Navy WEP Jacket: Your Thoughts & Experiences

[Stearmen]

Deacon, so what was the jacket of choice for your generation?
BTW, that era that you speak of just holds so much romance for me, I think it's for the same reason that WWII pilots capture my imagination- the idea that you could be living a relatively civilized life except for the part where you have to fly over enemy territory.
It must have been a psychological jolt for some.

You must be thinking of the early days of Korea, where USAF crews lived in Japan with their families then went to war 9:00 to 5:00, as they joked. Except for the few WWII crews in England and later Italy, most were either stationed on some God forsaken island in the pacific, or unbearable desert, and even some frozen waist land up North or on some pitching deck of an aircraft carrier!

 

[Stearmen]

For sure.

When the next gen of fighters are all UAVs, who are my grandchildren going to have as heroes?

 

[Big J]

That's very good!

 

[Big J]

You must be thinking of the early days of Korea, where USAF crews lived in Japan with their families then went to war 9:00 to 5:00, as they joked. Except for the few WWII crews in England and later Italy, most were either stationed on some God forsaken island in the pacific, or unbearable desert, and even some frozen waist land up North or on some pitching deck of an aircraft carrier!

Yeah, for sure. Go up when the weather's good, then back in time for dinner at a swanky restaurant and a show with a dame.

 

[Deacon211]

Deacon, thank you for your answer. It's very interesting to me that regulations about wearing flight jackets seemed fairly flexible.
Hand made patches are really interesting to me. Some times I can find Vietnam era ones made here in Japan.

Hey Big J, if you ever find yourself down in Okinawa, Tiger Embroidery out the gate at Kadena is like a patch lover's Nirvana.

Walls and walls of patches from every service.

Of course, Osan AB in Korea also has its share of beautiful handmade patches.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Big J]

Thank you Deacon, those are hot tips!
I'd love to get down to Okinawa this year.

 

[bn1966]

WEP arrived today....lovely jacket! These are indeed VERY short fitting folks! Chest shoulders and sleeves are perfect, length on this 48 Reg '72...some more would be nice! Definitely a comfortable garment & due to the fact I like a short fit it should be OK as long as I wear it open ;-)

 

[galvestonokie]

Hi all:

was a bit shocked this morning to begin reading this thread and find a 1969 photo of myself. page 1, about 4th post. i was a 22 year old USMC Corporal, pic taken at MCAF Futenma, Okinawa. at this time, was about 3 weeks out of Viet Nam and happy to have returned to civilization.

before discovering my photo, i was going to say that flight jackets were very hard to come by for enlisted flight crew in MAG-39, Quang Tri Combat Base. we were at the end of the supply chain and many things hard to get, including 2.75 rockets occasionally. always ****** me off majorly to go to DaNang or some other rear area and see all the supply/paraloft guys not on flight status wearing flight jackets. Whatever! Story is during the first 5 or 6 months of combat flying, i wore a (M-65 ??) field jacket that was bulky and got in the way scrambling around in the rear of a UH-1E gunship. Traded something for a WEP, whiskey??/AK-47??, and was thrilled. we actually preferred the WEPs as they were warmer than G-1s. The WEP in this thread is the one i wore the last few months in country, and i have no idea what happened to it. in spite of what (former member) Skeeter opined, it did get cold in Vietnam, especially far North in rainy weather with the doors off at 120 kts. we were not far from China's Hainan Island.

anyway, this post brought a smile. i now have a couple of WEPs, wear them occasionally when home in Houston. like someone said, comfortable as a pajama top, warm, and unique. wife doesn't appreciate JP-4, hydraulic fluid or grease in the closet, so these are mostly clean.

i'm just sayin...

 

[Doctor Damage]

Hi all:

was a bit shocked this morning to begin reading this thread and find a 1969 photo of myself. page 1, about 4th post. i was a 22 year old USMC Corporal, pic taken at MCAF Futenma, Okinawa. at this time, was about 3 weeks out of Viet Nam and happy to have returned to civilization.

before discovering my photo, i was going to say that flight jackets were very hard to come by for enlisted flight crew in MAG-39, Quang Tri Combat Base. we were at the end of the supply chain and many things hard to get, including 2.75 rockets occasionally. always ****** me off majorly to go to DaNang or some other rear area and see all the supply/paraloft guys not on flight status wearing flight jackets. Whatever! Story is during the first 5 or 6 months of combat flying, i wore a (M-65 ??) field jacket that was bulky and got in the way scrambling around in the rear of a UH-1E gunship. Traded something for a WEP, whiskey??/AK-47??, and was thrilled. we actually preferred the WEPs as they were warmer than G-1s. The WEP in this thread is the one i wore the last few months in country, and i have no idea what happened to it. in spite of what (former member) Skeeter opined, it did get cold in Vietnam, especially far North in rainy weather with the doors off at 120 kts. we were not far from China's Hainan Island.

anyway, this post brought a smile. i now have a couple of WEPs, wear them occasionally when home in Houston. like someone said, comfortable as a pajama top, warm, and unique. wife doesn't appreciate JP-4, hydraulic fluid or grease in the closet, so these are mostly clean.

i'm just sayin...

