ALL ORIGINAL Irvin RAF type Jackets - Loving that Wolf in sheeps' clothing!

[blacklagoon]

More canadian pilots wearing irvin flying jackets

 

[blacklagoon]

More canadian pilots wearing irvin flying jackets

 

[blacklagoon]

More irvin flying jackets from WW2

 

[blacklagoon]

Three pictures of of people wearing irvin coastal command flying jackets

The picture below is of a lancaster bomber crew.One of the crew in the back row,is wearing an irvin coastal command jacket.

The picture below,is of a mosquito crew.One of the crew,a navigator, is wearing an irvin coastal command jacket

 

[blacklagoon]

Impressive jacket and impressive collection of pictures.
Thank you for sharing:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

My pleasure Soren.Thank you for the extremely kind compliment.
Here are three more photos.the first is of raf pilots pushing a spitfire wearing irvin flying jackets.

WAAF nurses were issued yellow hooded irvin jackets,by coastal command.


This photograph is of a Deck Landing Control Officer in the Naval Air Arm,formally,the Fleet Air Arm,wearing a coastal command irvin jacket.

 

[Windsock]

Nice picture BL, but it appears these Ladies are actually wearing sidcots with detachable fur collars.

This second photograph,is of WAAF pilots wearing their irvin flying jackets

 

[blacklagoon]

Thank you for pointing it out Andrew.A blatant mistake on my side.I'll quickly remove it.Luckily,it will still remain in your quote,so people can see how easy mistakes are made. :eusa_doh:

 

[Windsock]

This isn't meant to start a debate so please don't, it's just a bit of fun with a few props.

I recently rediscovered this shot in my photobucket account. The story behind it is last year I was asked to look after a friend's dog for the week. I couldn't resist enlisting her natural talents for a sitting. She actually seemed to enjoy the process but then Labs love lying around.

I've never seen a shot of Gibson with an Irvin so it's pure fantasy and as this shot includes dog so it's obviously taken much earlier .

 

[PADDY]

DGL in the snow (pics)

DGL out in the snow (taken this morning).

 

[aswatland]

Great weather to wear your Irvin Paddy. I thought you would be wearing the Irvin trousers as well!

 

[aswatland]

Bob came over this afternoon with his Irvin. Sadly its not an original, but does have a pair of Flash Fastener sleeve zips and possibly an original label, but it is somewhat feint. The measurements given equate to a size 7. I would guess the jacket is 25-30 years old and whoever made it has done a good job as the photos show. Now all it needs is an original main zip, eyelets for the elastic strap and a waist belt. The finish of the reversed sheepskin is very similar to originals. I wonder who made it?

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Oh well, its still a great old jacket!

I too once bought a jacket that turned out to be something other than the seller had led me to believe.

Hope this has not dampened your enthusiasm to find an original.

James

 

[KilroyCD]

Sorry to hear it didn't turn out to be an original. Pretty much the same thing happened to me some years ago, and you can see photos of mine in this thread: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=37166

 

[Edward]

An impressive repro, though! Great looking jacket, and from the sound of things, it came at a price which was fair for what it is anyhow, so no loss there, unless you wouldn't have bought it but for the belief that it was an original, I suppose.

Mainly aimed at Andrew and Paddy: it does occur to me that while this was probably a genuine mistake, there are folks out there unscrupulous enough to pass off a quality repro as original. Would it be useful to have a Irvin thread dedicated to how to spot a counterfeit? (I suppose this could be done for A2s, B3s and the rest too..... or one big thread covering all)? Just a thought, and I may be suggesting something that is unrealistic?

 

[ethanedwards]

If you like the jacket, hopefully it doesn't really matter too much if it's 20
years old or 70 years old. I don't think jackets this size appear very often anyway, you did well to find it.

Imagine the task collectors will have in another 50 years, all those ELC Irvins with retro-fitted NOS Dots and Lightnings, Goodwear A2's that are practically indistinguishable now.................

 

[bobbyball]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I am late in responding. I was out at meetings all day yesterday.

Yes, I am a little dissappointed but not overly so. I don’t really know a great deal about Irvins but liked the look and feel of the jacket when I saw it. I did wonder at the finish and condition but for £200 I thought it was a good buy.

Andrew, with his wealth of knowledge and expertise, knew straight away but agreed that whoever made it did a pretty good job. I am going to keep it as now I have no worries about wearing it.

I am not angry about the seller – he was probably taken in a bit as I was but as is always the case – buyer beware. I am glad Andrew has solved the mystery as if I ever sold it I would not want to continue the myth of it being original.

 

[aswatland]

LATE WAR IRVIN IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION

Finding a late War Irvin in extremely good condition is very hard these days, so when this one came up for sale some weeks back I jumped at it. Everything is original apart from the main zip, which was a 1950s replacement with black tape, so I replaced it with the correct Lightning. There is no wear to the fleece at the hem or ends of the cuffs, just a little wear at the top of the windflap. The jacket is a size 5 and fits me well. It is exceptionally well made, with straight seams and not the mix of different types of skin as seen on many jackets from 1943 onwards. I believe it to be made by Irvin Air Chute, judging by the high quality workmanship, the square collar and standard size belt loops. The collar rings are the large variety which were used by both Wareings and DGL, but IAC also used them on some of their late war jackets. The sleeve zips are marked with the usual Am and king's crown, with a plain N on the other side. I'm not sure who made the zips, perhaps someone can help here?

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Nice, jacket Andrew.

VERY nice.

James.

 

[KilroyCD]

Agreed, a very nice jacket, Andrew. :eusa_clap

 

[blacklagoon]

Lovely Irvin Jacket Andrew!

This picture shows two WAAF Nursing Orderlies wearing Coastal Command Irvin Flying Jackets.Coastal Command issued WAAF orderlies with these jackets and 1940 pattern flying boots,aswell as a Mae West and Parachute,when taking part in Air Evacuation Duties.This picture of the two Flying Nursing Orderlies was taken in an Air Evacuation Aircraft.The partial irvin flying suits the women of the WAAF wore,were taken from stocks of male flying clothing.

There is an original Coastal Command Irvin Flying Jacket used in The movie 633 Squadron.