A-2 Jacket - Interior Modifications?

[Seb Lucas]

That method is a new one on me, I always thought "send back to maker for a new lining." Until a few days ago I'd never noticed what other people did to modify jackets. I did notice when living in Melb that I was about the only person who wore a flight jacket of any sort and most people I met who wore leather tended to wear either biker stuff or the "1920's English gentleman" type stuff.

In three decades of collecting jackets I have only seen two A2's (Coopers, unfortunately) and one MA1 (an Alpha) worn by others. They aren't a thing in Australia. Leather jackets tend to be more from the fashion end of the market. I'm not sure what you mean by 1920's English gentleman stuff - I can't say I've seen that. But I have seen 1950/60's style tweed/corduroy preppyish look.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

In three decades of collecting jackets I have only seen two A2's (Coopers, unfortunately) and one MA1 (an Alpha) worn by others. They aren't a thing in Australia. Leather jackets tend to be more from the fashion end of the market. I'm not sure what you mean by 1920's English gentleman stuff - I can't say I've seen that. But I have seen 1950/60's style tweed/corduroy preppyish look.

The only A2's I've seen in Australia outside of a couple of aviation museums were on me (I'm American but married an Aussie) and once on exactly one visiting American pilot. Also in Sydney I once spotted a USN G-1 but he had his tshirt tucked into his jeans so he was probably an American too. I've only seen one Nomex CWU there, and it was mine, so it doesn't count.

My understanding is that RAAF pilots are allowed to wear a sightly altered leather A-2 but I've never seen one with one.

The "English" type thing I meant was... not sure of the real names of the items. Basically a leather Gatsby type cap or newsboy cap? Also the type of old coat that people wore while driving, the ones that look long somewhat like a duster or a short Drizabone but in leather.

 

[AdeeC]

I am quite certain I did see two A2 's at a second hand clothing shop in Melboune on the same day in the early 90's. Not into military jackets then but I looked them over closely as they were different to the usual stuff but both were too small for me. Both had miltary type labels but cannot recall the details. They could have been from the same maker. They had real age and in lightly distressed russet hide with scruffy dark brown knits, no patches and in solid condition. Price was $40 each. If they were my size I would likely have bought one. Every time I browse vintage jackets they still cross my mind. Other than that, I have only seen the ones I own also.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

I am quite certain I did see two A2 's at a second hand clothing shop in Melboune on the same day in the early 90's. Not into military jackets then but I looked them over closely as they were different to the usual stuff but both were too small for me. Both had miltary type labels but cannot recall the details. They could have been from the same maker. They had real age and in lightly distressed russet hide with scruffy dark brown knits, no patches and in solid condition. Price was $40 each. If they were my size I would likely have bought one. Every time I browse vintage jackets they still cross my mind. Other than that, I have only seen the ones I own also.

There was a place in the South Melbourne market that sold leather jackets (it might still be there for all I know). From a distance some of them looked like A2's but up close they were at most "similar" to an A2.

Otherwise I've seen them in a couple of museums there, one on display in a small museum at the airport in Narromine NSW where they built a flying replica of the Wright Flyer, and I forgot which other aviation museum.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Markets often sold fake A2's - not good enough to be repros. In the 80's when the Indy thing was big you saw a heap of them.

 

[Seb Lucas]

The "English" type thing I meant was... not sure of the real names of the items. Basically a leather Gatsby type cap or newsboy cap? Also the type of old coat that people wore while driving, the ones that look long somewhat like a duster or a short Drizabone but in leather.

Not really 1920's or English. Gatsby being American... Drizabones being an 1850's look. Best spin you can put on it is people sometimes wear vintage inspired items with contemporary clothing. Most people just wear what they think is cool.

 

[Plumbline]

Having had over a dozen A-2's from all the major manufacturers by far the best interior modification is the addition of inside patch pockets. The Eastman 352nd Squadron version has these sewn through the leather and while this is authentic to the original that was used I didn't like the fact you could see the stitching on the outside. I've had a couple with canvas patch pockets which again while authentic to numerous field modified jackets ... didn't really "feel" right on with the canvas being quite stiff.

