A-3 Pants?

[Colonel Adam]

These have been kicking around various closets and attics at least since my grandfather died. I believe they are the companion to his long-gone B-3 jacket (at least, I think that's the name for a "bomber" jacket with the exposed woolly collar). What can you tell me about these pants?

In case you can't read it, the tag says:



And below that is the size tag - 38R.

Unfortunately, they're getting a bit moldy. Not a lot remains of my grandfather's WWII service, so I'd like to keep them in nice shape. Any hints?

Someday I'd like to buy a repo B-3 to pair them with, perhaps with a 507th Fighter Squadron patch painted on the back.

-Dave

Wash them, by hand, with a soft brush--like the kind people use to wash their backs--with Woolite (maybe misspelled but you know what I mean) and warm water. It might make them a little darker, probably not. Hang them to drip-dry. WARNING: no matter what anyone else tells you, DO NOT WASH THEM IN A MACHINE! I'm a leather expert, and if you do they will come out in little pieces!

 

[Colonel Adam]

Ahh no problem.. Coat them in a leather food/cream. I'm not sure if we have the same leather products, but I'm sure someone could advise on this.

Again, I've been a leather expert for 30years, and i would strongly advise against putting any kind of cream on them, with one exception--100% Lanolin cream, not oil. Lanolin comes from sheep wool, and what causes so many people to itch when wearing wool sweaters. If you wash them with woolite there's probably no need to--woolite has lanolin in it, but if you do use lanolin cream, it will almost certainly make them darker and probably tacky. Call a Tandy Leather goods store and ask them where you can get 100% lanolin cream. If they recommend anything else, don't use it.
Again, other than 100% lanolin cream, don't use ANY other leather creams, oils, and DO NOT USE MINK OIL!

 

[Colonel Adam]

Dave, for preserving your flight pants, I'd try a leather oil and conditioner, called "Montana Pitch Blend" I have two sets of sheepskin flight pants that I use this on. Runs $8 a bottle and smells good too! Living in Montana, the bottle is easy to come by. However, its made in Oregon I think, and can be found online. After that, for storage, place them in a canvas or cotton bag, but no plastic. This way, the leather is still able to breath and stay clean and preserved, for may more years.

No! If anything 100% lanolin. But then, you're a grown up, so do. as you like.

 

[BlueTrain]

Although I understand the point being made, there needs to be a better word besides "breathe" when talking about the skin of a dead animal. Ventilate might work.

By the way, if you have a canvas garment, like a thick Carhartt jacket or a dry finish Filson tin cloth garment, hand wash it with Woollite or other mild soap, scrubbing with a soft brush if necessary, and that will avoid the strange scuff marks they will get if you machine wash them.