ORIGINAL AERO A2 40-3785-P

[aswatland]

This is a really nice addition to my collection. This 1940 contract was a very small one compared to wartime contracts and I have only ever seen pictures of two others, one on JC's flight jacket CD and the other on the Aero Leather (Scotland) website. So when this one came up for sale recently I decided to have a shot at it and was surprised that it went for less than two GW repros!

It has features not found on wartime Aeros-the collar stand, nipple snaps (wartime ones have ring snaps) and the late '30s chunky Talon zip. It is remarkably similar to the 1939 Werber.

As you can see the jacket is a a size 44 and it's 100% original. It was originally russet but was re-sprayed seal brown during the war before being issued to E.J. Cichon who flew with the 2nd Combat Cargo Squadron in the CBI theatre. I love the embroidered patch.

I have fixed the 6" seam separation on the right sleeve by turning the sleeve inside out, unpicking the lining stitching (this was the final seam which was closed from the outside when the jacket was finished) and carefully machine stitching the leather seams together, before stitching up the lining. A few moth nips on the knits have been darned and the lining at the collar has been repaired.

Unfortunately you will have to wait for "wearing" pics as my son is away today, but it is a very comfortable fit. If you are going to Flying Legends next month I may well wear this beauty there! Here are the pics.

 

[aswatland]

 

[Fletch]

Fantastic...This is kind of the "gateway" WW2 A-2, isn't it, as the rivet zipper and topstitching over the knits are gone. They were gearing up for major production, but obviously not doing it quite yet.

Here is the pic of the modern day repro. As usual Aero adds an inch or more to each shoulder. Zipper details not easily visible, but I'll bet it's not a "stubby" pull.

 

[andy richards]

Beautiful jacket with lots of character! Thanks for the pictures.
Andy

 

[aswatland]

Thanks Fletch and Andy. It is certainly a gateway jacket and I love the characher of the leather with sections of pronounced grain and smoother sections.

 

[Silver Dollar]

Hey Andrew, you have a real beauty there. The graining is first rate. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[blethook]

Great find, Andrew!
I don't know how much you paid, but Aero (of Scotland) is selling their original for over £1600, and the condition of your jacket is MUCH better than theirs

 

[Fletch]

Just noticed the odd stitching on the epaulets...then realized it was where his lieutenant's bars had been sewn on!

 

[aswatland]

Great find, Andrew!
I don't know how much you paid, but Aero (of Scotland) is selling their original for over £1600, and the condition of your jacket is MUCH better than theirs

I know and its been up for sale for several years. Mine cost alot less than theirs and as you say is in better condition.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Just noticed the odd stitching on the epaulets...then realized it was where his lieutenant's bars had been sewn on!

I thought all military handsewed their own rank and patches.
It looks machinesewn.

I remember my own service in the navy and had to sew on my korpral
rank and the officers inspected the next day and if they found a
hole to get their fingers in they ripped the patch off and you had to
redo it. Luckily I am a very thourough person lol

 

[aswatland]

Most of the rank insignia I have seen on A2 jackets has been machine sewn on. So there must have been access to a sewing machine and an operative on or near USAAF air bases. It is likely that there were service men skilled at sewing just as there were ones skilled at painting patches in most outfits.

 

[Blueworm]

In the USN/USMC the flight equipment personnel (parachute riggers) are responsible for the maintenance of all flight equipment: parachutes, survival vests, helmets, flight suits and jackets. The flight equipment shop has a sewing machine for all repairs and for modification of items. They also have a machine for making the gold embossed name tags and sewing on the velcro.
I am sure it was the same in WWII.
Marines don't sew anything, uniforms are taken to the base tailor for sewing on of chevrons, blood stripes, hash marks etc...

 

[Fletch]

Marines don't sew anything

They did in WW2. Of course they wore their hair long, too. Old Corps? [huh]

 

[aswatland]

Thanks Blueworm. I do remember reading that this was the case in the War.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Fantastic A2, Andrew!!


- Ian

 

[aswatland]

More pictures

Here are some photos of the jacket being worn. It is a very comfortable jacket to wear.