My solution - two patch pockets - one each side .. in the original cotton lining ... sewn with the original thread. These were hand cut and sewn (not by Aero who made the jacket originally) though I suspect all of the current repro manufacturers could do this as either a build modification or a post manufacture modification

A great mod IMHO .. and saves trying to stuff a passport, mobile phone, keys and pens into the front pockets ... turns a jacket that's a bit impractical into a VERY practical jacket. The pockets are surprisingly strong and have lasted really well though TBH besides the items detailed above they don't carry very much and aren't subject to lots of abrasion or wear. Very discrete and you don't really notice them with the jacket open or closed. In addition they give me somewhere to put the jackets blood chit rather than sewing it into the lining ( which is the outline inside the pocket in the 1st picture)

 

[Edward]

The first thing I thought was maybe one of the ELC 352nd jackets, though they're damn pricey if all you're looking for is a practical travel jacket!

Given the other mods you're talking about, I'd suggest starting with a USN jacket - or, at a push, an ANJ3 - as being closer the mark. Patch pockets made from the same cotton as the typical A2 liner or a blood chit might work - a lot will depend on how heavy the items that you're going to put in them are. for wallet / the most important stuff to keep secure, the interior pocket in a USN type leather is a great place - you could go off-book and have one installed on each side, plus a couple of 352 style pockets, and you'd be well sorted.

Another alternative might be to think of a different jacket style. My Aero Bootlegger can carry a formiddable amount of stuff, between the two inner, G1-style pockets and the breast pocket (which is surprisingly large and deep!).

Leaning more towards bags now myself (especially if wearing an Irvin)

This is the way I tend to go myself, especially as most of my major travelling is now done in April/May/June, headed to the Far East where I'm unlikely to have much call for a leather jacket. When wearing an Irvin out and aboutg in Winter, I've found a four-pocket waistcoat is also useful, as I can normally get my phone in, along with a few other bits and pieces. The bag is invaluable, though, for a drink, a book, a camera, and/or another couple of bits. The real secret to the perfect daybag is picking one that's not so large I end up carrying a crazy amount of stuff just because I can....

I haven't really tried the bag method yet, or the combat jacket. I did consider a "travel vest" or photographer's vest, but most of the vests out there with a ton of pockets seem to be made out of nylon or other synthetics with nasty burn characteristics.

Here's another thought: a more vintage civilian take on the combat vest - the hunting vest. SJC do a lovely one in wabash denim:

http://www.simonjamescathcart.com/jacket/sjc-wabash-hunting-vest

The chest pockets aren't big enough for much, but the hip pockets are pretty sizeable, and the BIG inside pockets (accessible via the 'half moon' design) are superb (an early production issue that compromised these with a rivet gonig all the way through has been sorted, and this is no longer a problem).

Hepville on Etsy also does a custom version of things very much like this in denim, tweed and all sorts if you want to vary the look a bit. Excellent alternative to a jacket if you are travelling in warmer climates, and fits nicely under a jacket if you're taling about something like a Highwayman, or you like your jackets loose.

Bag wise I purchased a Turcano Urbano 'Ninja' leg bag (aimed at scooter riders). It has a belt supplied that doubles as a shoulder strap too (my preferred option). I've found it invaluable & can get wallet, mobile & a couple of other essentials in it with ease (see bag below). For more serious outings I've just purchased a Maxpedition 'Fat boy' that carries anything I need for work & then some.

I've always wanted a shoulder-holster for my mobile phone, but probably a bad idea....

Bag-wise, I carry either a traditional, black-leather satchell, or a small, khaki-coloured Brady fishing bag. In future, I'd like to pick up some more Brady's in different colours. Their three-ply canvas is as waterproof and durable as the best leather, but significantly cheaper.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

The first thing I thought was maybe one of the ELC 352nd jackets, though they're damn pricey if all you're looking for is a practical travel jacket!

Given the other mods you're talking about, I'd suggest starting with a USN jacket - or, at a push, an ANJ3 - as being closer the mark. Patch pockets made from the same cotton as the typical A2 liner or a blood chit might work - a lot will depend on how heavy the items that you're going to put in them are. for wallet / the most important stuff to keep secure, the interior pocket in a USN type leather is a great place - you could go off-book and have one installed on each side, plus a couple of 352 style pockets, and you'd be well sorted.

