Was there any reason for not having pockets in RAF "Irvin" Jackets?

[andy richards]

Gentlemen,

Was there any reason for not having any pockets in RAF "Irvin-type" Jackets?
If I see all the US AAF B-series type leather jackets they all came with slant angle or sewn on pockets. How come the (pre- and WWII) RAF flight jackets did not have these? Or...could I be mistaken?

Andy

 

[ukali1066]

RAF types simply didn't have time to stand around with their hands in the pockets...there was a war to be fought, women to be romanced...and tea to be drunk...

 

[miger]

...because the matching sheepskin trousers that made up the Irvin suit had the pockets!---------------the trousers also had a high waistband which were well overlapped by the jacket. This set up, with also the sheepskin gloves and boots had the primary function of keeping the wearer warm at altitude.

 

[kowalski]

no you're wrong, do not have pockets, the proposal was such that it is not necessary because, rescue vests and parachute worn on Irvin, you can always wear something under Irvin, which has more than one pocket

I think so, because this way I dress



mr miger, where photos of Mr. oryginal irvin ?? without pockets

 

[aswatland]

The original early '30s Irvin Air Chute design did not have pockets in the jacket as it was part of a flying suit with the pockets attached to Irvin the trousers. As it has already been said there were sufficient pockets in the service uniform to cope with the requirements of RAF pilots and aircrew.

 

[AngryNJ]

Real US B3s did not have slant hand warmer pockets. They had only a map pocket. If you see a B3 with hand warmers, its not accurate (I have a schott with pockets). I think the B6 (or D1, not sure) had pockets however for ground crews to wear. I could be wrong though.

 

[Edward]

B6 and D1 both had slanted pockets; the latter with zips, the former, if memory serves, without.

 

[aswatland]

This is quite correct Edward.

 

[Fletch]

Les Irvin, IIRC, also designed the B-1/A-1 and B-2/A-2 suits for the USAAC early in the '30s. These had one big chest pocket on the jacket and two on the trous. The jacket pocket interfered enough with parachute harnesses that the AAC eventually ordered them all removed.

Capts. Vic Strahm and Rube Moffat, Lieuts. Pete Hill and Bert Woodring, Wright Field, 1932.