Rare Pre War M-422 Jacket

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

See my latest and grandfather of the USN G-1 jackets. Of special interest to USN jacket enthusiasts like my self.

The jacket seen below is an original size 40 and made by Switlik Parachute And Equipment Co. Arguably the most rare USN jacket that was ever made. According to my research at the National Archives in Washington D.C. this jacket is one of 247. All delivered in three separate shipments directly to the USN at N.A.S Pensacola. Those shipments were all made during the first quarter of 1941.

Before I researched this Switlik M-422 jacket it was not a truly credible USN mil spec contract. More often than not this same USN jacket maker is omitted from the list of known USN flight jacket makers.

Most notably, this jacket was stitch using 100% silk, the goat hide is vegetable tanned and the overall design is full of unique features.

View attachment 247298

This last image is a WW-2 era pic that I found & have IDed as a Swtilik M-422.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Dave

 

[Deacon211]

Remarkable!

What a great find.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Looks so fresh, you'd swear it was a repop.

 

[Downunder G Man]

Lovely indeed...( BUT the war did start in 1939...) I get your drift , Pre "Pearl Harbor" of course !

 

[thor]

That is an amazing find @Maverickson! The SWITLIK M-422 is certainly the rarest of the M-422 jackets.
Do you have any details on the b/w photo that you posted? What aircraft is in the background and what squadron it is, or when the photo was taken? Just curious. The jacket in the pic definitely looks like it’s probably a Switlik.

 

[Maverickson]

Thor,

Yes, that jacket seen in that provided vintage pic is a dead ringer for my original Switlik M-422 jacket. It has the exact same unusual overall pocket shape and low pocket placement. You can even make out the fold created by the unique Switlik pencil pocket slot. That pencil slot's leather insert creates a tell tale crease because of it's extra bulk. Also noticeable in my provided period image.





Each of the three (W&G, Monarch & Switlik) M-422 makers had individualized pocket configurations. Moreover, no other WW-2 jacket maker but the Switlik had that same low placement. All leading me to believe that the jacket seen worn in that image has to be a Switlik.

In addition, the collar is also obviously larger size. By all indications, with the combination of the over sized larger collar being a M-422 specification and pocket configuration pretty much eliminates the possibility of that jacket seen in the vintage image of being anything other than a Switlik.

When I found that WW-2 image the caption read VPB-135. That pic is seen below. The patch seen on their jackets looks to be the VB-135 BLIND FOXES https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VP-5#/media/File:Vp135_01_09apr2002.jpg. With that particular version of their squadron patch was used from 1943 until 1945 or the end of the war.

That A/C looks to be a PV-1 VENTURA. Which checks out with the few visible A/C details, squadron patch & number of crewman. The VB-135 squadron history shows that that this particular squadron was newly commissioned & received that particular PV-1 A/C in early 1943 while at NAS Widbey Island. Thereafter much of late 1943 through 1945 was spent in Adak Alaska.

Marston mat (temporary perforated metal decking) is visible in that attachment. Telling me that this pic was probably not taken at NAS Widbey Island but in fact Adak.

Cheers, Dave

 

[jonbuilder]

How did you find such a rare jacket? I like to hear unless it's a trade secret

 

[Peacoat]

Wow! You knocked it out of the park on that one. I'm still drooling over it, and I imagine @thor is as well.

I, too, would like to know how you found it.

Congratulations.

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

This Switlik M-422 jacket was offered directly to me by another collector. Moreover, because he knew that I would take the time to restore the jacket and do it right. Which as you see, I did.

When I initially received this same jacket was a basket case. In doing, I completely dissembled the jacket into it's individual panels and restitched it in it's entirety. All previous repairs were corrected and then done as per original. Nothing was left undone.

To include researching it at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Which I did because previous to my findings and due to it's rarity most did not recognize Switlik Parachute and Equipment Co. as a credible USN flight jacket maker.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Peacoat]

Good that you have those skills. I would have slapped a dose of Pecard on it and called it a day. And that is a fine restoration job you did.

 

[jonbuilder]

Hi All,

This Switlik M-422 jacket was offered directly to me by another collector. Moreover, because he knew that I would take the time to restore the jacket and do it right. Which as you see, I did.

When I initially received this same jacket was a basket case. In doing, I completely dissembled the jacket into it's individual panels and restitched it in it's entirety. All previous repairs were corrected and then done as per original. Nothing was left undone.

To include researching it at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Which I did because previous to my findings and due to it's rarity most did not recognize Switlik Parachute and Equipment Co. as a credible USN flight jacket maker.

Cheers, Dave

Sir, you are a cornerstone to the vintage jacket collection and preservation

 

[Worf]

Great find... amazing detective work... Thanks!

Worf

 

[Brettafett]

Incredible acquisition and... Fantastic restoration!!!! Expect no less from you.

 

[galvestonokie]

great jacket, great back story, great work. way to go!

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Amazing jacket. Great find and restoration work.

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

Figure the odds! I have now proved beyond any doubt that the jacket seen in that VB-125 group pic was in fact a Switlik Parachute and Equipment Co M-422.



Albeit since the photo was taken (Adak or Attu between 1943 and 1945) the owner added the squadron patch and Winged ID patch. Unfortunately, the winged ID patch was subsequently removed by a family member. Note that the squadron patch is the exact same as seen attached on all the squadron members flight jackets with the group photo.

That VB-135 group pix was found by me some 5 years ago. Kept because this same jacket intrigued me. The entire time believing that this jacket may have in fact been one of those illusive Switilk M-422 jackets.

Given how few Switlik M-422 jackets (247) were issued just prior to WW-2 & how many USN flight jackets were issued during WW-2, it is an absolute miracle I found that vary same jacket.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Maverickson]

Thought to add the pair of my Switlik Parachute and Equipment Co. M-422 jackets.

As seen after adding the thought to have been missing button. Which was found in the front left pocket along with four syringes of morphine, two books of USN issue match books and a pencil. I left the pencil in the pocket.

It was told to me by the jacket owner's family that the original USN ID tag was removed from the jacket, added to the casket and buried along with him.

Cheers, Dave

 

[thor]

@Maverickson WOW!!!! Amazing find!

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

My same original size 38 Switlik M-422 jacket. As seen worn some where in the Aleutian Islands in 1944.

Note the bulge that left pocket. Maybe even carrying some of the same contents as received. These VB-135 squadron members did plenty of combat.

As compared to the pic I found all prior to receiving this same jacket & as seen below.

Obviously, taken soon after joining the squadron.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,
Today is my size 38 Switlik Parachute And Equipment M-422 jacket's. 80th birthday. Having been issued to the original owner (as seen in many of the previously posted period pix) on July 2, 1941. No doubt one of the 247 jackets, I found to have been delivered with my National Archives research, to NAS Pensacola. All done in 3 separate orders during the first quarter of 1941.

As seen with the original invoice dated July 2, 1941.

Cheers, Dave