Another alternative might be to think of a different jacket style. My Aero Bootlegger can carry a formiddable amount of stuff, between the two inner, G1-style pockets and the breast pocket (which is surprisingly large and deep!).



This is the way I tend to go myself, especially as most of my major travelling is now done in April/May/June, headed to the Far East where I'm unlikely to have much call for a leather jacket. When wearing an Irvin out and aboutg in Winter, I've found a four-pocket waistcoat is also useful, as I can normally get my phone in, along with a few other bits and pieces. The bag is invaluable, though, for a drink, a book, a camera, and/or another couple of bits. The real secret to the perfect daybag is picking one that's not so large I end up carrying a crazy amount of stuff just because I can....



Here's another thought: a more vintage civilian take on the combat vest - the hunting vest. SJC do a lovely one in wabash denim:

http://www.simonjamescathcart.com/jacket/sjc-wabash-hunting-vest

The chest pockets aren't big enough for much, but the hip pockets are pretty sizeable, and the BIG inside pockets (accessible via the 'half moon' design) are superb (an early production issue that compromised these with a rivet gonig all the way through has been sorted, and this is no longer a problem).

Hepville on Etsy also does a custom version of things very much like this in denim, tweed and all sorts if you want to vary the look a bit. Excellent alternative to a jacket if you are travelling in warmer climates, and fits nicely under a jacket if you're taling about something like a Highwayman, or you like your jackets loose.



I've always wanted a shoulder-holster for my mobile phone, but probably a bad idea....

Bag-wise, I carry either a traditional, black-leather satchell, or a small, khaki-coloured Brady fishing bag. In future, I'd like to pick up some more Brady's in different colours. Their three-ply canvas is as waterproof and durable as the best leather, but significantly cheaper.

I can wear an A-2 at work, can't wear a G-1, which is why I wanted to modify an A-2. Off work, a vest is allowable. I've got a few vests and have tried to get used to them but mostly they hang in a closet. The best one I tried was a synthetic "drips when it burns" material and I've been in a fuel fire once so as soon as I noticed the label stating what it was made out of it got donated.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

Having had over a dozen A-2's from all the major manufacturers by far the best interior modification is the addition of inside patch pockets. The Eastman 352nd Squadron version has these sewn through the leather and while this is authentic to the original that was used I didn't like the fact you could see the stitching on the outside. I've had a couple with canvas patch pockets which again while authentic to numerous field modified jackets ... didn't really "feel" right on with the canvas being quite stiff.

My solution - two patch pockets - one each side .. in the original cotton lining ... sewn with the original thread. These were hand cut and sewn (not by Aero who made the jacket originally) though I suspect all of the current repro manufacturers could do this as either a build modification or a post manufacture modification

A great mod IMHO .. and saves trying to stuff a passport, mobile phone, keys and pens into the front pockets ... turns a jacket that's a bit impractical into a VERY practical jacket. The pockets are surprisingly strong and have lasted really well though TBH besides the items detailed above they don't carry very much and aren't subject to lots of abrasion or wear. Very discrete and you don't really notice them with the jacket open or closed. In addition they give me somewhere to put the jackets blood chit rather than sewing it into the lining ( which is the outline inside the pocket in the 1st picture)

View attachment 36554
View attachment 36555

Very nicely done. I've been considering similar to that, plus with a large map pocket in the rear lining and two interior chest pockets with a triple pen pocket on one side. I also like the idea someone mentioned of turning a safari shirt inside out with all the world's pockets available. Turns out those safari shirts now cost $100 each if you get decent quality so a modified lining like you did might be cheaper.

 

[rocketeer]

Very nicely done. I've been considering similar to that, plus with a large map pocket in the rear lining and two interior chest pockets with a triple pen pocket on one side. I also like the idea someone mentioned of turning a safari shirt inside out with all the world's pockets available. Turns out those safari shirts now cost $100 each if you get decent quality so a modified lining like you did might be cheaper.

It would not have to be a genuine WWII shirt as I used, any tan shirt, preferably a heavy grade cotton would do.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

It would not have to be a genuine WWII shirt as I used, any tan shirt, preferably a heavy grade cotton would do.

That price is for a similar but different item, the safari shirts from Orvis. They're similar to older ones and should last forever, they're generally made as good as you can get.