Aero A-2 red knits: When? Why?

[thor]

I've always wondered when Aero first used their red/rust knits on a WWII contract A-2. Was there a specific reason they switched from their early contract brown knits to the mid-late war contract red/rust knits? Maybe their factory was making a lot of civilian "Ricky" or varsity jackets and they had an abundance of red/rust knit fabric laying around?

If anyone knows the exact month/year when Aero first used the red knits, I'd love to know!

Thank you all (FL is always a font of knowledge and information!).

 

[robrinay]

I don't know about 'real' WW2 contract A2s as mine -see thread, is a more generic Aero A2 but cloudylemonade commented in this thread that Aero didn't have rust knits before 1987. No mention of why they changed either.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...ing-or-goal-setting-my-latest-find&highlight=

 

[Foster]

I think it was in the 16160 contract when the red first appeared, but others know far more than I do about these. I could be mistaken.

 

[Persimmon]

I've always wondered when Aero first used their red/rust knits on a WWII contract A-2. Was there a specific reason they switched from their early contract brown knits to the mid-late war contract red/rust knits? Maybe their factory was making a lot of civilian "Ricky" or varsity jackets and they had an abundance of red/rust knit fabric laying around?

If anyone knows the exact month/year when Aero first used the red knits, I'd love to know!

Thank you all (FL is always a font of knowledge and information!).

Aero (the orginal company as a previous post now includes modern Aero) first used the iconic red knits in their 21996 contract dated to October 1941.

The first two contracts Aero had in 1936 and 1937 were for such small amounts (500 and 1500) units that they probably just used what was available and had brown knits as standard.

Of course we can see with all the variations in other manufacturers over the time how loose the intrepretation of the USAAF spec was actually implemented.

The third contract by Aero was the 16160 and the last to use the brown knits as standard and the last to have a collar stand. but again was for a smaller (in November 1940) production run of 5000 units These had brown knits once more as standard.

In Oct 1941 with the goverment gearing up for a likely war they placed a large order with Aero for 25000 units and it is this that set Aero up as the unique coloured A2 company.

With such a large production run Aero made the jacket simpler to make -thus the lack of a collar stand- and I guess they bought in bulk the material for the knits that whilst redish was still in their eyes true to spec.
Alan

 

[thor]

Thank you Persimmon! Appreciate the info!

 

[Foster]

Thanks from me too! Much appreciated.

 

[Jeff M]

As I understand it, the material for A2's was government supplied.
At least the leather was.
This not apply also to the knits?

 

[aswatland]

All the components for A2s were procured by the US Material Command, and that includes the knits.

 

[Jeff M]

So...when it came to material used, it was not the Aero's interpretation of the contract that determined their use of red knits, but what the US Materials Division provided them?

 

[aswatland]

Yes, everything was centrally sourced and there were various component firms who won contracts with the US government. A variety of knitting mills were for the knits and a large range of tanneries for the leather. However only four zipper makers were used-Talon, Crown, Conmar and Kwik. All this is explained in Gary Eastman's book on A2 jackets.

 

[Jeff M]

Yes, everything was centrally sourced and there were various component firms who won contracts with the US government. A variety of knitting mills were for the knits and a large range of tanneries for the leather. However only four zipper makers were used-Talon, Crown, Conmar and Kwik. All this is explained in Gary Eastman's book on A2 jackets.

Thanks Andrew.
That's what I thought.

 

[thor]

Fascinating stuff! I've got to get a copy of Gary's book. Thanks Andrew!

 

[Edward]

So the Aero 42-15142-P contract from Spring 1942 would originally have had red knits?

 

[zhz]

So the Aero 42-15142-P contract from Spring 1942 would originally have had red knits?

I believe so, I think all contracts after 16160 use red knits by default.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

I wish someone would bootleg that book for me at the library one day. I will do a trade for any of my books in my collection (bootleg style of course)

PDF file of that book would be so handy.

 

[Edward]

If Gary does a Kindle version that would be soft copy... As a lawyer, my professional opinion would counsel against copyright infringement.

I believe so, I think all contracts after 16160 use red knits by default.

Cool, thanks.

 

[aswatland]

I believe so, I think all contracts after 16160 use red knits by default.

This is not absolutely true. The last Aero contract 42-18775-P from mid 1942 is seen with berry and mid brown knits.