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IRVIN NUTS?...the ULTIMATE thread for those who love 'em!

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Alan Eardley

One Too Many
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1,500
Location
Midlands, UK
A FAA 'Irvin' mystery...

aswatland said:
Only those Irvins issued to RAF Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm had yellow hoods. These were for visibility if the airman was in the sea. They fold back to form a bulky collar.

I have always assumed that the yellow hooded variety of Irvin was issued, as Andrew says, to Coastal Command and to the Fleet Air Arm - in other words, to crews who spent a lot of time flying over the sea and were therefor more likely to be in a survival situation and to need air-sea rescue.

Then sometime last year an ex-RAF friend introduced me to an 84 year old friend of his who had served in the Fleet Air Arm from 1942 until the end of WW2. He visited me and I was pleased to show him some of my WW2 memorabilia. He was particularly taken with my 'Irvin' jackets, saying that they were just like the ones he had worn as an observer/gunner on Walruses and Swordfish. I remarked that his jacket would have a had a yellow hood, but he said something to the effect that he had never seen one like that. At the time I assumed that his memory was at fault, although I noted that he was familar with the use of the collar erection strap, which is only found on jackets with a collar.

Anyway, I thought no more about it until I recently acquired a 1943 copy of 'Fleet Air Arm - the Admiralty Account of Naval Air Operations to Date'. (original Cost 1/6d - cost to me 15 GBP!) This official publication covers the operation of the FAA in all theatres of war from 1939 to the date of publication. As you would expect, lots of photographs of 'deckies' and pilots, many of whom are wearing 'Irvin' jackets. Now, one thing struck me. There are a few of these photographs in which I can't tell whether the jacket has a collar or a hood, but the majority (I counted more than 50) are clearly the 'normal' collared variety. So, what does this signify? Is it chance, were both versions issued to the FAA and it just happens that non feature in these photographs? Or was the hooded version only used by Coastal Command?

More research is needed, I feel.

Alan

Alan
 

aswatland

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,338
Location
Kent, England
Alan Eardley said:
I have always assumed that the yellow hooded variety of Irvin was issued, as Andrew says, to Coastal Command and to the Fleet Air Arm - in other words, to crews who spent a lot of time flying over the sea and were therefor more likely to be in a survival situation and to need air-sea rescue.

Then sometime last year an ex-RAF friend introduced me to an 84 year old friend of his who had served in the Fleet Air Arm from 1942 until the end of WW2. He visited me and I was pleased to show him some of my WW2 memorabilia. He was particularly taken with my 'Irvin' jackets, saying that they were just like the ones he had worn as an observer/gunner on Walruses and Swordfish. I remarked that his jacket would have a had a yellow hood, but he said something to the effect that he had never seen one like that. At the time I assumed that his memory was at fault, although I noted that he was familar with the use of the collar erection strap, which is only found on jackets with a collar.

Anyway, I thought no more about it until I recently acquired a 1943 copy of 'Fleet Air Arm - the Admiralty Account of Naval Air Operations to Date'. (original Cost 1/6d - cost to me 15 GBP!) This official publication covers the operation of the FAA in all theatres of war from 1939 to the date of publication. As you would expect, lots of photographs of 'deckies' and pilots, many of whom are wearing 'Irvin' jackets. Now, one thing struck me. There are a few of these photographs in which I can't tell whether the jacket has a collar or a hood, but the majority (I counted more than 50) are clearly the 'normal' collared variety. So, what does this signify? Is it chance, were both versions issued to the FAA and it just happens that non feature in these photographs? Or was the hooded version only used by Coastal Command?

More research is needed, I feel.

Alan

Alan

Alan this is facinating stuff. I too have seen pictures of chaps in the FAA with conventional Irvins, so perhaps the yellow hooded variety were exclusively issed to CC. As you say more research is needed here.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,060
Location
London, UK
There's one on the 'Bay at the minute (I'll not link as that would be clearly in breach of site rules). I'm curious to see what it goes for, as it seems to be that being rarer it would go for more.... though of course that's not always the case. If WPG did a repro of one of these (less the yellow), that would be very tempting - I'm still uhming and ahing about the idea of adding one of their Irvins to my wants list as I save towards my first proper A2...
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
WOOBLOODYHOO!!!!

My ELC 1940 Irvin has literally just arrived and it is simply beautiful. Sizing is perfect and I'm happier than a dog with two dongers with it!

