USAF N-3B parkas - Let's talk about them!!

[Doctor Damage]

It's actually a much different design:

 

[Doctor Damage]

Here's an interesting N3B which has had reflective strips attached and has a USN(?) stamp on the back. Click for larger pics.

 

[Atticus Finch]

A couple of old photos from when it used to get cold in North Carolina. The jacket is a 1962 Southern Athletic. The hat is an Akubra Snowy River. I seldom wear either, anymore.






AF

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Edward]

The Star Wars one, is longer than I remembered, but it hs been twenty years since I last watched it. Looks like the Alphas I've seen that claim to be repros of something RAF from the sixties.

 

[Doctor Damage]

interesting article & photos:
http://www.usafhpa.org/looksee/operationlooksee.html

 

[Doctor Damage]

I'm looking at a vintage (late 1950s - thanks Atticus) N3B parka which is in good shape. It does have fading on the shoulders and hood. For those of you with experience, what impact does fading have on the nylon? Is the nylon more brittle or damaged? or is the fading just a cosmetic thing?

 

[ingineer]

Doc;
cosmetic, nil impact, prob just washed.
those old ones turned purple though with sunlight.
the hallmark of senior crew, shellback in navy terms, a good thing

 

[Smithy]

Doc;
cosmetic, nil impact, prob just washed.
those old ones turned purple though with sunlight.
the hallmark of senior crew, shellback in navy terms, a good thing

As ingineer posted the fading is from UV exposure on the nylon, it can be especially apparent in the blue Korean War era jackets which go a purple/lilac colour. I handled an original Albert Turner B-15C a couple of years ago which had this slightly on the shoulders and upper arms but the nylon felt exactly the same as the rest of the jacket. I think the only thing affected is the colour pigment in the nylon and not the structural integrity of the nylon itself.

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ Okay, thanks for the comments, guys. The coat I'm looking at appears to be decent... tag and USAF logo are in very good shape... this one is sage green... photos don't show the extent of the fading, but the seller is not an English speaker so there's little point asking. I ran the coat past Atticus and he says it's 1953 to 1958, probably closer to the earlier date. I took the opportunity to urge him to write a book or an article on nylon flyers jackets, but no dice, ha ha

Here's the coat, which is listed on France e-bay. I'm tempted but I reckon someone will bid it up at the last moment and I don't want it that much.

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[Doctor Damage]

 

[Dumpster Diver]

LOL! ok Lets NOT talk about them too much of this and now I want one and must have it and know where to get it.

 

[eugenesque]

Speaking of Star Wars and coats, Hans Solo has a new coat in Force Awakens. Looks quite functional for cold weather.

 

[Doctor Damage]

N3B arrived today, it's a Greenbrier from 1990, excellent condition. The construction and component quality is amazing, much better than other USAF stuff, and it's insanely heavy and thick. I have a huge Cdn Forces parka which is their (now obsolete) extreme cold parka, but this N3B is even heavier. I got a Medium - although I haven't tried it on yet, it measures too short for me, not helped by the thick padding. I should have gone for a Large and I'll keep an eye out for one. If anyone is interested in this one, let me know please.

UPDATE: I tried this coat on this morning and it juuuust fits... but yeah, a larger size would be better so that I could layer (although I suspect you could wear one of these coats over nothing more than a t-shirt and you'd be fine). These are definitely Regular length garments, not much good for Long people.

 

[CBI]

these are terrific jackets and can be found cheaply on eBay

 

[Dumpster Diver]

I have a couple Vintage no-name non-military knock-off N3-B parkas here up for grabs and pretty much at garage sale prices, one sage-ish and the other Blue-ish if someone was interested...a little small though, Snug in the back and arms a little for me and Im smaller than you lot Im betting, I can post pics if you wanna see.

 

[Smithy]

N3B arrived today, it's a Greenbrier from 1990, excellent condition. The construction and component quality is amazing, much better than other USAF stuff, and it's insanely heavy and thick. I have a huge Cdn Forces parka which is their (now obsolete) extreme cold parka, but this N3B is even heavier. I got a Medium - although I haven't tried it on yet, it measures too short for me, not helped by the thick padding. I should have gone for a Large and I'll keep an eye out for one. If anyone is interested in this one, let me know please.

UPDATE: I tried this coat on this morning and it juuuust fits... but yeah, a larger size would be better so that I could layer (although I suspect you could wear one of these coats over nothing more than a t-shirt and you'd be fine). These are definitely Regular length garments, not much good for Long people.

Sorry to hear that it's a smidge small Doc. Sounds like the large would be a better fit. The one thing I've realised down the years is that a parka shouldn't be fitted or trim, you need some room to move and even layer if the weather is especially extreme. That extra room also traps air which will warm and provide extra insulation.

 

[bn1966]

Greenbrier..one of my favourite manufacturers across the board..shame it didn't fit :-(

 

[Worf]

Wore mine recently and FINALLY looked at the label, it's a "Viet Nam Era" Southern Athletic. As I said in another thread, it was minus 8 with windchill and never felt a thing. Well made and absolutely bullet-proof.

Worf