A-2 Jacket patching question

[BellyTank]

The presence of the fly snap at the bottom would indicate this is not an original A2, but a repro.

In itself, it only indicates that the jacket is not a govt. spec A-2.
It need not be a repro, for all we know, it is a wartime, very-close-to-A-2 style jacket.

It can be an original, WW2 used flight jacket AND not be an A-2.

The knit elements are not original A-2 type, the shoulders appear very wide and the pockets, large.
It does not look like an "original A-2", to my eye.


B
T

 

[aswatland]

It's certainly not a USAAF issued A2 and it is not a repro. IMO its a private purchase jacket dating from the War. These are quite common, especially after 1943 when the A2 began to be phased out and many aircrew bought A2 style jackets themselves.

 

[BellyTank]

Sounds like you agree-

B
T

 

[Stearmen]

Snap

When I was flying air shows in the 90s, I had a WWII P-40 pilot come up wearing his original A2. I commented on the snap on the bottom, he said all of them had it added because they were snagging their jackets on the wind screen when getting into the cockpit! I have heard the story since from other WWII pilots. I am not sure if the one in your photo is original, but there seems to be some with snaps at the bottom.

 

[John Warr]

Snap &c

Thanks for the info.

The jacket does not actually belong to me - I am just stuck with it because the owner hasn't collected it since we replaced the zip for him

However he was pretty convinced of its authenticity and seems to be something of a collector - its not by any means the first garment he has brought to us.

I will take a run over to The Woodman at Nuthampstead and have a closer look at the 398th bomber group A2 that is on display there. You can't get too much information. I will take a look at vintageleatherjackets a bit later today as well.

TTFN

 

[SIGGY]

A-2 jacket

Thanks for the info.

The jacket does not actually belong to me - I am just stuck with it because the owner hasn't collected it since we replaced the zip for him

However he was pretty convinced of its authenticity and seems to be something of a collector - its not by any means the first garment he has brought to us.

I will take a run over to The Woodman at Nuthampstead and have a closer look at the 398th bomber group A2 that is on display there. You can't get too much information. I will take a look at vintageleatherjackets a bit later today as well.

TTFN

Hey John, per chance you didn't know what the Squadron patch is on the jacket , it is the 358th Fighter Squadron of the 355th Fighter Group/8th AAF ,you might want to look up thier webpage and see if you can post it there, they may know of the owner etc of it .
Johnny

 

[B-24J]

A-2 Jacket Patches

Some patches removed from my Dad's A-2. They are all painted leather. The first are patches from the front and shoulders and the second photo is from the back.

John

 

[Sgt Brown]

FWIW, the USAAF Illustrated Catalog, Class13 lists "Patch, Leather, Organizational Insignia", which is a five inch diameter blank piece of leather onto which your unit insignia should be painted and then affixed to your leather jacket.

The catalog also lists leather officer's rank insignia to be sewn to leather jackets.

Personally, I have seen the AAF emblem painted onto a small leather disk then sewn to the left shoulder of the A-2 rather than using a decal. As far as unit emblems, I have seen direct painting, painted disks like above and embroidered patches like the kind often done for high school athletic letters and emblems. (I think they call that chenille.)

Tom

 

[B-24J]

A-2 Patches

Thanks Tom,

The two Group patches at the top of my first photo are both 5 and one half inches. The design painted on the 98th BG (H), left, is about 4 and one half inches and the 484th BG (H) on the right has the painted design at 5 inches.

John

 

[SIGGY]

One quick note if you decide to have the "Memphis Belle" title painted on your jacket , note that the "original" "Belle" had the wording in a "Block" style print , not the cursive as seen on the jackets posted, I think they got this idea from the movie "Belle", but for "accuracy" you need to go Block lettering .
Johnny

 

[majormajor]

Here's a pic of one of the jackets I have painted. This is an old Eastman I bought around 25 years ago. Rather than paint, I use coloured leather dye, which enables me to get a really durable finish that can be quite authentically "aged" to give a time-worn appearance.

And here is the plane it was done in homage to. "Spirit Of 44" was with 91st BG in Bassingborne UK

Here's a closeup of the artwork:

And here's the 8th AAF roundel on the sleeve:

 

[kampkatz]

Thanks for posting the pics, Major. Very impressive artwork. Also, welcome to the forum!

 

[majormajor]

Thanks for posting the pics, Major. Very impressive artwork. Also, welcome to the forum!

Thanks kampkatz. I'm sure I'll enjoy it here

 

[Silver Dollar]

Major, you did a great job with those leather dyes. That's a beautiful weathering job also.

When you put the patches on the front, the customary positioning is the squadron patch goes on the left under the name tag and wings (if used) and the group patch would go on the right side. Also, depending on the theater of operation and the particular group, there were a number of variations to the rules.

BTW, never use a movie jacket for a reference. They're usually wrong (except Hanover Street and Twelve O'clock High.

 

[majormajor]

Major, you did a great job with those leather dyes. That's a beautiful weathering job also.

When you put the patches on the front, the customary positioning is the squadron patch goes on the left under the name tag and wings (if used) and the group patch would go on the right side. Also, depending on the theater of operation and the particular group, there were a number of variations to the rules.

Glad you liked it Silver Dollar. I did have a painted squadron patch and name tag on the left front, but unfortunately never photographed them before I sold the jacket!

 

[Bingo]

That's correct. Squadron patch on left. Bomb group patch on right.
If you are going to make a 'Memphis Belle', A2 have a look at the documentary made on their 25th mission.
See what patches they have on and copy those. If you need reference for the girl art work, it was taken from a painting by an artist called George petty. My new A2 will have one of his 'girls' on as well.

 

[Edward Reed]

reviving an old thread... while most A-2 didn't have any roundels and, as stated here, some refurbished/re-dye A-2's got the water slide decal, some as noted in previous posts, did have patches sewn. It was not very common but here is another example. this photo taken feb 11 1944 after missions on Frankfurt targets. looks like an embroidered felt or perhaps a silkscreened rubberized canvas patch.