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Mike Reiner
2/9/2004 1:49:12 PM | I know this has been asked in the past, but I can't find the answer. Does anyone have a recommended place for the replica A-2 Flight Jackets?
Thanks.
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Scott McElvain
2/9/2004 3:19:53 PM | Hey Mike.... There's a lot of places that have A-2s. Sporty's, Cooper, San Diego Leather. There was a place that had a catalog called Lost Worlds that did custom jackets. Will do a little checking and maybe find some more info, or recall a name. I still have dad's Heavy Date jacket although the design has faded. Still has a lucky rabbit's foot in the pocket.
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Mike Reiner
2/9/2004 4:29:36 PM | Scott,
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately my dad's Heavy Date jacket is gone so we're looking for the replica ones. Still have his uniform jacket.
Take care
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Scott McElvain
2/9/2004 5:48:54 PM | Did a search on "nose art jackets" and there are several folk that do custom jackets. There was a D. Perrin among several others. One of the National Archive negatives (also in Volant's book on Nose Art) is of a Heavy Date jacket. You could get a photo through their process and have someone use it as a model. I think there were too many mission bombs on it to be a jacket from your dad's crew.
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Win Bryson
2/9/2004 8:17:53 PM | There are two companies that made (at least recently, in the 1990s) exact-pattern replica A-2 leather jackets except that these have soft leathers (unlike what I understand were 'stiff-leather' original war-time issue jackets).
The two companies' names are 'Schott' (or 'Schotts') and 'Avirex'. My 'soft' Avirex is a reddish color, but I think the originals were brown (only). I'm not sure what prices are - or availabilities, really. I found mine at a 'surplus' store (but it's not an original, it's a contemporary version).
There are some contemporary versions that 'almost like the original' just a little different - like having improved pockets (there is (was) amodel offered by the Smithsonian Institution 'store' like this).
Maybe a web-search based on 'uniforms' would 'turn-up some sources.
Good luck
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Scott McElvain
2/9/2004 10:46:31 PM | The leather jackets were made in horsehide and cowhide. I think the horsehide were a little lighter and reddish, but I won't swear by it. My dad's has always been a little stiff...............
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Edward N
2/10/2004 10:51:52 PM | Try the store at the 8th AF Memorial Museum at Savannah Ga.
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Scott McElvian
2/11/2004 10:30:02 AM | If you are a member of the Museum, you get a good discount, too. Also, you might check with Hans Schull's website. He had one done with Heavy Date.
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Hans Shull
2/12/2004 12:14:09 PM | Mike,
Here is the link to the gent that does the jacket painting. I don't think he has jackets for sale, but has a great amount of info on which brands are right.
He also seems to have Heavy Date listed in the wrong Bomb Squadron so you might let him know that while you are at it.
http://www.concentric.net/~Jm60/html/flightjackets-pg6.html
Take care Buddy,
Hans
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Mark Perrins
12/12/2004 5:51:45 PM | Eastman Leather claim very authentic replicas (supplied that awful Pearl Harbor film) I have their standard horse-hide A-2 on order.
Aero Leather also look very good.
- These two seem the best quality/most original spec. BUT, in the US they cost a fortune because of pound/dollar exchange rate and postage.
There is also Real Mc'Coys (supplied Band of Brothers Series jackets) and Lost World (not quite as original looking but very good quality leather).
Most other companies (like Avirex and Coopers) make modern takes on the A2 - fine if thats what you want.
Lots of rubbish written on forums about quality of Reproductions by Eastman and the like. If you look at photos of real WWII jackets there are huge variations in colours, obvious variations in leather quality, lop-sided collars, odd-sized pockets, even a Seal brown goat skin collar on a Russet Horse-hide jacket! The pressures of War time manufacture probably means many modern repro jackets are better quality than many originals.
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