Best book for flight jackets A-2, B-3, B-10, Irvin, etc...

[Cooper A-2]

Maybe already discussed here, but what is the best actual book related to A-2, B10, B15, B-3, Irvin etc...flight jackets.
I have a few books like " Gear up" " Hell bent for Leather" " American flight jackets", Luftwaffe vs RAF...." etc. All dated from the 90ies or early 2000.
Any new issues or reference guides?
Thx.

 

[Doctor Damage]

We don't really have a book thread, although there was an old thread on Japanese books. I have a copy of this book and it's an excellent visual reference. It ranges from very early leather jackets up to the early nomex flight jackets, with everything in between. The photos of jackets are top notch and they cover many variations, plus they've got tons of black and white photos of actual servicemen during the wars and other deployments. However, all of the text except the forward is in Japanese, so this is a visual porn book only. I am not aware of any comprehensive book in English which covers the cloth/nylon jacket period. I was hoping someone like Atticus who has a huge collection of jackets and a ton of knowledge would write such a book, but he's not interested.

 

[Cooper A-2]

We don't really have a book thread, although there was an old thread on Japanese books. I have a copy of this book and it's an excellent visual reference. It ranges from very early leather jackets up to the early nomex flight jackets, with everything in between. The photos of jackets are top notch and they cover many variations, plus they've got tons of black and white photos of actual servicemen during the wars and other deployments. However, all of the text except the forward is in Japanese, so this is a visual porn book only. I am not aware of any comprehensive book in English which covers the cloth/nylon jacket period. I was hoping someone like Atticus who has a huge collection of jackets and a ton of knowledge would write such a book, but he's not interested.

thanks a lot, have it as well.
Its a pitty all in japanese...
Maybe another new book somewhere in this collector world...???
Thx to all

 

[Doctor Damage]

Earlier in the year I had submitted the idea of a book on Cold War era USAF flight clothing and gear to Osprey Military Publishing so maybe they'll do a book eventually. It never ceases to amaze me that *apparently* no comprehensive book has been done on the topic in English, esp given the enduring popularity of nylon flight jackets.

 

[Cooper A-2]

You have your first buyer for this book.
Apparently we have a lot of shearling jacket ( Irvin, B-3, AN-J-4 &&&) fans here.
With their experience and knowledge , I guess a book even a shelf can be filled.

 

[Brettafett]

Take a look at Gary Eastman's Type A-2 book. Mainly A-2s...
http://www.eastmanleather.com/type-identification-manual-p-290.html

Seen some Japanese flight jacket books on Ebay... Nice pics

 

[Tommy-VF51]

Take a look at Gary Eastman's Type A-2 book. Mainly A-2s...
http://www.eastmanleather.com/type-identification-manual-p-290.html

Seen some Japanese flight jacket books on Ebay... Nice pics

Eastman book looks good, but not £70 good

 

[Doctor Damage]

If you like A2 jackets there's a lot of books out there for you!
If you like cloth jackets, then the pickings are slim.

 

[nick123]

I think it will be up to us here to create exhaustive flight jacket books. Enphasis on "exhaustive". I want pages of words rather than pictures and two sentence captions.

 

[Doctor Damage]

I think it will be up to us here to create exhaustive flight jacket books. Enphasis on "exhaustive". I want pages of words rather than pictures and two sentence captions.

I know what you want, but it's not really possible. Guys like Atticus (and other private collectors who value their privacy) have lots of knowledge, but they won't share except in dribs and drabs, certainly not enough to write a wordy book. Virtually everyone who was actually involved in the design, testing, and procurement of cloth flight jackets in the 1940s and 1950s (and even the flame proof jackets of the 1970s) are long dead or simply impossible to locate. I also suspect the USAF didn't document this stuff much, at least in the old days. Gathering anecdotes from pilots and aircrew who wore the gear is valuable, but how many of those people really paid any attention to what they were wearing and how it performed? To 99% of people, clothing is just stuff you wear, and any memories they have regarding jackets would be incidental.

I've been working on a small 'buyer's guide' to nomex flight jackets and it's tougher than you think to gather detailed background info.

I think getting Suit Up translated into English and some of the errors corrected would be the best possible book on the topic.

 

[aswatland]

One of the best books on US flight jackets is "Full Gear". The photos are excellent and the captions are in English. Sadly the text is in Japanese. It has essential lists of contracts which are all in English. It is very expensive, but worth every penny to me.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Yup, have it...can only confirm it all.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Hello Dr.
You are the best on Irvin an surely an expert of all other military leather jackets.
please start your writting...

 

[Brettafett]

Fumbled upon this...

http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/usaaf-flight-gear-1942-to-1945-book-product,16015

And this...

https://www.cockpitusa.com/accessories/cowboys-of-the-sky-book

 

[Doctor Damage]

One of the best books on US flight jackets is "Full Gear". The photos are excellent and the captions are in English. Sadly the text is in Japanese. It has essential lists of contracts which are all in English. It is very expensive, but worth every penny to me.

Not heard of that one until now, thanks. Here's what appears to be an official website for the book: http://www.fullgear.net/index

 

[rocketeer]

Depends what your taste is really, history or details.
If it's the history of the men and their jackets the Maguire books beat most by a mile. If it's the details and production numbers, pocket flap shapes and contract numbers you are after well Gary Eastman's book is for you.
Personally I find the detail book rather boring, but collecting tastes have changed so if someone posts an aircrew picture the main interest appears to be whether they are wearing Roughwear or Cable Raincoat etc, rather than did the crew survive the war or that the name on the chest was the same as the aircraft etc.
Some will probably point out that is a bit of a harsh comparison but check out any original A2 jacket pictures or aircrew photo's on here and you will get what I mean. I don't have the Maguire books now but I don't think there is much information on pocket flap or type of zips in there.
When I started collecting jackets in the early 1980s I searched and went to visit the airfields if located in the UK. Did I care only 1000 or 10,000 jackets were made of that label? No, but they were great jackets from great times(my times that is). Would love the Maguire books again, I looked and looked at them, worth every penny. Garry's book, looked through a friends copy twice, anyone got one for £20 or less?

 

[Brettafett]

Yes, ART OF THE FLIGHT JACKET, is a fantastic book. A treasure. I spent hours looking through it. have not seen the others though. I wonder if they are as good.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Thx for all your contributions.
Will buy Gary's book....
Ordered an B-3 Redskin recently. Will extend the order to this book.
again, very glad and happy meeting you guys....Thx for your valuable input in all we have in common.