What kind of flying jacket is this ?

[SteveZ]

Hey folks.

Was going through my attic and ran across some very old flight gear that my dad gave me so many years ago. ( USN pilot , CDR retired , 1946 - 1972 ) I stumbled across a box I had totally forgot about while clearing old stuff out for a new HVAC system that was to be installed.

The jacket is medium to light khaki color and amazingly enough, no rips, no tears and no fade ! It still looks new and still has dads leather name tag on the front with the rank of Lt. I think its a single ply cotton material with no liner inside. It has G1 type gussets on the back with a half belt.

Not sure if this flying jacket was issued to dad as WW2 leftover stock or if its Korean vintage or a bit later.

Heres the tag info on the inside and it reads as follows,

JACKET, FLYING, VERY LIGHT
SPECIFICATION-MIL-J-7758A
THE DRYBAK CORPORATION
CONTRACT No N383s-93675
SIZE 40
LAUNDER BY FORMULA S

Never recall pop ever wearing this jacket when I was a kid. Probably why it is in such pristine shape !

Any ideas as to its rarity fellahs ? Saw a very similar one on ebay by a different manufacturer and the seller wants pretty good bucks for it.

Any thoughts from the FL experts ?

 

[triple-d]

Chief Thor probably knows since it's USN......Pics would be cool...

 

[SteveZ]

I'll do my best on pics. This thing is so light that you could mistake it for a shirt ! 2 upper breast pockets and 2 lower waist pockets with button down flaps. Also, it has the pencil and pen storage on the left arm. Reminds me of an MA1 made of cotton.

 

[thepurplesunshine]

I think it is a US Navy Summer Flight Jacket.
Probably from the 1950s.

 

[l0fielectronic]

This sounds like what you are describing;

http://vintage-mushroom.net/?pid=117616578

 

[SteveZ]

Thats the jacket ! Wow, even the color after all these years is the same. I tried to gain info about the DRYBAC Corporation with no luck at all. Apparently out of business for years or bought out by another company. Any way of telling the date of manufacture ? Something of a rarity these days that a collector might value ?

 

[Peacoat]

This jacket is from right around 1950; no later than 1952.

 

[SteveZ]

Cant believe this garment is over 65 years old ! If I took it to my dry cleaners for a clean and press, it would appear nearly new. About what year did this jacket get phased out ?

 

[l0fielectronic]

If its Drybak then it looks like the business first started in 1941.

There is mention of the brand in the archive listings here https://vintagehaberdashers.com/2015/04/07/1930s-albert-richard-grizzly-jacket/

Can't help with rarity, nice looking jacket though and even more so with some family history to go with it.

 

[thor]

You guys beat me to it! Lol!!! I was going to say it sounded like the M-421B Navy summer flying jacket. Issued late 1940’s to early 1950’s.

 

[triple-d]

View attachment 109368
You guys beat me to it! Lol!!! I was going to say it sounded like the M-421B Navy summer flying jacket. Issued late 1940’s to early 1950’s.

Cool jacket Chief....

 

[thor]

I wish that was in my collection @triple-d; it’s a photo I dug up of the M-421B, also labeled the AN-6551 on other tagged jackets.

 

[SteveZ]

If anybodys interested in it for their collection, give me a shout. I will send pics via cell phone to verify condition. I have plenty of other momentos from dads Navy flying days.

 

[triple-d]

What size is that puppy Steve ?

 

[SteveZ]

SIZE 40 I guess thats about a MEDIUM in a US jacket size ?

 

[Peacoat]

Yes, a medium or maybe a large. Usually a medium is listed as 38 to 40, with a large being 42 to 44.

 

[SteveZ]

Sounds about right. Think I could fit into dads old flying jacket ? No Way Jose ! I wear a two extra large tall ! Be glad to find this jacket a new home in somebodys collection. Theres a guy on E Bay that has a WW2 jacket that looks the same and he's posting his price as 400 bucks firm ! Whew ! ( and his has some damage to it )

 

[l0fielectronic]

Only one I could find which sold a short while back was here.

 

[SteveZ]

I'll make somebody a killer deal. I'm not a collector of military stuff. Nice to find the jacket a new home or to a collector that appreciates its historical value or sell it to somebody else who will. SZ