Fletch
I'll Lock Up
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- Iowa - The Land That Stuff Forgot
Some things you don't dare wish for. Well, I'm going to wish away.
The above photos, all taken at Muroc Gunnery Camp (now part of Edwards AFB) circa 1934, show Army pilots wearing the original government contract Type A-2 jacket: the 1932 Security Sportswear "Aviation Togs" order no. 32-485. (One Type A-1 is shown at center in the pic just above, as well as one example of the second known A-2 contract, no. 33-1729, by Werber Leather Coat, at right.)
Most remarkable is the easy, but elegant fit of this jacket - indeed, until seeing these pix, one might hardly imagine an A-2 could fit this way. It had plenty of room in both the body and sleeves, yet was square-shouldered and did not give a sloppy appearance. Not the "wartime authentic" ultra-trim cut made for wiry teenagers in an era of shortages, it is also not the droop-shouldered "mall fit" expected in today's outerwear. Compared with its Werber successor, the Security looks longer and fuller thru the waist - enough to allow a jaunty bloused look or pull down a bit for a skosh' of extra protection.
The deep but nicely-pointed collar also lent itself to a variety of shapings - folded flat, rolled dress shirt style, even tightly rolled-out at the neckband in a kind of uniformity with the still-worn Type A-1. The riveted-in zipper and button-flap pockets make the Security still more distinctive. Other early A-2s had rivet zippers, but 32-485 is the only such jacket without snap-flaps.
Evident on some of these airmen is an apparent production goof that led to the left pocket riding 1/2" to 1" higher than the right...or was it done on purpose? Perhaps by a base rigger or tailor to accommodate some special piece of gear?
Somewhere or another, surely in the mysterious far east, there must be one of these babies still extant, jealously guarded, perhaps considered too precious and rare to copy...or maybe it will just be a matter of time. [huh]
The above photos, all taken at Muroc Gunnery Camp (now part of Edwards AFB) circa 1934, show Army pilots wearing the original government contract Type A-2 jacket: the 1932 Security Sportswear "Aviation Togs" order no. 32-485. (One Type A-1 is shown at center in the pic just above, as well as one example of the second known A-2 contract, no. 33-1729, by Werber Leather Coat, at right.)
Most remarkable is the easy, but elegant fit of this jacket - indeed, until seeing these pix, one might hardly imagine an A-2 could fit this way. It had plenty of room in both the body and sleeves, yet was square-shouldered and did not give a sloppy appearance. Not the "wartime authentic" ultra-trim cut made for wiry teenagers in an era of shortages, it is also not the droop-shouldered "mall fit" expected in today's outerwear. Compared with its Werber successor, the Security looks longer and fuller thru the waist - enough to allow a jaunty bloused look or pull down a bit for a skosh' of extra protection.
The deep but nicely-pointed collar also lent itself to a variety of shapings - folded flat, rolled dress shirt style, even tightly rolled-out at the neckband in a kind of uniformity with the still-worn Type A-1. The riveted-in zipper and button-flap pockets make the Security still more distinctive. Other early A-2s had rivet zippers, but 32-485 is the only such jacket without snap-flaps.
Evident on some of these airmen is an apparent production goof that led to the left pocket riding 1/2" to 1" higher than the right...or was it done on purpose? Perhaps by a base rigger or tailor to accommodate some special piece of gear?
Somewhere or another, surely in the mysterious far east, there must be one of these babies still extant, jealously guarded, perhaps considered too precious and rare to copy...or maybe it will just be a matter of time. [huh]
