written in inside collar. $515.00 List Price:$860.00. Made with 100% vintage lambskin and created with military styling. If you are not completely satisfied, simply return it within 30 days from date of delivery for a replacement, exchange, credit or refund (shipping charges are not refundable). Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. This is particularly true of pre-war contract garments such as the 1933 Werber and the 1938 and 1940 Aero Leathers. Some jackets had a map of the mission area sewn into the lining, which could be used (in theory) for navigation if shot down. Some jackets (famously, those from the China Burma India Theater, and of the Flying Tigers) had a "Blood chit" sewn on the lining or outer back, printed on cloth, which promised certain rewards to civilians who aided a downed airman. there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher List Price:$640.00. You will NOT get bombarded with constant email. Fancy Nancy IV was the 4th aircraft in the squadron to location where the item will be sold. As a result, many jackets ended up with numerous stitch marks as patches of various sizes were removed and replaced when the owner changed units. Additional funding is provided by public television viewers. knows best: the auction market. We are so lucky we had those guys. midair collision. This historical sheepskin bomber jacket for men features the single horsehide front patch pocket, horsehide covered reinforced sleeves and shoulder tabs on which officers rank may be attached. Now that these modifications are part of the official issue, only "Blood Chits" and other internal linings are added by the aircrew themselves. Value can change: $1,195.00 This is the 2022 version for Top Gun 2! collectibles, market trends, and other factors. $499.00 Since 1938 the G-1 flight jacket has been regulation issue gear to pilots of the United States Navy. The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the More typically found in nylon or Nomex, this is the leather version of the classic MA-1 Flight Jacket. Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazons commitment to empowering them. Their may be shading on the color just as in the original. 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The Type A-2 leather flight jacket is an American military flight jacket originally invented and developed for and closely associated with World War II U.S. Army Air Forces pilots, navigators and bombardiers, who often decorated their jackets with squadron patches and elaborate artwork painted on the back. The A-2 jacket was awarded to an Army Air Forces officer upon completion of basic flight training, and always before graduating to advanced training. Sewn label with maker name J.A .DUBOW MFG. no rips or tears other than that one area on the back of neck. The 401st holds the distinction of having the highest bombing accuracy rate of any B-17 CO./ This coat, on today's market, would retail between $3,000 and $4,000. we will offer a $10 credit should the same customer repurchase any item from Legendary Products within a one year period. A-2 jackets can be seen in many movies, as they came to represent the American fighting man just as much as the P-51 Mustang and M1911 pistol. In the mid-1970s several small companies catering to purists began undertaking the job of designing and constructing somewhat authentic reproductions. These A-10 Leather Gloves are complete with wool lining and wool knit cuffs. The bomber jacket has made appearances in non-war films, as well. And this is an iconic World War II piece. $478.00 Has some cracking on upper left breast. List Price:$970.00. phone: (828) 507-7160, The Tom Richards Collection of American Indian Artifacts. If you see the same product from a competitive authorized e-commerce retailer, we will match their price in addition to any free accessories that may be included in your purchase! We do not share our mailing list with any other company. Each bomb was a mission. Sizes were listed as ranging in even numbers from 32 through 54. 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The pilot and copilot had primitive cabin heat on some aircraft and would wear the A-2, while the rest of the bomber crew usually wore heavier fleece-lined Type B-3 or ANJ-4 (and later B-9 and B-11 parkas), which were warmer and better suited to long hours in the severe cold. Original wartime issued A-2 jackets are rare but not unavailable. And you can see on this side of the chest, we have 30 bombs. Your Legendary Price Guarantee is proof that we are serious about giving you the greatest price, value and customer service. We are a woman-owned small business and Veteran-owned incorporated in Ohio. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, HZCX fashion mens windbreaker bomber blazer jacket, HZCX FASHION Mens Pullover Hooded Waterproof Lightweight Windbreaker Jackets, HZCX FASHION Men's Stand Collar Green Camouflage Military Army Jackets, HZCX FASHION Men's Washed Cotton Two-Button Slim Fit Casual Blazer and Jackets. $424.00 A warm and comfortable mouton collar was an addition authorized in mountainous C-B-I commands. These modifications were previously carried out by the member themselves at popular places around the world like Pop's Leather in Turkey, or in the numerous shops in Korea. $550.00 It was designed to fit the thinner male of the time- original A-2 jackets worn by modern men may seem a bit snug in the shoulders. Each mailing includes instructions for removal from our list. We want you to be totally satisfied with your purchase. Some later A-2s were made from goatskin (as was the Navy G-1 jacket) and others from cowhide (which can be very difficult to tell from horse if tanned identically). Glenn Miller, Big Band era star of the 1940s, is immortalized on this lambskin A2 reminiscent of the World War II years and swing music. by the 401st. