Books about flight jackets

[MeachamLake]

Anyone have any recommendations? All the threads I could find on this topic were quite some years old.

I believe there are a couple of highly regarded Japanese ones - one is called Full Gear, the other I can't remember exactly. From what I read, the author of Full Gear was working on an English translation, but presumably this project never came to fruition as I can't find a trace of this anywhere, which is a great shame.

I've also come across this book called "Flight Gear" by Mathieu Bianchi - never seen this one before. From the preview images and reviews, it looks quite good - I've gone ahead and ordered a copy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/2352503027/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Any other suggestions would be welcome!

 

[HanauMan]

I do have a book on American leather flight jackets in my library. It is called Cowboys of the Sky and it was published by Airlife Publishing Ltd. in 1989. It was written by Gilles Lhote (a French writer) and Jeff Clyman (founder and boss of Avirex, which is now, I believe, Cockpit). The book is full of photos, both period photos of A1s, A2s, B3s etc and of the 80s Avirex jackets. It is a fairly decent book for folk who like Avirex jackets but it is thin on information of original leather jackets and just touches on their history.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Here's some threads on this topic for additional reference:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/avg-and-other-flying-jacket-books.51982/

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/japanese-flight-jacket-books.5804/

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/can-anyone-please-recommend-further-reference-books.71857/

 

[rocketeer]

As already said. Cowboys of the Sky, basically a catalogue of Avirex A2 and B3 style jackets. Some history but not much. the jackets featured a nearly all have back seams despite being painted and hand warmer pockets.
But as our friend HanauMan said some like them so no problems with that.
Hell Bent for Leather. probably the first book to touch on the history of A2s and G1 jackets with a slight smattering of other styles. Good book featuring authentic jackets.
Art of the Flight Jacket. 90% devoted to painted A2s with a little history. Other styles included but the emphasis is on A2s
American Flight Jackets Airman and Aircraft by the same authors of 'Art of the Flight Jacket'. The first I found of these authors books, probably a better read than 'Art' overall.
A2 flight jacket manual. For the obsessive collector only as this book dismantles the A2 into all its component parts. So if you really need to know what pocket flap went with which collar stand to what zip pull was used on what contract, then this is for you. Some history but best borrowed from a mate rather than bought. Don't get me wrong, Garry eastman has put a hell of a lot of work in this but its not a book for those that are really into pictures of bombers and crew and history. If a dozen photo's of epaulet shapes are your thing this is the one to get if you think your Perry Sportswear may be a Cable Raincoat.
Classy Chassis. Ian Logan. A very early book featuring nose art and painted jackets.

Most Bomb Group histories these days, and there are a lot of them, feature aircraft and jackets etc. other titles specialise in uniforms and flying kit with a few jacket shots thrown in for good measure.
PS don't forget the US Navy and Marine Corps, lots of good stuff to look out for there, oh yes, and Irvins but no specialist books yet to my knowledge.