Original A2s from my Collection

[aswatland]

Pictures of many of the A-2s in my collection are in various threads in this section. Like most collectors I have up-graded jackets, sold some and bought others over the years. The photos below are of my current collection. I have posted them together so people can compare them.

Aero W535ac21996 (1941) size 44 from the 528th Bomb Squadron, 5th AF

Russet undertones are wearing through the seal top coat.

Poughkeespie W535ac28560 (1942)size 44
The horse hide used by Poughkeepsie tended to be on the thin side, but varies considerably on each of the three jackets here.

Poughkeepsie size 44
This example has has more russet tints to the leather.

 

[aswatland]

Poughkeepsie size 44 from the 570th Bomb Group, 8th AF
Not a re-spray job, just made from a darker batch of horse hide.

Star Sportswear W535ac28557 (1942) size 44
This delightful jacket is in mint condition and has not been attacked by moths!

Perry Sportswear 42-16175-P (1942) size 44
Another mint example. Sadly the original spec label was removed by the vet and had it replaced with a GW copy.

 

[aswatland]

Spiewak 42-18776-P size 42
This is a near mint example. The goatskin is is supple and strong.

Rough Wear W535ac16159 size 44
This near mint example belonged to a captain in the CBI. I love the original patch, which is in superb condition.

Rough Wear 42-1401-P size 44

 

[aswatland]

Rough Wear W535ac27752 (1942) size 44

United Sheeplined 42-18777-P size 42
The leather on this Sheeplined A-2 is made of thick veg tanned, aniline dyed hh.

David D. Doniger 42-21539-P size 42 (1942)
The goatskin is in great shape, showing no rot or damage.

 

[aswatland]

No-name-David D Doniger W535ac29971 size 42 (1942)
This jacket is in excellent shape and the contract is one of the rarest of all A-2 contracts awarded in the war.

Dubow W535ac27798 size 44 (1942)

Monarch W535ac23378 size 44 (1941)

 

[Cooperson]

Fantastic collection of vintage A2s - just love the color and patina of the first jacket (Aero). Thanks for sharing.

 

[aswatland]

Cable W535ac23382 size 44 (1941)

Aero 42-18775-P

 

[aswatland]

Cooper ac-23381 size 40

Bronco AC 29191 size 44

 

[aswatland]

Cable Raincoat AC27753 from the 390thBS in size 44

 

[B-24J]

Thanks for posting Andrew! The Poughkeepsie size 44 from the 570th Bomb Group, 8th AF is amazing.

John

 

[too much coffee]

Hello Andrew;

You must have the most premier flying jacket collection on the planet.

Just fantastic. I always appreciate your pictures.

Regards,
coffee

 

[rocketeer]

Nice collection Andrew, I reckon If I had that many I would be wearing them all the time. Do you wear them outside? War & Peace show etc?
Hope to leave mine to my son when I'm 6 feet under. I just hope he has some interest in it, he's into what most young kids are at the moment, cars, beer, and girls!

 

[aswatland]

Thanks chaps. I wear them to air shows and to other events, but not on a daily basis.

 

[rocketeer]

Got any old pics of jackets you no longer own? I love looking at them too. I have never had more than 4 originals, and never photographed them all, when I find the few pics I have I will post them on here.
Had lots of sheepskins and a B15, a few G1s and a couple wartime versions M422A I think it was.
Cheers, John

 

[aswatland]

Got any old pics of jackets you no longer own? I love looking at them too. I have never had more than 4 originals, and never photographed them all, when I find the few pics I have I will post them on here.
Had lots of sheepskins and a B15, a few G1s and a couple wartime versions M422A I think it was.
Cheers, John

Most of my pics are in this section of the FL. I also collect Irvins and B-3s. The closed Irvin thread contains many pics of my Irvins and the current open original Irvin thread has the later ones.

 

[rocketeer]

Most of my pics are in this section of the FL. I also collect Irvins and B-3s. The closed Irvin thread contains many pics of my Irvins and the current open original Irvin thread has the later ones.

Thanks, I'm sure I will spend many happy hours looking for them. I have also had a few Irvins and B3s plus an M445A that was my fave sheep jacket.

 

[aming06]

It's amazing, very impressive

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Your Roughwear 27752 in seal brown is my favorite. Feel like I made the right decision ordering the Roughwear from GW.

 

[jpholla10]

aswatland,

Do you know anything about the patch on the no-name Doniger? I've seen that patch before in pics of my grandfather durin WWII. It's in a picture of him at flight school and I'd love to be able to identify it. Thanks for posting amazing pics of a truly superb collection.

 

[aswatland]

aswatland,

Do you know anything about the patch on the no-name Doniger? I've seen that patch before in pics of my grandfather durin WWII. It's in a picture of him at flight school and I'd love to be able to identify it. Thanks for posting amazing pics of a truly superb collection.

It's an ATC patch-Air Transport Command, rather than a specific unit patch.