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. The WWII-style "nose art" that adorns the back of this jacket is sepia-toned to give it an antiqued appearance. A teenage C. Thomas Howell wears a black A-2 for nearly the entire length of the classic horror film The Hitcher. when it was shot down by FW-190 fighters on its 4th mission. Even if you werent there blasting Zeros and Me-109s out of the skies, you can still experience some of the excitement and glory by dressing the part! List Price:$580.00. manner that in no way affects the jacket and it can easily be removed and reinstalled. Zippers were made of steel or brass, and some were nickel plated. Subtle but chic, it's the result of the collaboration between famed hip-hop stylist Mike B (Bogard) and Cockpit USA. than retail. He served with the Army Air Force. A lightweight, sleek version of our USAF A-2 Flight Jacket, our Lightweight Pilot A-2 is a handsome variation of classic style. Popularly priced (approximately US $500 and below) A-2 jackets today only approximate the authentlaryic style, with oversized shoulders and sleeves intended for layering loose clothing underneath, non-spec hand and pen pockets, and softer materials like lambskin. The first three (3) contracts had button pocket flaps, while all the rest were snapped pockets beginning with Werber order number 33-1729. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" US Wings is a verified SAM Contractor and DLA Supplier and is officially listed as a manufacturer/retailer in the US Department of Commerce's Office of Textile and Apparel (OTEXA) Made in the USA database. They were one of the hardest-fighting groups. WWII Reproduction B-3 JacketThe ultimate collector's B-3 shearling flight jacket, patterned after the early 1942 issue russet colored jacket. We have the hand-painted insignia. Appraiser affiliations: bottom. With the exception of a very brief period from 1979 to early 1981 the U.S. Navy never stopped issuing its G-1 leather flying jackets to Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard flight crews. Generally we only send one email per month and never more than two. The jacket worn by Henry Winkler in the role of "Fonzie" in the TV show Happy Days was a variation of the A-2 jacket. Stitched-down shoulder straps were also added to the design. Goat skins used are required to have been born and bred in the U.S., and the leather tanned in the U.S. (All jackets made by Cooper Sportswear, and the jackets made by Avirex in 1999, were made of goatskin imported from Pakistan). Beginning with Ronald Reagan and continuing to Joe Biden, every President and in certain cases, some Vice-Presidents have been seen adorned with the jacket at military installations. Air Forces paint on left shoulder. Fighter pilots, who often had heated cockpits, could wear the A-2 into combat more easily. Please do not send samples. the name with such an inauspicious start, but Fancy Nancy IV flew 134 missions with the Values Even after the transition to cloth, existing units could still order replacement A-2s, keeping production going well into 1944. The crewmember's name tag is mounted on the left breast, with the Major Command, HQ USAF, or Combatant Command shield are on the right, attached with Velcro. research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. Gen. James Stewart's A-2 (a Rough Wear contract 42-1401), an A-2 from the AVG "Flying Tigers," and another worn by one of the few U.S. pilots to get airborne during the attack on Pearl Harbor. authentic World War II US Army Air Corps Army Air Force leather painted bomber flight Fancy Nancy II was lost when it ran out of fuel on its 2nd mission and the American Cruise Lines. Original World War II era jackets sell at auction for between $800 and $8,000, with wearable examples generally running $1,000 and up. Over the years it has varied in style and accuracy relative to the original war-era design, but it has remained visible in popular movies and TV shows of the 1950s and 1960s. It is mounted in a This meant that an entire generation of Air Force pilots and flight crews had missed out on an opportunity not lost to their Naval comrades. Look for the blue accessibility symbol floating on every page of our website and click on it to tailor your viewing experience to your particular disability. Gary Eastman, "Type A-2 Flight Jacket Identification Manual" (Latimer Trend & Company Ltd., Plymouth, UK, 2012), Learn how and when to remove these template messages, personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay, Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Museum of the United States Air Force, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A-2_jacket&oldid=1097331367, Military equipment introduced in the 1930s, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with style issues from September 2011, Articles needing additional references from July 2017, All articles needing additional references, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, David D. Doniger & Co. (signed and unsigned labels), Simpsons Gloves Pty. One might think of changing Professionally mounted in a custom-made glass-faced hardwood case on gold velveteen List Price:$570.00.