Flight Suits: Army Air Force WWII A-2 Leather Flight Jacket

The Army Air Corps' original A-2 specification called for horsehide, but during the 1930's two contracts were let for goatskin. Every so often one of our customers brings in an original goatskin A-2 to have some repairs made. We are always in awe when we see one of these beautiful jackets. They are 65 years old, but the leather has a rich warm patina and the jackets are always in nearly perfect condition.

Goatskin is our favorite jacket leather because it is supple and comfortable to wear and it is one of the strongest and most tear-resistant leathers. Flight Suits' goatskin is vegetable-tanned and vegetable-dyed the original russet brown color. It is supple and comfortable but still tough enough for hard duty. A jacket made from this leather has same warm patina as the original goatskin A-2's. With a little care, your grandchildren will wear this jacket.

The knit cuffs and waistband are made from pure, grade 64, worsted wool so they are comfortable and will retain their elasticity. The lining is the same light brown pure silk specified by the Army Air Corps in 1931. The front closure is a size 6 nickel zipper with a bell pull. The pocket and collar are held down with black oxide nipple snaps. The collar closes with a size 7 nickel hook-and-eye.

Before you spend hundreds of dollars for an historical A-2, be sure it has these features. Ours does.

Leather

3-ounce, vegetable-tanned, vegetable dyed, goatskin.

Pattern

Back must be made from one piece of leather without any seams, sleeves from two pieces of leather, each front side from one piece.

Collar Stand

Collar stand between the collar and the body of the jacket.

Lining

Pure silk, russet brown, plain weave, not rayon or acetate. The lining must be plain with no printing or silk-screened maps.

Knit

Grade 64, pure worsted wool cuffs and waistband with no seams

Zipper

Nickel zipper, not brass

Collar Hook

Nickel collar hook and eye, not black. The hook must be 5/16 inch wide and riveted on with a metal double eyelet.

Snaps

Black oxide size 4 nipple snaps. Collar snaps must be covered with lining fabric and be visible inside the lining.

Thread

Russet brown cotton thread sewn 8-9 stitches per inch 1/8 inch from edges of seams.

Hangar

Leather hangar, 3/8 X 3 inches, sewn through the back of the jacket

Epaulets

1 3/4 inches wide at the shoulder, tapering to 1 1/2 inches at the collar. Box stitched on each end. The epaulet must be centered on top of shoulder, not toward the front or back..

Pockets

Pocket flaps must be gracefully curved, not cut straight from the edge to the center. Pockets must have double row of stitching and be stitched across the corners.

Inspection

Must have an official AN inspection stamp on the lining back

Sizes

Standard Sizes:

Men's sizes 36 to 48, regular & tall.
Other sizes are made-to-measure.

Item LF1G2

Army Air Force WWII A-2 Jacket
Vegetable tanned goatskin, Russet brown.

$628