B-3/B-6 Bomber Jacket General Questions/Help

[hassinator]

I'm new to the forum, but have been lurking for sometime reading about Navy Pea Coats. I wasn't sure if I should post these questions on this forum or WW2, so I apologize in advance if I'm in the wrong section.
I've always admired the B-3 or B-6 bomber jackets, because I love the look of them and in my mind their a symbol of Americas greatness. Plus my grandfather was a WW2 B-17 Flight Engineer in the 8th Air Force, 303rd Bomber Group, 360th Squadron, and flew in a B-17 called the "Yard bird" and "Yard bird 2". He completed his 25th mission May 17, 1943. 3 missions later on May 29, 1943 the "Yard bird" was shot down over enemy territory. Of the original 11 personnel that came from America in the "Yard Bird", 4 completed 25 missions (my grandfather being one of the luck 4), 1 died of wounds inflicted on May 29, and the other 6 became POW's on May 29, 1943.
Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away from cancer when I was very young, I have only a few vague memories. But every time I see a B-3 or B-6, it reminds me of him and all the others like him that gave so much for all of us, and that always puts a smile in my heart.
Sorry if that's TMI.
I was looking to spend $300 or less and hoping to buy used because I like the idea of getting something used and figured it would certainly be less expensive than buying new.
However, after starting to look I quickly became confused as to which jackets are real replica's with real sheep skin shearling leather and which jackets are replica's with fake leather, fake sheep shearling, etc. Then I started to realize I don't know anything about leather, shearling, sheepskin, etc, I naively thought leather meant cow skin, but I think I'm sore mistaken.
I don't have a problem with buying a replica that has fake leather/fur as long as I know that going into the deal that it's fake. After looking at Ebay for awhile, I got the feeling that there are a lot of jackets being made in foreign countries and I have no idea how to tell what's real and what's fake.
Does anyone have a guide/advice/suggestions on how to go about buying a used B-3 or B-6 shearling jacket and knowing exactly what your actually getting?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Jason Hassler

 

[GHQ1]

IMO go after a good quality maker from the start . . .

Here's a sheepskin "flight jacket" (not a B-3 to be sure but still has flight elements from other jackets) from Gibson & Barnes http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sheerling-B-3-variant-Bomber-Flight-Jacket-44-Very-Nice-/260937309488?pt=US_CSA_MC_Outerwear&hash=item3cc1135d30&BackToListReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fmy.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMyEbayBeta that will probably go for well under $300 . .

Round up the usual suspects (Avirex, US Authentic, G&B, Willis Geiger, Flight Apparel etc) and you'll hit near your $300 mark for a nice coat

 

[Phantomfixer]

looks like the old "B-6" from Schott made in the late 80s. A nice jacket

 

[hassinator]

Thanks for suggestion. As I look at jackets, it seems most don't have a brand tag. Would you steer clear of these jackets and only go for jackets that you can confirm their brand? Here's a perfect example,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180794630643?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

It has no brand tag, just a tag saying "real sheepskin, specialist clean, made in England", I inquired from the seller if there are any other tags and they said no. Would you steer clear of these kinds of jackets?

Thanks
Jason

 

[GHQ1]

Well it comes down to the pattern you want vs the money you wish to spend. Would I buy a nice sheepskin B-3 inspired jacket made in England -- sure because for all I know they could have been supplied by Fenland Tannery and thus would be high quality. But a B-3 with slash handwarmer pockets? Not WW2 spec.

Perhaps we need to start with the high end repros. Have a look at Eastman, Lost Worlds, Aero, Real McCoys to see the quality and details of a high end product. Then you'll be better able to determine what you want -- when you see a B-3 on Ebay offered with a detachable hood you'll pretty much know that's not what you're after.

 

[hassinator]

Thanks for the input. I did think of one other thing, sizing. Are shearling bombing jackets sized by your chest size, or do you need to go up 1 or 2 sizes to account for the volume of the wool?

 

[hassinator]

I thought of another question, and since I have to get 15 posts before I have PM ability I figured I'd just throw this one out there. What's the best way to maintain leather and is it ok for leather to get wet?

Jason

 

[Corky]

It's OK for leather to get wet, but be sure it's dry before you put it away.

Jason:

Pecard's is perhaps the most popular product for maintaining smooth leather like you find on an A-2 - but it's not for use on shearling sheepskin like you find on a B-3.

With regards to wet leather, don't try to rush the drying process of wet leather by putting it on a radiator or using other artificial means. That could shrink or dry out the leather item.

By the way, I have a good quality size 44 civilian B-3 you might be interested in:

This is a BRANDED B-3 - by Orchard Motorcycles

(See this link for an image, plus the manufacturer's description and retail price)


A personal message has been sent to you with details.

Best of luck...

 

[xt40]

By the way, I have a good quality size 44 civilian B-3 you might be interested in:

This is a BRANDED B-3 - by Orchard Motorcycles

(See this link for an image, plus the manufacturer's description and retail price)

no offence but having a label that says b-3 on it is meaningless.
if the op wants a jacet like his grandad wore then yours is not the jacket for him.
for starters it needs to look like this
http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=74
if he does not want to spent that kind of money this is probably the best option
http://www.whatpriceglory.com/shopexd.asp?id=838&bc=no
its maybe not as good qualityand is a bit lighter than an original but maybe thats an advantage in a warmer climate

 

[xt40]

This site in french has some excellent pictures of the what price glory b-3.
As an owner of an aero b-3 i think it looks excellent. The shoulder tabs are about twice as long as they should be but a scalpel and ruler could easily fix that.
(I opened it up using google chrome and it translated it to english for me)
http://usaaf.forumactif.com/t1970-what-price-glory-b3

 

[hassinator]

I'm open to the idea of owning a civilian version of the B-3, B-6, or D-1(I have a great pic of my grandfather standing in a D-1), with the modern convenience of added hand warmer pockets. I'm really just going for the over all look of the shearling bomber jacket. I realize at my price point, a quality replica version is probably the best I can do. I'm just trying to avoid buying something thinking it's leather or shearling and finding out after the fact that it's not real, or it's pig skin when it was portrayed otherwise, etc. I don't even mind buying a "faux" shearling/leather if it's at a low enough price point and its presented as a "faux". The Price Glory "US B-3 Sheepskin Jacket" would fit the bill nicely, but when I checked the website they didn't have my size. I wear a 42s suit jacket, not exactly sure what size that would translate into on a B-3?
Thanks for all the input, the more information the better, so please add more.

 

[GHQ1]

Here's a US Auth D-1 for $399 . .If it doesn't sell you might be able to negotiate down
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-USAAF-AAF-ARMY-AIR-FORCE-MECHANICS-SHEEPSKIN-D1-D-1-FLIGHT-JACKET-COAT-44-/330670954036?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfd865634&BackToListReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fmy.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMyEbayBeta

US Auth has nice sheepskin for the money -- I had an M-444 and it was quite thick and nice. Some have reported that US Auth made some of the B-3's for W&G . . .