Flag on flight jacket---anyone clear this up for me?

[Stand By]

I think the flags with the field facing forward on the right sleeve is a relatively new thing. The old thinking was, the canton should be to the left as viewed by any one looking at it. So forward on the left sleeve backwards on the right.

You are quite correct:
http://www.usflag.org/flagpatch.html

 

[Stearmen]

In the book American Flight Jackets, Airman & aircraft..there are several photos of the leather flag sleeve patch on WW2 A2s. All are on the right upper sleeve facing forward as JumpBoot's jacket. I did find a pic in that book of a '60s G1 with flag on the left sleeve facing to the rear.
HD

By forward, do you mean, with the stripes at the front and the canton in the back like the photos you posted? To me, facing forward, means the canton is in the front, right on the right sleeve, left on the left sleeve. Thanks!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

By forward, do you mean, with the stripes at the front and the canton in the back like the photos you posted? To me, facing forward, means the canton is in the front, right on the right sleeve, left on the left sleeve. Thanks!

I meant just as the examples in the photos I've posted. Stars on my left, stripes on my right when facing the flag patch, thus the flag (on the right sleeve) would be in a forward direction. Yet on the left sleeve it would be facing toward the rear, or opposite direction, although stars would still be on my left, stripes on my right when facing the patch. However, the flag upper sleeve patch seemed much more common on the wearer's right sleeve of WW2 A2s. During the '60s the flag sleeve patch appeared on the left sleeve more commonly on G1s.
HD

 

[pilot error]

I wore that patch on the right shoulder of my Nomex flight suit in Nam


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JumpBoot]

Pilot Error:

That's outstanding, sir. What did you fly, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Stearmen]

I meant just as the examples in the photos I've posted. Stars on my left, stripes on my right when facing the flag patch, thus the flag (on the right sleeve) would be in a forward direction. Yet on the left sleeve it would be facing toward the rear, or opposite direction, although stars would still be on my left, stripes on my right when facing the patch. However, the flag upper sleeve patch seemed much more common on the wearer's right sleeve of WW2 A2s. During the '60s the flag sleeve patch appeared on the left sleeve more commonly on G1s.
HD

Thanks, we were on the same page then!

 

[JumpBoot]

The jacket arrived today, and I absolutely love it. Though the collar stand takes some getting used to, since it's my first experience with one. For some reason, and maybe it's the cut of the jacket, it makes me look a bit oddly shaped when it's zipped. My stomach is pretty flat, but it looks less so when the jacket is closed.

 

[rknight]

Great looking jacket! I think it's the cut of the jacket. From what I can tell it seems that you have a build pretty similar to mine, broader shoulders and upper torso compared to lower torso. I have the same problem with most A-2 jackets and don't tend to wear them because of it.

Off the top of my head, I think I've seem more 15th AAF jackets with American flag patches than any other type. Maybe it was a local, Italian campaign thing?

 

[Phantomfixer]

agreed on the 15th using the flag....maybe flying over Yugoslavia??? Downed flyers wanted to be sure to be known as US

 

[JumpBoot]

Thanks, Rknight! I notice that the collar stand takes some getting used to, and I'm unsure as to whether or not I'm a fan of it. I'm not sure about the Italian campaign, but it makes sense. I've heard that before, but it merits some looking into.

 

[rknight]

Here's a photo of a 15th AAF jacket with a painted flag in an unusual location. Yeah, a lot of people don't like the collar stands. My Aero 16160 has a collar stand and I'm used to it now. The ones with collar stands really emphasize how much the A-2 pattern is as much like a leather shirt as it is a jacket.

 

[rknight]

Do you know what pattern your jacket is? Most of the later patterns did not have the collar stand.

 

[JumpBoot]

Rknight,

I like the one in the photo, that's a nice looking jacket. Mine is a Rough Wear 1401-p. I hadn't thought about it that way, but you're right. The collar stand does make it more shirt-like.

 

[Stand By]

The jacket arrived today, and I absolutely love it. Though the collar stand takes some getting used to, since it's my first experience with one. For some reason, and maybe it's the cut of the jacket, it makes me look a bit oddly shaped when it's zipped. My stomach is pretty flat, but it looks less so when the jacket is closed.
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I love the jacket, man. I think you nailed the insignia and it really adds to it - and as for the fit, it looks perfect to me. If anything, I think it just looks new - and will look better when it wears in and develops more drape and conforms to your body and movement - and the collar settles. The insignia will darken too and blend right in. Ahh, the jacket just reeks of potential! Just wear it as often as you can and enjoy the heck out of it! Nice one!