I didn't get to have a fit of this one before I bought it. But with my Aero B-6 at a 38, I was easily able to figure out which size I needed for the D-1. I wanted something a little looser than my B-6. As mr_lits said, the B-6 has a slimmer fit and he's right. Definitely more form fitting to my body. The D-1 lets me wear another layer or two under it without problem (although I doubt I'll ever need to).
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My Aero D-1
- Thread starter powersci
- Start date
Sees more action the my Irvin!
Beautiful jacket!
I thought the B-6 was specifically designed for P-38 pilots as sitting between the engines vice on top of them as in the Mustang and T-bolt made for a very chilly flight. Think I read that in some version of ELC's materials.
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I thought the B-6 was specifically designed for P-38 pilots as sitting between the engines vice on top of them as in the Mustang and T-bolt made for a very chilly flight. Think I read that in some version of ELC's materials.
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Robin Olds was a P-38 pilot. Mmmm, I could do a tribute repro with his sqn/grp patch....
I wonder if B-6s were patched and painted as the A-2s. That would be a cool looking jacket!
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Well, here's Robin when he was flying P-51's. He's standing on the wing root. What's he wearing? B-6? D-1?
Nice pic!
My totally uninformed opinion is that it is a B-6. The collar looks too white to be an A-2 and it looks like he has his hand in his pocket. That could make it either a B-6 or a D-1 but my impression is that it's a lot easier to get your hand that low in a B-6 pocket than a D-1 one.
Complete speculation of course.
Wonder if he had anything on the back.
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My totally uninformed opinion is that it is a B-6. The collar looks too white to be an A-2 and it looks like he has his hand in his pocket. That could make it either a B-6 or a D-1 but my impression is that it's a lot easier to get your hand that low in a B-6 pocket than a D-1 one.
Complete speculation of course.
Wonder if he had anything on the back.
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I know! It's hard to make out exactly what jacket that is since the photo isn't so focused.
But whatever jacket it was, the USAAF was throwing jackets at him! He had an A-2 and a B-10 as well.
He was flying both types in the 479th FG, 434th FS.
Here's the unit emblem for the 434th FS;
Now I remember back when I ordered my first Aero A-2 (before all the WL trouble), Aero had something like 50 pages of group and squadron patches. I guess all those pages had to come down because WL took a lot of it home, and the police returned it to Aero all mixed up in big evidence bags, but I reckon if they had a picture and a unit number (and enough time), they've probably got one and could find it.
The Devil motif is something that Robin used on his Vietnam F-4;
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cloudylemonade
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Original decorated D-1s and B-6s did/do exist, here’s a great example of a D-1...
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/uniforms/d1-flight-jacket-238445/
Barabus, I tried the ANJ-4 from Aero but didn't keep it. A few things:
1. The fit is much closer than with the D-1. Perhaps it's because my D-1 came with softer backing that the ANJ-4. The ANJ-4 felt stiff.
2. The collar on the ANJ-4 is huge compared to the D-1; not my style.
3. The shearling length seemed the same (from what I recall).
I prefer my D-1. It's the perfect fit/cut for what I ordered and it's extremely comfortable.
There are a few good posts on here about ANJ-4s. Check them out.
1. The fit is much closer than with the D-1. Perhaps it's because my D-1 came with softer backing that the ANJ-4. The ANJ-4 felt stiff.
2. The collar on the ANJ-4 is huge compared to the D-1; not my style.
3. The shearling length seemed the same (from what I recall).
I prefer my D-1. It's the perfect fit/cut for what I ordered and it's extremely comfortable.
There are a few good posts on here about ANJ-4s. Check them out.
I posted a fit pic of my d-1 in the thread. I also have a fit pic of my B-6. Keep in mind my B-6 is one size smaller (38).
mr_lits
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I wonder if B-6s were patched and painted as the A-2s. That would be a cool looking jacket!
Here is a D1 from my collection that is painted. I think it is one of the coolest sheepskins I own and is still sturdy enough to take out on a winter walk once or twice a year. The squadron patch is from the 615TH Bomb Sqdn 401 BG. The bombs on the back have the missions listed but are very faded with time.
Yes you did! Thank you for the links! I can't remember, why did you order a B-6 one size down? They both look like they fit really well. I'm kind of surprised because I always imagined that the B-6 wads a trim design, but that the D-1 was more 'boxy'. But you'd say that the B-6 is looser than a D-1 in the same size (if both are from Aero)?
Thanks. Appreciate the advice. Hope to get something as nice as your D1. Cheers.
