WWII US Army Air Corps G-1 Flight Jacket -
The flight jacket, or bomber jacket is a garment originally created for pilots, which eventually became part of popular
culture and apparel. In the First World War most airplanes did not have an enclosed cockpit, which necessitated a garment
that could keep pilots sufficiently warm. While serving in France and Belgium, the Royal Flying Corps pilots had already
begun wearing long leather coats in 1915, and the trend caught on. The US Army established the Aviation Clothing Board in
September 1917 and began distributing heavy-duty leather flight jackets; with high wraparound collars, zipper closures
with wind flaps, snug cuffs and waists, and some fringed and lined with fur. Thus, the American flight jacket was born.
This is a WWII US Navy G-1 leather flight Jacket. Beautiful leather construction
with a metal zipper. The collar is lined with fur. Two pockets are located in
the lower section. A flap with a snap covers the pocket to keet items from
falling out. Elastic bands are attached to the waist and cuffs.
The letters "USN" are painted on white on the back of the collar. A strap is
provided to secure the neck shut. A brown plastic button holds the strap in place
when closed.
A leather hanger is attached to the back of the neck. An inside pocket is found
on one of the sides. It is secured shut via the use of a metal snap button. The inside of the pocket is lined.
A leather nametag is sewn to the chest area. Golden letters over a black background spell out the name
and rank of the pilot. The tag in this sample is heavily faded. The brand of the zipper is Talon, which was
a brand heavily employed in all flight gear.
The submarine killer patch was probably added after the war. The upper section reads "Defensive in pease destructive in war". It features an aircraft flying over a submarine, dropping bombs to destroy it.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US military uniforms.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out
clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII US uniform worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the uniforms is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the American military uniforms in the collector's market is illustrated.
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This US AAF gear and uniforms may be currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other US AAF items, you can do so by going to our
US AAF Collectibles Price Guide.
Where we cover gear, uniform, insignia, etc. employed by the US Army Air Force.
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