Welcome, and thank you very much for the valuable background info!

 

[bn1966]

Welcome, and thank you very much for the valuable background info!

+1

 

[bn1966]

Got a period 'Snoopy' Patch coming:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361240736393

That I'll get sewn on above the sleeve pocket

 

[Doctor Damage]

The astronaut on the right appears to be wearing a WEP jacket. This shows the overlapped cloth on the trailing seam of the sleeves, to shape them. I like the cloth elastic waistbands on these jackets; it's a bit tougher than real knits and easily washable.

 

[CBI]

Ordered a Gibson and Barnes WEP, waited 4 months, arrived today, nice jacket, ordered suggested size, WAAAAAAAAAY TOO big - large Long for a 44 Reg. Huge arm holes and sleeves. Size down future buyers but I think it may be a cut that's too big in the arms/chest. I returned mine, G&B were great about the return so kudos to them. No further WEP's for me (after many attempts with originals). I will enjoy watching others wear them!!!

 

[Big J]

Ordered a Gibson and Barnes WEP, waited 4 months, arrived today, nice jacket, ordered suggested size, WAAAAAAAAAY TOO big - large Long for a 44 Reg. Huge arm holes and sleeves. Size down future buyers but I think it may be a cut that's too big in the arms/chest. I returned mine, G&B were great about the return so kudos to them. No further WEP's for me (after many attempts with originals). I will enjoy watching others wear them!!!

I've said it before, but I'll say it again; last year I considered a G&B 'Navy G-1', but the dimensions were 10 inches wider in the body than the real issue size. They confirmed by mail that they cut jackets for 'modern tastes' (I asked them if this meant 'fat slobs', and told them that it was less than honest to market it as a Navy G-1).

 

[Sloan1874]

That'll be a vintage style with a modern fit, then? lol But seriously, screwing around with proportions on a jacket to that extent turns it into big blousey shapeless thing that completely kills the look.

 

[Otter]

My thoughts are well known on manufacturers taking liberties with specification sizes : it isn't Authentic.

 

[Big J]

That'll be a vintage style with a modern fit, then? lol But seriously, screwing around with proportions on a jacket to that extent turns it into big blousey shapeless thing that completely kills the look.

Yeah, absolutely.
And I agree with Otter; what annoyed me the most was that after corresponding with them by e-mail, was that their 'Navy G-1' wasn't anything like a navy G-1, so why not put on the bloody item description that 'this jacket is cut way much blousier than real Navy G-1's, because so many of our customers complained when they couldn't squeeze their fat guts into jackets labelled by chest size'?

In fact suggestion to #Gibson&Barnes STOP sizing jackets by chest size, just size them by gut width!

 

[nick123]

Here is an older G&B G-1, size 40 (didn't size down). Honestly not a great cut but I still wear it. The thing with this one, is the measurements aren't oversized. 22.5 p2p I think. That's about a standard 40. However, the jacket is just cut in such a way that it's a blousier fit, not really reminiscent of a true G-1, which can't really be avoided. Sizing down does help, especially with their Civil A-2s. Those ones measure bigger than the Navy G-1 if I recall right. Also, a few of us think they updated their patterns to an even more modern fit in the last couple of years. So I'd be looking used on ebay for an older one.

Again, I happily wear this one, so leave me alone. lol lol

 

[Big J]

Here is an older G&B G-1, size 40 (didn't size down). Honestly not a great cut but I still wear it. The thing with this one, is the measurements aren't oversized. 22.5 p2p I think. That's about a standard 40. However, the jacket is just cut in such a way that it's a blousier fit, not really reminiscent of a true G-1, which can't really be avoided. Sizing down does help, especially with their Civil A-2s. Those ones measure bigger than the Navy G-1 if I recall right. Also, a few of us think they updated their patterns to an even more modern fit in the last couple of years. So I'd be looking used on ebay for an older one.

Again, I happily wear this one, so leave me alone. lol lol
View attachment 32856

That looks fine to me.

 

[nick123]

Thanks. It's honestly big and long all over but I got it at a fair price and there's no doubt it's a good jacket. Even at full price, comparing it to more expensive brands, you're getting a jacket made from good goatskin and great construction. If they would de-modernize their fit G&B would be exceptional. A true bargain still.