I'll post some pics once the excitement's abated slightly and I can hold the camera steady!
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
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5,139
Location
Norway
Thanks Spitty! To say I'm mighty chuffed with it would be a huge understatement :)

Actually the wait in getting it was all my doing what with moving to Norway, setting up a home. ELC were very, very quick, exactly a week from my placing the order to their sending my finished jacket.

In fact if anybody's thinking of ordering an Irvin from ELC, now's the time to do it, Gary said that because it's summer and nobody's thinking of winter jackets they have no waiting time (apart from the jacket being made).

It's 20 degrees celsius here today so I'm nearly having kittens because it's too hot to wear the jacket. Roll on autumn and winter I say!
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
New 1940 ELC Irvin

OK here she is, my new ELC 1940 Pattern Irvin. Just some very quick snaps for now. I'll try and post some wearing it in the next day or so.

The fit really is perfect. I take a 40'' shirt and jacket and this Irvin is a 42'' size. I'm tallish (6'1'') and didn't want my jacket too short. Hence this has an extra 1.5'' on the sleeves and body. It's the perfect length and fit, coming down to probably a couple of inches past the bottom of the trouser belt, and big enough to wear a jumper under as well.

As I said the photos aren't brilliant, just quick ones to start with. Hope you like the pics.

Irvin1.jpg


Irvin2.jpg


Irvin3.jpg
 

Rufus

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
London
Beautiful jacket Smithy!

I bought an Irvin jacket from Aerocraft... sadly it was stolen in a burglary, and I've replace it with a B2...but hat eastman's got me thinking...

uh oh...


Enjoy! Roll on Winter!

Ruf
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Thanks chaps! I really can't wait for the cooler weather to come.

And to anyone thinking of using Eastman who haven't, they are fantastic and so helpful with questions and replying to emails. They really want you to get the right jacket. I can't recommend them enough.
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Thanks all, I'll get my fianc?©e to take some pics of me wearing it in the weekend.

She's rather keen on it as well ;)
 

pascalf

New in Town
Messages
29
Location
Belgium
congrats smitty.
I love mine as well can't wait for winter to come so i can wear it again.Waiting to get some pattern 39 boots to get back in.Let the winter come.
 

Alan Eardley

One Too Many
Messages
1,500
Location
Midlands, UK
aswatland said:
IMO the latest version is the most authentic repro Irvin available and at the most reasonable price too. As with all repro Irvins it is let down by the zips. It's a shame no one can reproduce Dot Zips. I guess the cost of making them is prohibitive.

Without comment from me, here are some photographs of the detail parts of the latest (AFAIK) WPG Irvin reproduction.
WPGZip.jpg

WPGBelt.jpg

WPGEyelets.jpg


As they say, the Devil is in the detail...

Alan
 

ALCOVA

New in Town
Messages
1
Location
Virginia
Smithy...I'll have to admit Im jealous. I've been admiring that jacket from eastman for sometime but there is one thing that has kept me from purchasing one. The current price for that jacket on the eastman site comes out to around $970.00 U.S. with the current exchange rate. However, since I live in the states it seems I need to purchase the jacket through Historypreservation.com where the jacket is $1485.00 U.S.!!! What gives with the mark up. Does anyone know why this is or if there is a way around paying that mark up for the jacket. Anyway....congrats on the jacket.....it is a thing of beauty...

thanks,
 

irvinsuit

Familiar Face
Messages
52
Location
Scotland
Irvin frustrations...

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and I thought that I'd add a posting to the forum regarding some observations and frustations with Irvin products. Firstly if you look at the various manufacturers you can get all manner of USAAF and USN leathers and shearlings including sheepskin flying trousers. You are absolutely spoilt for choice. When it comes to Irvins you can get 1940 and 1942 pattern jackets in short wool, possibly quarter inch, you can get "other" reproduction Irvins, and you can get so called Irvin trousers that look nothing like the real thing. So if you wanted that 1941 jacket with longer half inch or in some case three quarter inch wool then you've had it, same with any pattern of Hooded Irvin jacket, or late war multi-panelled Irvin or even a decent pair of matching Irvin trousers. I think that the current 1940 and 1942 Irvins on the market look good, however they look a little too perfect and I'd like to see some irregularities in the texture and length of the fur to give the really authentic look. I just wish that we had more choice with jacket patterns and also with trousers.

Thanks
 
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